Piedmont PARD kicked off this year’s baseball and softball season underneath blue skies early Saturday morning. Children and their parents lugged bats and water bottles towards the diamonds that will keep them busy all summer long. After five years of starting the season in the rain, Recreation Director Jeff Formby said it was good to be rid of the wet stuff. Formby and his crew were at the field at 4 a.m. Saturday preparing for opening day.

“We’re just excited to be playing. It’s a pretty day and we’re glad to play ball,” said Formby.

The day began with the addition of two new inductees into the sports memorial at the sports complex. Jerry Baker and Joe Lewis both spent many years coaching in the PARD program, and both were inducted into the memorial posthumously.

Lewis spent 20 years coaching girls’ and women’s softball in Piedmont.

“His family is still devoting a lot of time to our youth in Piedmont, so it’s something that he instilled in his family and it’s carried on to this day,” said Mayor Brian Young. Tiny Lewis, Joe’s wife, is the director of the Bethune Center.

“Softball is something that I know that my dad loved,” said Lewis’s daughter, Ebony. “In fact, he instilled that inside of me. I love the game of softball. I feel close to my dad when I play with the kids or when I’m just out here watching the game.”

Ebony said she continued to play the game after her father’s death just so she could feel close to him.

Baker coached baseball and softball and was a PARD board member. Young remembers him as a man that cared deeply for the youth of Piedmont.

“I remember Jerry out here myself a lot of days,” said Young. “He was always a good inspiration to a lot of children in Piedmont.”

Craig Russell, facilities manager for Piedmont PARD, spoke about what kind of man Baker was.

“He gave the kids like me, who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, and who had missed out on so much in life, a chance to experience what it was like to be a winner,” said Russell. “He taught the privileged kids what is was like to lose with grace, and how to be humble and respect everyone.”

After the two new memorial inductions it was time for the first pitches to be thrown. Rebecca Smart threw out the first softball pitch in memory of her father, David Smart.

Craig Russell received the honor of throwing out the first baseball pitch. Russell said he has seen many an opening day in Piedmont. “This is my 25th year here,” said Russell.

After all the speeches and the ceremonial pitches, it was time for the kids and their coaches to head out into the fields and start playing ball. For Formby, that is what it is all about.

“All the kids are ready to go,” said Formby. “I hope everybody has a good year.”