Oakwood has a ball on Opening Day

ABOVE Third baseman Ronneisha Randle chases down a Jacksonville runner and tags her out, and BELOW Hallie Smith pitches her first game for the Oakwood Fast Pitch girls team. No need for an umpire to rule on this one, Oakwood's first Opening Day was a home run! There was a huge crowd of the old and young alike enjoying the food, the fun, and the sport of it all.

After the opening ceremony and picture taking, the concession stand opened. It did not take long for a long line to form. Then the bounce house went up and so did the excitement! About that time, it was time for the T-ball game to start. Due to a last minute cancellation, the parents were asked to play against the tiny T-ballers. After a powerful at bat by the T-ball team, the adults quickly bowed out and gladly let the girl's fast pitch softball team pitch in. (Not that it did much good.) In the end, the mighty Oakwood T-ball team creamed the big girl's with a score of 7-25.

Photos by Melissa Missildine It was not much longer until the dunk booth was up and running. It was a huge hit! As was the second game of the day, machine pitch. Jacksonville brought over a team and the game was on! It was a tough game. Both teams had a lot to be proud of. Although just a scrimmage, they played like it was the World Series. Technically, Jacksonville took home the win but I am not sure anyone really noticed that Oakwood did not win. They were just having too much fun! (The score board read 5-15.)

The girl's fast pitch softball team played against a group of girls from Jacksonville who had been playing ball together for a long time, and it showed! Wow! These girls were like a well oiled machine. Playing against such a seasoned team gave the Oakwood girls a taste of what they can work toward. The Oakwood team was relieved to get their first scrimmage out of the way. After a bit, the score board was turned off and the game continued... because we all know, "Girls just wanna have fun!"

Future All Star Cooper Edgemon got an RBI and a single on his first at bat! On the other side of town, (didn't that make Oakwood sound big and all?) the freshmen team played against the Elkhart Sliders. They were a tough team too! The Oakwood team did their best in their first scrimmage. Although they didn't win, it helped them to see where their strengths and weaknesses were so they can work on them before their first official game. It was pretty neat to get to play on the "real" baseball field at Panther Stadium too. The score was 1-17.

At the end of the day, there was a co-ed adult softball game. Now, that was a hoot! We should have videoed it for one of those funny home video shows. It was all about the fun, too. It was a motley crew for sure. There were high school students, coaches, parents, community members -- some coaches from the Elkhart team even stuck around to join in on the fun. There were people in flip flops and barefoot. And who says you can't play ball with your hair and make-up done? If that is the case, someone forgot to tell a few of these ball players!

Poor li’l Lindsey Hardin learned that sometimes the equipment just does not want to cooperate! The Oakwood Youth Baseball League has a motto printed on the back of the coaches' shirts that reads: "Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success."

Well, I say, ‘Way to go, teamwork!
Oakwood’s Chris “Little Boy” Lloyd had the undisputable Play of the Day --no matter the age-- with this DIVE onto home plate.