By Vern Cahak

Antigo’s 59^th Little League baseball season will begin Saturday with opening day ceremonies and four games at Al Remington Field, formerly Little League Park.

The 11 a.m. ceremony will include the reciting of the Little League pledge by a player to be selected and the throwing of the first pitch by a Little League backer whose identity is being withheld as a surprise.  Players, managers and coaches of all eight Little League teams will assemble at the park for the occasion.

The opening game at 12 noon matches the Absolute Realtors River Rats and the 40 et 8 Box Cars followed by the Parson’s River Dogs and Antigo Times Bulls at 2 p.m. Those teams consist of the Minor League for players eight through 10 years old.

At 4p.m. the Co-Vantage Royals will face the Waukesha Bearings Tigers and the finale at 6 p.m. matches Neve’s Astros and the Aspirus-Antigo Clinic Mets.  Those contests involve Major League players 11 and 12 years old.

Antigo’s first Little League game was played on June 12, 1957 at the same location of Saturday’s contests. The Antigo Jaycees organized and promoted the league, which consisted of six teams for boys ages eight through 12.

Through the generosity of local businesses, individuals and organizations, many upgrades, improvements and additions have occurred at the Second Avenue-Langlade Road facility during its nearly six decade existence. The Remington Foundation provided the financial support for the bulk of the projects but there have been many other donators.

Floodlights were installed at the park last summer, ushering in night Little League baseball. Batting cages were also erected at the southwest corner of the field last fall and are now operational.

Other projects in recent years include a new combination press box and concession building. Dugouts have been improved, foul poles were erected and most recently a patio with the letter A inscribed has been placed in the area.

Let’s play ball.