By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Summer starts a little early at the Hays Recreation Commission.

The HRC 2nd Annual Opening Day celebration will be tonight, Wednesday, May 27.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. as ball games and a hot dog feed get underway. Cost of a hot dog meal is $4 and includes chips and a water.

There will also be a home run derby, baserunning challenge, throwing contest, bouncy houses and kids’ games.

Teams and their coaches will line up for introductions starting at 6:45 p.m. The games will break during introductions. The team lineup includes T-ball, coach pitch, machine pitch, player pitch and finally, K-18.

Introductions of the teams starts at 7 p.m.

At 7:30 p.m., the Mike F. Schippers Coach of the Year will be announced. Winners this year are Eagle Communications’ own Ron Fields for baseball, and Keith Dreiling for softball.

Players and coaches will recite the sportsmanship pledge, followed by singing of the national anthem.

Then, it’s the first pitch of the 2015 summer season.  Lacy Droegemeier has been chosen to throw out the first pitch of the season to Ethan Waddell.

Games will end and the gates will close at 8:30 p.m.