PARIS — The Town of Paris will be holding its first Opening Day for baseball and softball on Saturday, May 5 beginning at 10 a.m. Opening Day will take place at the Dennis Rugg Conmplex located on Kilgore Road just off Oxford Street.

There will be activities and games for kids of all ages from 10 a.m. to noon. The concession stand will be open and there will be prizes available for some lucky attendees.

Opening Day is made possible due to the many volunteers who provide our young players the opportunity to play baseball and softball. Every community relies on volunteers to make programs like baseball and softball available and to do so within the limits of tighter budgets.

Due to the dedication and positive energy the volunteers have given Paris baseball and softball the program has witnessed a revived growth in its number of participants in the past five years. This growth has required more teams to be added and with that comes the need for more equipment. The growth has also provided enough teams to hold Paris’ first-ever Opening Day.

At noon there will be a ceremonial first pitch to kick off the 2012 season followed by scrimmage games and round robin play between Paris rookies, minors and majors baseball teams and Paris farm team, little league and senior league softball teams. This fun event will showcase the many players playing ball in Paris and will help raise funds to support Paris baseball and softball. Opening Day welcomes everyone from any community. Please come out and support our local youth playing our national pastime.

This year marks the first time for this event and any suggestions for future opening days will be welcomed. If you would like to donate any items or money to Paris Baseball/Softball orwould like more information about the Paris baseball/softball program or Opening Day, please contact Joe Trybus at 890-1437 or [email protected].

Leavitt Father’s Day 5K

TURNER — Registration is now open for the Leavitt Father’s Day 5K, a trail run and walk created to earn funding for the Leavitt cross country team and to bring families together running, encouraging kids to get out there at an early age and be active.

The cost is only $15 in advance, $10 for kids 10-and-under, and free for the kids’ fun run. This race is sponsored by Eagle Insurance, Evergreen Subaru, Bangor Savings Bank, Linnell Choate & Webber, Healthy Androscoggin, and CN Brown/Big Apple. Road ID is providing the numbers. St. Mary’s is helping with the Kids’ Fun Run.

There will be numerous group prizes, special raffles for father/child combinations and a race shirt to the first 100 registrants. Last year we had a number of alums and a bigger reunion would make it even better. Bringing kids is encouraged.

If you are an alumnus or know one, connect via Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Leavitt-Cross-Country-Fathers-Day-5k. Registration is through Active.com and the website is at www.leavittfathersday5k.com.

Poland Panther track

POLAND — The Poland Panther youth track club 2012 season is underway. The club will meet every Monday and Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Poland Regional High School.

The Panther Track Club is for children ages 5 to 14 by Dec. 31, 2012. Those approaching 15 may participate as long as they are still 14 years of age on August 11, 2012.

Fee is $50 for the first child and $35 for each sibling. This fee covers your registration with the Maine USA Track & Field Association and the Panther Track Club. Meet fees are no longer included in the registration fee.

Athletes only pay for the meets they attend and shall pay no more than a total of $10 for meet fees for the season.

Registration forms will be available at all practices from now through May 24. It is now required that a copy of the athlete’s birth certificate accompany his/her registration form. For more information go to www.panthertrackclub.com or contact Coach Dan at 998-4827.