The wait is over for all the youth in Cedartown that are ready to get softball and baseball season started. That’s because this Saturday, the Cedartown Recreation Department and Little League will hold a joint Opening Day celebration together followed by numerous games.

“Opening Day ceremonies will start at 9 a.m. at the Bert Wood Youth and Athletic Complex,” Little League President David Barrow said. “We will have 28 Little League teams participate in the ceremonies and the recreation softball league will have 10 or 12 teams.”

According to Barrow, more kids have signed up to play baseball this spring since they went back to the Little League charter after two years in Dizzy Dean.

“Last year we had 250 kids, this year we have over 330,” Barrow said. “We have 18 umpires, too. I think everybody missed Little League.”

Barrow said the fields were still wet but he hopes everything will go smoothly Saturday.

“The park is still saturated down there,” Barrow said. “It’s murky and muddy but the city has done a lot (to make it playable).”

Longtime umpire Jimmy Holland will be throwing out the first pitch for Little League on Saturday while Cedartown City Manager Charles Akridge will throw out the first pitch for the recreation softball league.