HAMLET — With nearly a week of the season in the books, baseball will officially return to Memorial Park for the first time Friday.
The Hamlet American Legion baseball team will hold its home opener against non-conference Anson County Post 446.
Continuing to make its home opener a family and community affair, the baseball team in conjunction with the Hamlet American Legion are pulling out all the stops again this year.
Eddie Martin, a longtime Post 49 member and the organizer of the event, said local government officials and first responders will be on hand to bring in the new season.
Martin added that officials from other cities in the county will be present to show their support for the baseball program.
Last season, the program honored the 1987 state championship winning Post 49 team ahead of its home opener. This year’s guest of honor will be State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor, who began his fire service career in Montgomery County.
Friday’s home opener will also be the first time the City of Hamlet and the baseball team will get to show off several new upgrades put in during the offseason.
Most notably, a new state-of-the-art LED lighting system was installed this spring, replacing the outdated lights. Head coach Chip Gordon said the new lights illuminate the entire field, especially the alleys in center field that were previously not as bright.
Also new this season are foul territory nets that will stretch the length of each base line to stop foul balls and protect spectators. Another major upgrade has been a new sound system for the public address announcer and music between innings.
Previous upgrades around Memorial Park the last few years included fresh paint on the bleachers and exterior walls, a Post 49 sign on the outfield wall of the Wilbur Dome, a new scoreboard and playing surface improvements.
Gordon said that season tickets will be on sale for $70 a person. Post 49 gear, including hats and t-shirts, will also be available for purchase.
Hamlet Post 49 (0-2) and the Anson County Tigers (0-3) will begin action at 7 p.m. Single game tickets are $7 per person.
