Rain delay brings sunshine for Little League baseball opening

May 6, 2019

Although the May 5 opening day for the Dartmouth Youth Activities Association season had to be postponed a day due to the weather, the rescheduled date did result in baseball on one of the first sunny days of the spring.

There was still some wind, but plenty of sunshine on May 6. Little League teams began their games, with a rare double header for most in part due to the rain cancellation.

“It was a rainy day yesterday, so we do have double headers today to make up for the rainy games,” noted DYAA President Fred Fates. “We usually don’t do double headers.”

Despite that hiccup, excitement for the youth version of America’s pastime was palpable. This season, DYAA’s Jimmy Vieira noted the youngest T-Ball League is the largest in recent years.

“It’ll mean our teams will look good for years to come,” Vieira said, noting he expects to see many move up to the organization’s three older age groups.

And there is more change abound at the DYAA’s Crapo Field. New stadium scoreboards — provided by donations from Aaron’s Pools, Big Value, and Waring-Sullivan Funeral Home — are keeping track of gameday scores.

New T-ball fields are also set to open in the coming weeks. They were provided in response to the loss of ball fields behind the former Gidley School, which was demolished to make room for a new police station.

Players also have two new pitching cages, bags of equipment, and a $1,500 donation courtesy of Colonial South Chevrolet

“My four kids grew up in the softball or baseball leagues,” said Dan Good from Colonial South Chevrolet. “It’s still America’s favorite pastime, and it’s good to keep this money local.”

Opening days for the DYAA’s three other age-based leagues are upcoming. The Junior and Pony Leagues open on May 19, and the T-Ball League opens on June 2.