Thousands of parents and grandparents are expected to be on hand Saturday morning when 680 Little Leaguers gather for opening day ceremonies at the new Little League fields at the Biloxi Sports Complex.
City workers and contractors have been working between thundershowers this week to prepare the five Little League fields for the 9 a.m. opening ceremonies on Saturday, which will be followed by an opening day schedule of 25 games featuring players ranging in age from 5 to 12 years old.
The kick off of Little League play will mark the opening of the Little League fields at the 67-acre sports complex near Biloxi High School, and the day will also mark the beginning of a unified Little League program in Biloxi.
Previously, Little Leaguers played at Danella Park on Point Cadet, Savarro Park in central Biloxi and Todd Migues Park at Back Bay. Those fields will still be maintained by the city, but actual games will be played at the Little League section of the sports complex.
On Saturday, all players and coaches will be introduced in the opening ceremonies, and Mayor A.J. Holloway will toss the ceremonial first pitch to Harrison County Supervisors Bobby Eleuterius and Connie Rockco.
To read the complete schedule of events for opening day, along with a game-by-game schedule and list of coaches, click here
“This is the first time in the history of the city that we’ve had a facility where we could put 700 kids playing together,” said Greg Eleuterius, who serves as the city’s athletics specialist and coordinates the city’s youth sports leagues. “The players, coaches and parents are all excited about being able to play on these new fields.”
The new $2.6 million fields, which Harrison County helped construct, also will feature batting and pitching cages, concession stands, restrooms and covered bleachers for spectators, although the coverings over the bleachers will not be in place for several weeks.
Besides the Little League component, the $11 million sports complex features four softball fields, an adult baseball field and enough soccer fields to accommodate as many as 16 simultaneous games.
Next phases of construction at the sports complex will include a maintenance facility and tennis courts
To see aerial photographs of the Biloxi Sports Complex, click here.
