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On Friday, temperatures were frigid, the winds howling and the cloudy skies threatened rain.
But the following day, as if Mother Nature was declaring, "It's time for the boys of summer to take to the field," skies cleared, temperatures warmed and clouds moved on.
The ideal spring weather provided a stunning setting for more than 200 aspiring Little League ball players, ages 8 to 14, to fill three Rumsey Park fields for season-opening games.
On the Rumsey north multipurpose field, the smell of barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs wafted through the mountain air, as hungry players and fans overwhelmed concessions stand workers.
A series of carnival-like attractions also attracted throngs of young athletes.
It was the type of day Abner Doubleday could not have envisioned in 1839 when he founded the sport in a cow pasture near Cooperstown, N.Y.
The Rim Country opening day featured Little League games in coach-pitch, minor and major divisions.
A coach-pitch game on the Rumsey II field pitted the Nationals against the Yankees, in a clash that featured plenty of parent support, dedicated coaches, sportsmanship and spirited play by fledgling players still learning the nuances of the game.
Action will continue in the baseball program until June, when the regular season wraps up with the selection of all-star teams.
Those teams will go on to represent the Rim Country in area and district tournaments held around the state.
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