Wren Ball Park has first-ever opening day

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WREN — Nearly 300 residents from the Wren area celebrated their Ball Park’s first annual Opening Day festivities on Sunday May 18.

A total of 140 young ballplayers between the ages of 3-17 received their jerseys and rallied with one of the 10 teams whose home is Wren Ballpark.

Bella Chorvas, 17, sang “The National Anthem” and Wren Mayor Monica Davis threw out the first pitch of the Little League game between Wren and Convoy. A Home Run Derby sported 43 contestants, with bragging rights going to Jacob Kitson, Landon Nowak, Nathan Lichtle, Alex Parks, Caden Hurless, and Payton Knittle

“In all the years of the ballpark, we’ve never had an opening day,” said Wren Ball Park Association Vice President Jeremy Kitson, who added his father played baseball there in the 1950s. “There were third- and fourth generation Wren folks that experienced an opening day for the first time. We look forward to making it an annual thing and improving on what we’ve done.”

Wren Ball Park Association President Jade Painter thanked the community for turning out, Mayor Davis for participating, and Gibson’s Barnyard Bar-B-Q for providing pulled pork sandwiches for the event.

“Ball players are made in the backyard; the ballpark is just a showcase,” offered Painter. “If we offer a place where fundamentals are taught and learned in fun, the memories make themselves.”

Mandy Kitson heads the Women’s Auxiliary, which organized the event.

“We are so grateful to the families who came out to support the kids,” she noted. “We were able to raise over $400 for the ball park, which is a great way to open the season.”

Practices are in full force this week, with games starting this past Monday. If the rain holds off it’s sure to be a great season.

More photos, game times and other information are available on the Wren Ballpark Association’s Facebook page.