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Cherryville, NC (WNN)— The crack of the bat and the cheers of the crowd echoed through Ballard Park on March 29th and 30th, 2025 as Cherryville Little League Baseball and Dixie Girls Softball celebrated their opening days, marking the start of their seasons.
The Cherryville Little League Baseball Team celebrated its Opening Day on Saturday, March 29th, at Ballard Park. The league featured 183 players participating across 17 teams, all sponsored by local businesses. The minimum age to join Little League starts at 4 with tee-ball. The oldest kids play in the Major division, which accommodates players aged 9-12.
Little League is the world’s largest youth sports program, boasting players from every continent on Earth. 2.6 million children participate annually. Highlighting its large global presence.
Cherryville has had a Little League program since 1939, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to youth sports. Each team has a corporate sponsor that provides financial support, such as uniforms and equipment fees. Aside from the team sponsors, individuals or businesses may elect to donate funds through "gold," "diamond," or other tiers of sponsorship.
Will Puckett opened the ceremony, thanking the Little League board for their work. He also spoke about recent renovations at Ballard Park. Curtis Holt then delivered a speech recognizing Don Sigmon's importance to Cherryville Little League.
Don Sigmon threw the first pitch of the season and addressed the crowd, stating, "Everyone deserves a chance to play little league baseball."
Each player received a free hot dog provided by the league. Additionally, the H.T. White memorial, honoring the Little League President of 50 years, was refurbished by the White family.
The Dixie Girls Softball league, celebrating their opening day on Sunday, March 30th, saw a strong turnout this year, with 132 girls participating across six divisions. The league caters to a wide age range from the youngest Sweetees (ages 4-6). to the more experienced Debs (ages 16-19). In-person registration signups were held at the Cherryville Fire Department, and registration lasted until March 7th.
The full breakdown of divisions and age limits is as follows:
This year's Dixie Girls Softball league showcases the program's popularity within the Cherryville community, providing a valuable opportunity for girls of all skill levels to participate in the sport.
The season fee is $60 per play. This fee includes a uniform shirt, all registration fees, and accident insurance. Additionally, each player is required to participate in league fundraisers. These funds are essential for buying equipment, paying umpires, covering league registration, insurance, and other operational costs.
Dixie Softball, Incorporated (DSI) is a non-profit organization based out of Birmingham, Alabama. Even though Dixie Softball is its official name, the names "Dixie Girls" and "Dixie Youth" are commonly used.
Founded in 1968 and incorporated in 1975, Dixie Softball organizes hundreds of local youth softball leagues in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tenessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Dixie Softball is for girls 19 years old and younger. The motto is "for the fun of the game". The main purpose of the program is to provide a recreational outlet for girls to have a fun softball program where all players participate.
Softball player Maggie Day delivered a moving performance of the National Anthem just before the start of the games, setting a patriotic and celebratory tone for the rest of the day.
Cherryville City Council member Jill Puett attended Opening Day, offering well wishes to the teams. She also emphasized the City Council's support for the league, highlighting the importance of softball to the community. She also encouraged them to reach out if they required any assistance through the season.
More than just games, these opening days marked the beginning of valuable life lessons in teamwork, dedication, and perseverance for the young athletes of Cherryville. As they take the field, they carry with them the support of their community, ready to embrace the challenges and triumphs of the season.
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