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Everyone’s eyes were drawn to centerfield where older players and first responders carried in a large flag provided by Crazy Heart Sound & Lighting for the National Anthem at DBSA’s Opening Day festivities Saturday. Vendors and guests were also at the park for the Solar Shamrock Festival hosted by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. For photos, see page A8. Paul Gaudette | Citizen staff photo -
Hoards of young baseball and softball players get ready for the new season with Dublin Baseball Softball Association. Opening ceremonies were held Saturday, April 6 at the Dublin City Park. Paul Gaudette | Citizen staff photo -
Dublin Baseball Softball Association board members include Ty Weaver, Tyler Stone, Sandra Espinosa, Kailyn Williams, Rachel Maddry and Malik Williams. Paul Gaudette | Citizen staff photo
More than 180 kids and 50 coaches stood in the City Park baseball field as the Dublin Baseball Softball Association kicked off its new year with an opening ceremony Saturday, April 6 before games commenced all day.
Erath County Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director Sarah McNeal Weaver, acting as MC, introduced DBSA President Tyler Stone who took the microphone and addressed the crowd of parents, families and supports filling the park’s parking lots and stands.
Stone encouraged everyone in the crowd to get to know the coaches, volunteers and other parents of their kid’s teams.
“[Those kids are] going to grow up together,” said Stone. “After all, that’s one of the great things about living in a small town—We get an opportunity to know everybody.”
“Let’s bring the fire and the passion back to the park this year… not for me, but for these kids, the youth of Dublin,” he encouraged.
Stone then introduced the rest of the board so they could be recognized for putting in “a lot of work this year for this season.” The board has spent many weekends prior to open day working on the facilities at City Park to get them ready for the season.
Other board members include: secretary Sandra Espinosa, Treasurer Kailyn Williams, Coaches’ Liaison Malik Williams, Field Maintenance Ty Weaver and Community Liaison Rachel Maddry.
Stone then introduced Dublin City Manager Bobby Mendez to offer words of wisdom to the players.
“On behalf of the city of Dublin, I want to thank the board for all the work they’ve done to get us here today,” Mendez began.
“Just looking out at this group, I can tell this year’s going to be successful,” he continued. “You’re going to win a lot of baseball games.”
He then issued a challenge which may have seemed counter-intuitive to many of the kids on the field.
“I want you to fail,” he said and asked for people not to boo him while he explained. “I want you to fail because that’s where we learn. Fail is not a negative word. FAIL only stands for your first action in learning, ok?”
“If you come out here and only do what you know how to do then you don’t learn anything,“ he said, before wishing the teams a lot of success and some failure for the opportunity to learn and improve.
“It’s going to be an honor to come out and watch you guys play,” he continued. “Also, I look forward to seeing how you represent the city I’ve dedicated my entire adult life to…We thank you for representing [the city] at the level you do.”
Sarah Weaver then took the mic back and directed everyone’s eyes to centerfield where older players and first responders were carrying in a large flag (provided by Crazy Heart Sound & Lighting) from the outfield on the opposite side of the stadium.
Weaver encouraged all to stand in recognition of our first responders at home as well as “the men and women that are fighting on the front line in foreign soil to protect the freedoms you and I cherish” and those who have died defending our country and communities.
A drone filmed overhead as the flag bearers began to wave the flag and Dublin High School student Addison Ivie sang the National Anthem.
Play was then officially kicked off with the first pitch thrown by Dublin Mayor David Leatherwood to 14U Ranger Kyler Gaitan.
For more information on the DBSA, find ‘DublinTexas Baseball & Softball Association’ on Facebook.