Fellow Little League teammates anxiously watch Luke Barnhart wind up for the first pitch to be followed by more than 130 players on the fields at Hall Park last Saturday. Courtesy Photo

DIXON, CA (MPG) – Dixon is growing and more proof of that is in the numbers of pint-sized to near adolescent baseball players this year. There were 132 youths in Hall Park this last Saturday to celebrate the Dixon Little League’s 55th year on their opening day.

“We have record numbers this year when it comes to attendance especially in our T-Ball which are 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds where we have 12 teams,” said Little League President Casey Willard who welcomed the children, their parents and their grandparents. “Dixon has never had those numbers. We have 35 teams all together. It’s a really good year.”

Dixon is one of approximately 6,500 leagues throughout the United States and in more than 80 countries. It was founded by Carl E. Stotz in Pennsylvania in 1939 and is the world’s first organized youth sports program. 

Everyone took off their baseball caps as the American flag was run around the field at the start of the ceremony while the Star-Spangled Banner played over the loudspeaker.

The first pitch was by Luke Barnhart, a third-year League player on the New York Mets team who received the honor due to selling the most tickets to raise money for the League.

“I made him work for (that honor),” said his mother, Crystal Barnhart with a laugh. “We did old school selling. We made him walk for it. He walked our street and I helped him make a video for all our friends and families who aren’t in the area but he had to (send it out and follow up),” she said.

Willards reported, “He went above and beyond and outperformed everybody.” 

Monies help fund the supplies and needs of the League, which is strongly supported by membership, local merchants and nearby businesses such as Diamond Pools that spread out the dirt on the fields this year. The owner’s son is in T-ball this year. 

“We have 18 new sponsorships like Rotten Robbies and The Farmers Tan. That’s the highest sponsorship in years with a lot of new businesses,” Willard said. 

Little League's opening season was ushered in by blue skies and energized boys this past Saturday where Luke Barnhart had the honor of throwing the first pitch. Courtesy Photo

Some of the team names are The Trash Pandas, The Bats, The Hot Rodders and The Rattlers. You’ll see those and others on the sides of trucks during the May Fair Parade. 

Many board members and the parents also volunteer, as well as the coaches, assistant coaches and numerous parents running the snack bar.

“Chef” Willard and his wife, Jennifer, will be “stepping up” the offerings this year by adding pulled pork nachos.

Little League is adding some night games this year, so the players have an opportunity to play “under the lights,” Willard said. “We’re trying to bring the baseball atmosphere and the community together and we’re all pretty excited.”