Jim Vieira has celebrated at least 47 opening days with the Dartmouth Youth Activities Association, and he’s not sick of it yet.

The long-time DYAA volunteer and treasurer shuffled between the diamonds at Crapo Field on May 7, as the organization’s youth baseball teams headed out for the first time this year.

“It’s the start of another exciting season of baseball. It’s the real start of summer too as parents and kids come out, and Crapo Field comes back to life,” Vieira said.

This season, more than 600 athletes signed up for the organization’s little league and tee-ball programs. It’s a unique program because it’s only open to Dartmouth families and is not limited to those with a natural talent for baseball, Vieira explained.

“Every child gets to play baseball here,” Vieira said. “There’s no tryouts so everyone who signs up gets to play.”

For coaches, opening day is a first look at what the season has in store.

“It lets me see where the kids are and how we’re going to do,” said John Costa. He coaches the Blue Jays Little League team.

Costa’s team struggled last season, so an opening day win will provide a huge confidence booster for himself and his players. The Blue Jays did just that, securing a 5-3 win over the Yankees.

“I’m hoping we carry on this quote-unquote streak,” said 11-year-old Elaijah Monteiro, who plays on the Blue Jays team. It’s Monteiro’s fourth opening day while participating in the program, and a win sets mood for the entire season, he said.