Dancing on the diamond

The dance moves, along with excitement, were on full display as the Churchill County Youth Softball Association officially welcomed the 2014 season on Saturday.

The CCYSA hosted its annual opening ceremony at the North Maine Softball Fields, where 27 teams and more than 270 athletes were in attendance.

Jason Strittenberger, president of the CCYSA, said Saturday was “one of the better” opening days in recent memory due to mild weather and upgrades surrounding the fields.

Each team also played a pair of 60-minute games and the club’s with the most runs scored in their divisions earned a pizza party.

The regular season, meanwhile, runs from April 7 through Memorial Day (May 26).

“It was nice to see everyone excited,” Strittenberger said. “The games were flawless. Everyone had a really good time.”

The CCYSA includes four T-ball teams, six 8-and-under, six 10-and-under, five 12-and-under and five 18-and-under teams.

Strittenberger, who also coaches, said the league provided several upgrades this season at the fields. For instance, cables run under the fields to the pitching circles to connect the pitching machines.

In the past, an extension cord has run across the infield to power the machines.

“We put the power under the fields so it’s safer,” Strittenberger said.

Also, with the assistance of the Churchill County Parks and Recreation Department, the league secured funds to build a playground near the fields.