On Saturday, Charlotte County’s Dixie Youth Baseball League held opening ceremonies and the Charlotte Court House baseball field was packed with excited players and spectators.

The Dixie Youth tradition in Charlotte County boasts a long history and chances are, almost every baseball fanatic within the county has a history watching or participating in the program.

However, the baseball traditions in Charlotte County do not end with the Dixie Youth program. Many young players go on to participate in the popular baseball programs at Central Middle School and Randolph-Henry High School. Dixie Youth has always been a catalyst when it comes to training the best players of tomorrow for Charlotte County.

Although some may not know, the Dixie Youth baseball program is a part of a much larger Dixie Youth organization in which participants must follow certain rules pertaining to league boundaries and rules of the organization.

Dixie Youth baseball programs can be found in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, according to the Dixie Youth Baseball website.

Famous baseball player Babe Ruth once said, “Baseball was, is and always will be to me the best game in the world.”

Much like Babe, many local residents in the county have a family tradition of baseball players, which adds to the vibrancy of the sport as a community-wide activity.

The symbolism of baseball does not stop with the game itself, however, what the game actually stands for.

Baseball in Charlotte County has always been a time for neighbors and friends to come together at one of the local fields and enjoy a sunny afternoon together.

This season, let us recognize not only the sport of baseball but how baseball has impacted Charlotte County generation after generation.

Italia Gregory is a staff reporter for The Charlotte Gazette. Her email address is italia.gregory@thecharlottegazette.com.