FARMINGTON — The Farmington Area Cal Ripken League would like to thank the Mt. Blue High School baseball teams for joining them at Hippach Field on their 2015 Opening Day.

These young gentlemen took time out of their busy schedule to help kick off the opening ceremonies for almost 300 younger ballplayers throughout the Farmington area. The day kicked off the Farmington Area Cal Ripken’s 2015 season of providing developmental baseball for the area’s youth, ranging from ages 4 through 12. It’s safe to say that the high school players and their coaches appeared to enjoy the friendly high-fives as much as their younger Cal Ripken counterparts!

Another important event of the day was the season’s First Pitch, thrown by Steve Shible to the first Catcher of the season, Matt Foster. Steve has been the town of Farmington’s Parks & Recreation director since 1980. During that time he has provided 17 different programs for various age groups and generations of families over the years as well as overseeing the town’s 74-year-old Community Center.

For his dedication and years of thoughtful service, the area youth thanked him as he symbolically pitched his duties on to his successor, Matt. The community also appreciates the past few years with Matt at Steve’s side, and look forward to many more as he takes over the reins.