Benton Courier - Opening ceremony for softball set for tonight despite weather

“We will have it unless it’s raining at the time,” Sherry Loibner with the association said. “We’ve put too much into this. We may not play but we will have the ceremony.”
The ceremony is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Tyndall Park. The event will introduce the Benton girls league softball teams before their first games of the season.
Association President Terry Neighbors said, “We’ll do everything in our power to make sure the games get played. If it’s not raining at the time, we’ll play.”
Loibner was at the field this morning preparing for a big crowd. “We’re expecting at least 1,000 people tonight,” she said. “There will be a lot of dignitaries.”
Mayor Rick Holland will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Susie Everett will emcee the event, and the event co-sponsor, the Benton Parks Department, will provide free hot dogs and drinks. Other activities include face painting and a children’s area for girls to play in when they’re not playing softball.
While softball has been played in Benton for many years, the association began meeting this February. There are about 40 members now, consisting of parents, grandparent, coaches and sponsors, Loibner said.
Girls ages 4-10 participate on 17 teams, she said. The Benton association is part of the Saline County league made up of 54 teams from Benton, Bryant, Haskell, Salem and Sardis.
“We’re the only one with an opening ceremony tonight and reason we’re doing the ceremony is we want to get more girls involved in softball and show them it’s fun,” Loibner said.

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