By Stacey Dupee
Moapa Valley Progress
Submitted Apr. 2, 2008
“Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd…”, and what a crowd it was at Moapa Valley High School baseball field. The Youth Baseball Association hosted their “Opening Day” Saturday afternoon from 3-8 pm at the MVHS ballfields. MC Jess Campbell introduced a beautiful young singer to open the day. Singing the National Anthem, with “Old Glory” swaying in the wind, was local Mack Lyon 8th grade singer Rebecca Caldwell.
“This years season is dedicated to Scott Waite,” Campbell said. “We lost Scott at the end of last year’s season and this year is for him.” Not only was Scott heavily involved in the sport, but he was a member of the board and oversaw the umpires. To honor her husband and his father, Scott’s wife Susan and his son Hayden threw out the first pitches of the season.
The day was beautiful with a slight breeze to keep everyone cool. Rik Eide, owner of Great Basin BBQ, was at the head of the grill cooking up dinner for the baseball enthused crowd. Bounce houses were rented from Perez Rentals of Mesquite for the kids and a warm baseball day wouldn’t be complete without the Chilly Willy Ice Cream truck. All of the teams received their uniforms and played at least one inning of ball. Thanks to Debbie Leavitt Photography, team and individual pictures were taken for all players.
Businesses from all over the valley sponsored the four girls soft ball teams and the twenty boys T-ball and baseball teams. Sponsors for the girls softball teams include Moapa Valley Credit Union, McDonalds, Mesa View Hospital and Moapa Valley Rotary Club.
Boys sponsors include: Meadow Valley Contracting, BriMont Construction, Logandale Chevron, Kodiak Construction, R&R Electric, Lins Market, Cornwall & Co., Sugars Home Plate, Hy-Rock, Inside Scoop, Wheeler’s Electric, Debbie Leavitt Photography, Western States Construction, Donnelly Sports, Valley Enterprises, Meadow Gold Dairy, Evans Travel, Curtis Family Dental.
