By Greg Grisolano
ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com
Derick Campbell had only one thing on his mind Saturday morning as he tossed the ceremonial first pitch of the Joplin North Little League season out to his son Trevor.
“Don’t overthrow him, which I almost did,” said Campbell, a staff sergeant who just returned from a six-month tour in Iraq.
Campbell said his son has been participating in the league since tee-ball, and that the league approached him three weeks ago about throwing out the first pitch for the opening ceremony.
“It gets you in touch with the community,” he said. “It gives you a sense of community pride playing for Joplin.”
Just having the ball fields open so Campbell could toss a pitch to his son was an accomplishment for Mike McCann and other executives with the Joplin North league.
Heavy flooding last July seriously damaged the fields, then vandals wreaked more havoc on the area that fall. A series of ice storms last winter did another $20,000 in damages to the diamonds.
“It took down fences, and trees and lights,” McCann said. “It did quite a bit of damage to us.”
He said that despite the adversity, the league has been able to add several new sponsors, and has increased enrollment by more than 50 players compared to last year.
“I haven’t seen a final number, but we should have about 285 (kids) this year,” McCann said. “For everything we’ve been through right now, and looking at the season we’re looking at, everybody has come together pretty good.”
Asia’h Epperson, a Joplin native who appeared as a contestant on Fox’s “American Idol,” was on hand to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America” as part of the Opening Day ceremonies.
Six-year-old Liam McKeough, a Joplin North league player who was diagnosed with leukemia last year, sent a ground ball hopping to the pitcher’s mound for the ceremonial first hit.
Although Saturday’s ceremonies did not include any actual play, some of the youths involved in the league said they can’t wait for the season to start.
“I just have a lot of fun out here,” said Mason Atwood, 11. “It’s so cool to play baseball, especially since my dad coaches.”
Joplin Metro
Related Photos
Discussion
Little League honors veteran on opening day
- Joplin Metro
-
-
Longtime Democrat dies at 81
Sapp, 81, died Thursday. Funeral services were Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Joplin. A longtime Jasper County Democratic committeewoman and volunteer, Sapp for years was secretary to the county’s central committee.
-
Water company worker killed in construction accident
A Missouri-American Water Company employee died from an injury sustained Wednesday at a work site at 25th Street and Moffet Avenue.
-
Joplin teen pleads guilty to assault on police officer
Allen Russell entered an open plea of guilty on the charge in Jasper County Circuit Court with respect to an attack Dec. 4 on Officer Joshua Hanes of the Joplin Police Department.
-
Public forum on broadband tomorrow
Plans for a regional broadband initiative will be outlined on Friday at a public meeting set for 10 a.m. to noon at the Joplin Public Library.
-
School-bond election an emotional issue for voters
A question of whether to allow the Joplin School District to take out $62 million in bonds for a new high school is bringing out emotions in Joplin voters.
-
Globe wins news-reporting award from ASNE
The Joplin Globe was awarded the Jesse Laventhol Prize for Deadline News Reporting by the American Society of News Editors on Monday in Washington D.C.
-
Joplin man sentenced for role in child's alcohol-poisoning death
The uncle, in whose home an 11-year-old Joplin boy died of alcohol poisoning from a drinking game with the uncle’s girlfriend, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
-
Motivational speaker offers free marriage course
Presented by Mark Gungor, the course is being offered free to the community. The event is being held to aid in tornado relief.
-
District sends faculty, administrators on site visits
With the design phase of several buildings in Joplin Schools ending in May, the district has sent 66 administration, faculty, parents and community members on site visits to 22 schools and two technology company headquarters across the country.
-
Mural depicting Joplin High School dedicated
A four-paneled mural depicting the recent history of Joplin High School was dedicated at the Memorial 9th- and 10th-grade Center Tuesday morning. The mural will be moved to the new high school when it is completed in 2014.
- More Joplin Metro Headlines
-
Raw Video: Deadly Bombing at Yemen Parade Preps
Professor: Chinese Activist's 'Spirit Is Good'
Ring of Fire Eclipse Seen in U.S., Asia
Golden Gate Bridge Celebrates 75 Years
G-8 Seeks Unity on Euro-debt Crisis, Iran
Prosecutors: Trio Planned to Attack Obama's HQ
Obama: G8 Unified in Stance on Iran, Syria
