FAIRFIELD – There is something special about opening day in a small town. The teams in Fairfield start gathering a player at a time in the high school parking lot, then shift across the street where local police and fire engines are marshalling.
It’s just a few blocks down the street to the ball fields, but families and neighbors come out on their porches and stoops to watch the procession and wave.
Main Street, in this case PA Route 116, is temporarily blocked as a police car, with lights flashing, slowly leads the procession of first responders and fire trucks, and finally all 17 baseball and softball teams – 187 players in all. The players seem to enjoy the attention. Mayor Ron Harris of Carroll Valley Borough takes pictures.
“We start planning for the next season in November” said Rich Sherman, president of the Fairfield Recreation Association. “The harder work begins with registration after the Christmas holidays when we find out what we have to work with.”
“We generally don’t have a draft. This year was an exception where it was handy with a large Under 10 group. Otherwise, we place players on teams based on the talent we see.”
Fairfield itself is a small Pennsylvania borough of 540, according to 2023 data, but with the Fairfield Area School District serving over 7,000 residents, FRA has more talent to draw upon than one might expect. “We’re able to field eight baseball, five softball and four T-ball teams,” according to Sherman.
The teams, with their head and assistant coaches, are finally lined up on the outfield grass on one of several immaculate fields. Parents, neighbors and baseball fans from all over the area surround the field several layers deep in places with cameras snapping.
After all this, Sherman finally has a chance to offer the thanks of the FRA board to all the individuals, groups and regular sponsors who make it possible to run the league.
Sponsors are all local businesses who make it possible year after year to field all these teams. They offer contributions of infield dirt, water, equipment and many other things one does not think of until they’re missing. A giant flag is suspended from a crane donated for the day.
Then, softball player Ella Young, who has a particularly lovely voice, sang the national anthem, Pastor Jeff Walter from Liberty Worship offered a prayer, and we’re almost through with the opening day rituals. As the teams cleared the field there is a surge to the concession stand for a morning snack and a drink.
Like many more sparsely populated areas, FRA has enough ball players to field teams in many age groups, but not enough for a full schedule for each age. They make up for that by competing with other communities.
“We play baseball in the Mason Dixon Youth League against teams from Taneytown, Upper Adams, Franklin Township, Conewago Valley and Gettysburg.
“Softball has a different look, playing teams from Waynesboro, Mercersburg, Marion, Shippensburg, Chambersburg and Fulton County.” according to Sherman.
“The season runs from opening day to mid-June when we shift to playoffs.”
“We have a great relationship with Fairfield High School who provides us an open gym in the winter so we can take a look at all the players,” he said. “Our goal is that everyone plays and develops. We had our first coaches clinic with the high school coaches this year. We use a lot of the style and training used at the high school, which also benefits the high school team.”
There are people who say baseball is dead. That it can’t compete with video games and TikTok. Clouds on opening day in Fairfield, Pennsylvania, were low and threatening. In spite of all this, opening day pulls back the curtain on the satisfaction of a well struck ball, the beautiful skill and timing of a routine ground out, and the feeling of good will among parents of the young ball players and the fans who enjoy the game.
Oh by the way, the opening day first pitch by former FRA President John Macinyak was a ball, low and outside.
