There was a festive atmosphere at the Johnson Boulevard sports complex on a beautiful Friday evening, April 15, as the Gloucester City Little League officially opened the 2026 baseball and softball season.
The sound of the umpire yelling “play ball” was sweet for the more than 200 boys and girls after enjoying the Opening Day ceremonies featuring the league dedicating the baseball season to longtime volunteer George Spingler III.
The evening started with all the teams in full uniform running onto the baseball field and gathering around the edge of the infield. The ceremony began with the players putting their hats on their hearts for the National Anthem.
League President Keith O’Donnell then asked everyone to have a moment of silence for the late Bob Plews, who volunteered for years as a “coach, part of the grounds crew and at the snack stand.”
League officials then dedicated the softball season to all the coaches and volunteers in the program and the baseball season to Spingler.
Having a great time waiting for the ceremony to begin were the softball players on the Ferry Fence team, including Sawyer, Paisley, Raelyn, Maxine, Ella, Reagan and Margo, while Frank Chappell was proud to escort his grandson, AJ Fuentes, onto the baseball field.
Throwing out the first pitches of the season were Logan Bobo and Chase Thomas for baseball and Raelyn Ryan and Ella Tedesco for softball.
“Opening Day is very exciting,” said Gary Bobo Jr., league secretary and assistant coach of the Lions Major team. “My dad, Gary Sr., coached me in Brooklawn. I learned a lot from him.”
Bobo said the little league baseball and softball programs are open to ballplayers from ages four to 14. T-Ball is for ages four to six, Coach Pitch is for ages six to eight, the Minors is ages eight to 10, the Majors is ages 10 to 12, and the Juniors is for ages 13-14.
After the ceremony, the season started with games on the five fields at the sports complex at the intersection of Nicholson Road and Johnson Boulevard where the words “play ball” were heard once again.
The ping sound of an aluminum bat making contact with a baseball or softball resonating in the evening air was a sure sign of spring – and a new season for the Gloucester City Little League.
