The Orinda Baseball Association (“OBA” www.obabaseball.com) ushered in its 28th season of competitive baseball in the Orinda area on Saturday, March 3. OBA’s Opening Day ceremonies at Wagner Ranch featured more than 300 baseball players on 25 teams ranging from ages 7 to 14. Players and their families enjoyed a wide range of activities before playing their first games of the season later that afternoon.
For the 6th year in a row, title sponsor Orinda Motors (www.orindamotors.com) threw out the ceremonial first pitch. “Orinda Motors is proud to continue our tradition of supporting OBA’s festive Opening Day ceremony," said John Vanek, manager of Orinda Motors. “We are a community-driven business and enjoy the opportunity of giving back to Orinda. Plus we really like throwing out that first pitch.”
“Naturally, it was a strike,” said Jim Stehr, president of OBA.
Find out what's happening in Lamorindafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
More than 50 Lamorinda businesses support OBA through team sponsorships, advertising, and underwriting events such as Opening Day, Snack Shack and Registration. An equipment donation station sponsored by Alta Bates Summit Medical Center that benefits under-privileged children in need of baseball equipment brought in more than 100 pieces of new or slightly used baseball gloves, bats, helmets and balls.
The day began with each team participating in skills competitions while parents and siblings enjoyed the carnival games headlined by event sponsor Orinda Motors. Then all 25 Orinda teams paraded into Wagner Ranch gym and received high-fives from the 2012 Miramonte High School Varsity Baseball Team along the way. After settling in, the kids enjoyed a rousing baseball poem read by founder of OBA, Bob Hegarty. A number of player awards were handed out culminating in the acknowledgement of Skip Tague as OBA Manager of the year.
Find out what's happening in Lamorindafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
New this year to OBA’s opening day was a warm and humorous video welcome from former OBA, Miramonte and Cal baseball star, Brett Jackson (Chicago Cubs). Video available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSSAtHzUU1I
For a complete video recap of the day, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/user/Jackmacattack
For more information about OBA, please go to www.obabaseball.com or follow on twitter @orindabaseball.
