By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Wet weather conditions forced the postponement of the Hays Recreation Commission’s 2nd Annual Opening Day celebration.

According to HRC Youth Sports Director Keith Smith, the event has been rescheduled to Sunday, May 31, at 5:30 p.m. at the Bickle Schmidt Sports Complex.

An abbreviated ceremony for the Mike F. Schippers Coach of the Year awards was held Wednesday night. Winners this year were Ron Fields for baseball and Keith Dreiling for softball.

Sunday’s schedule will remain the same.

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.

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.