It is that time of year again when the pings of metal bats and cheers of the crowds will be a constant at Majestic Park.
The park will host its opening day ceremonies for Spring League baseball on Monday and Tuesday for 812 registered kids.
Majestic Park General Manager Derek Phillips said its third year hosting the league is its biggest yet.
"This year, 2024, to have opening night for the league season kickoff, we have kind of taken an idea of having something a little more ceremonial for the first pitch, and it has just kind of grown into an event," he said.
Opening ceremonies for kids aged 3-6 will be Monday at 6:30 p.m. This includes nine Yo-ball teams for 3- and 4-year-olds, and 18 Tee-ball teams for 5- and 6-year-olds.
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Hot Springs City Manager Bill Burrough and Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort General Manager Wayne Smith will throw out the first pitches Monday night. The Arkansas Travelers mascot will also make a special appearance, presented by the Arkansas Travelers Youth Foundation.
On Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., opening ceremonies will be held for kids aged 7-12, featuring 13 teams for 9- and 10-year-olds; seven teams for 11- and 12-year-olds; and eight teams for kids aged 13 through 16.
Games will begin Thursday.
"We will announce the teams and play music," Phillips said. "We might have a tunnel for them to run through and maybe more."
On Tuesday, National Park College athletic director and baseball coach, Rich Thompson, along with NPC Foundation Board member Bryan Smith will throw out the first pitches. Both Thompson and Smith formerly pitched in the major leagues.
"Honestly, it is getting the kids out there and making them feel special," Phillips said when asked what he was looking forward to the most. "We have been talking about doing this for a couple of years. Year one, it was just impossible."
The opening ceremonies, he said, will be like never before.
"The Travelers will have a presence on site both nights. We are going to have our announcers here each night. We are going to play music to introduce the teams and hopefully do more. ... They just love Majestic Park and we love them. It has been a great relationship. It is going to be something that is so visible here for years to come."
Phillips said after all the players are introduced each night, the teams will disburse and have a single-inning round-robin scrimmage.
"They will have a little quick scrimmage," he said. "To really give them an idea of what a game is like, versus other players and live action. That should be a lot of fun and exciting."
Phillips said Majestic Park has grown into its element over two years of operation.
"I think it will show a few things. One of them is the significance of what we are doing here and the impact we are having in the community with the participation we have here... And to showcase really what we do here, how many people are involved, the support we have from volunteers."
More information along with schedules for all Spring League games may be found on the Majestic Park Facebook page and at www.majesticpark.org.