“Today our facilities are the best in the state, perhaps best in the tri-state region,” said Superintendent Alison Hughes in opening the new Red River Baseball and Softball complex.  The fields saw their first competitions Tuesday after months of clearing land, pouring concrete, and building dugouts, clubhouses and stands.  Hughes said, “Last year at this time we were playing in a crawfish pond (a reference to the old single field that often flooded).”

The ceremonies took place under bright sunshine.  Hughes remarked about the other construction projects on the campus that are at a standstill due to a very wet winter.

The Red River Cheerleaders lead the program.  Members of the High School and Junior High baseball and softball teams were introduced and invited to sign a bat that will become a permanent part of each ball park.

Many people in the school system or the community were thanked for their efforts over the years to get the sports improvements in place.  Former Coach Earl Martin and long-time School Board member Cleve Miller were given special recognition for their contributions.  Martin and Willet were selected to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in each ball park to get play under way.

Then there was the official ribbon cutting.  A large crowd gathered at the site saw a bright ribbon sliced in two places signifying that the fields are now open.  And High School Principal brought the ceremony to a close inviting everyone to the field.  Dickey proclaimed, “Play ball!”