It seemed like at least half of the Glenvar community’s little league-aged kids and their parents, and even some pooches, were out on Saturday, April 24, for the softball and baseball rec leagues’ opening day. One by one with the littlest athletes first (coach-pitch,) the players followed their coaches out to encircle the field. Brett Sharpe from 94.9 FM emceed, and Glenvar Middle Schooler and JV softball player Marina Haffey sang the national anthem.

The day was a special one for Donna Wooldridge, who started coaching for the city of Salem in 1982 and then helped to start the Glenvar Youth Boosters’ softball program sixteen years ago. She stepped down as the softball coordinator at the start of this year’s season, but she still coaches Glenvar High School’s softball team.

Sonny Nelson, Wooldridge’s co-coach at the beginning of her coaching career, threw the softball season’s first pitch to Glenvar Pink Panthers’ Meghan Thompson. Glenvar Varsity Baseball pitcher Jonathan McGhee threw the first pitch of the baseball season to the Dodgers’ Drew Norris.

A bouncy-house and other fun games helped the kids celebrate their first day of the season. The ceremony started at 9:30 a.m. and the first games started at 11:30 a.m. at the park.

Click here to see 32 more photos from opening day!

If you’re out and about at rec, JV, varsity, or even a pick-up game of any sport and you’ve got a camera, you can share your photos of your friends and family here by emailing them to us at news@sosalem.com.