Royston Ball Field Opening Play Now Set for Monday Evening
The rededication of the newly renovated Royston Baseball Fields will now take place next week and not this Saturday as originally thought.
A rededication of the Joe T. Cunningham Ball Fields was to have taken place last Saturday but was rained out. It was first thought the ceremony would then take place this Saturday, April 5, but Royston Police Chief Donnie Boleman said Wednesday ceremony and start of opening season play is now set for Monday evening.
“We actually just got off the phone with the Franklin County Rec Department,” Boleman said Wednesday afternoon. ” They have now scheduled the opening ceremonies for Monday, April 7 at 6p. They will then have two opening games on the fields.”
Boleman said the decision to move the ceremonies and opening day play to Monday evening had to do with spring break.
“The Franklin County Rec Department is out for spring break this week and also several parents said they would not be able to make it so it was pushed to Monday evening at 6p,” he said.
A big event is planned for Monday evening, according to Boleman as the City of Royston, which has a rich baseball history going back to original Baseball Hall of Famer Ty Cobb, celebrates a return to Little League action.
“We’re going to be giving away hot dogs and refreshments,” Boleman said. “We’re hoping to have a lot of people come out and rededicate these fields. The ball fields were first dedicated on April 29, 1984 and here we are 30 years later rededicating them. It’s exciting to have baseball in our town once again.”
The ball fields had essentially been abandoned by the Franklin County Little League for years but two years ago, they gave the fields back to the City of Royston.
Since then, work on bringing the ball fields back to life has been going on using SPLOST monies, grant funding, and private donations.
The renovated fields include new baseball diamonds, bleachers, dugouts, new fencing and lighting, as well as a new concession stand and restrooms.