Buddy Ball holds opening ceremony for new season

Today, Mississippi Gulf Coast Buddy Sports held its Buddy Ball opening night ceremony and games.

Mississippi Buddy Ball is back and ready for action at the Gulfport Sportsplex. The league began the night with a game at 5 o’clock which was then followed up by the opening night ceremony.

For the ceremony, each team lined up and trotted down the third baseline as each player’s name was announced to the crowd.

Once the teams were announced, one player from each team took a turn to throw the season’s first pitches.

This year, a total of about 130 players and 100 volunteers registered for the program. This league gives sports and leisure opportunities to individuals with special needs.

The league started in 2010 with just 30 players and has since grown to the scale it is today. Board of MS Buddy Sports Treasurer Keith ‘Sparky’ Clark said, “So as a volunteer, really all you have to do is come out once and just see the smile on the children and the adults’ faces when they hit a ball, when they catch a ball, when they throw a ball, and that smile will make you keep coming back time and time again.”

The league is still looking for more players and volunteers for this year’s games. If you would still like to register, visit msgulfcoastbuddysports.org.

Players of all ages from four to 50 and up are allowed to play.