Boardman baseball league holds opening day

The summer baseball season is officially under way at the Fields of Dreams.

Boardman Community Baseball kicked off its 56th season of competition, sportsmanship and team spirit with a fun-filled bash and team parade on opening day May 3.

This year, Boardman Community Baseball sponsored a contest for which each team created and carried its own banners during the parade. The overall winner, Shoe Carnival, won a bowling and pizza party at Camelot Lanes.

The first-place team, Eat-n-Park, won a pizza and swim party compliments of Applewood Swim Club and Bruno Brothers’ Pizza. Second place, Armstrong Cable, won a team party at Youngstown Sports Grille. Third-place winner, ABC, won an ice cream party, compliments of Provenzale Concessions.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers’ mascot “Scrappy” and Eat-n-Park’s mascot, Smiley, threw out the first pitches and Sarah Turner, who played Peter Pan in Boardman High School’s recent production, sang the national anthem.

Boardman Community Baseball is a nonprofit corporation affiliated with Little League Baseball International. The organization is also affiliated with PONY baseball and softball through its PONY and Colt League programs. The league includes 70 teams, eight Challenger teams and thousands of fans.