As we get this season started, some of our schedules have been released and some divisions have games BEFORE Opening Day on Saturday, May 4. Please be sure to check your schedule here for your start date – https://gcyaa.com/baseball-softball-tball/schedules/
- As a reminder, Stack Team App will always have the latest information on cancellations, makeup games, and other important program announcements. Please add this app to your phone! Directions are here – https://gcyaa.com/baseball-softball-tball/team-app/
Opening Day 2024
Opening Day is SATURDAY, MAY 4 at Moeller Field for our Hands On Tball, Tball, Boys & Girls Pinto, Mustang and Bronco divisions!
We are excited to celebrate our 70th season with you! We would not be where we are today without all those who came before us and helped build this program since its inception in 1954!
One of the ways we are celebrating this year is the special 70th anniversary logo on all of our team shirts. Enjoy this special May 4th design!
There is much important information regarding Opening Day below. Please be sure to read through it all to answer all your questions!
*PARKING*
We have been asked by St. Thomas the Apostle Church to AVOID parking in the church and activities building parking lots. They have graciously allowed us to use the grassy fenced area across from the building on Birchlawn throughout the season. Let’s show them how much we appreciate this and stay off their paved lots. Also, avoid yourself getting a ticket by not blocking any neighboring house driveway or parking within 30 feet of a stop sign!
*Please note parking will be extremely busy the day of Opening Day. Allow extra time for parking before your picture time, parade, game, etc. The streets around the field will be closed during the parade of teams.
*PICTURES*
Before and after our parade and ceremony, pictures will be taken on Moeller Field 4 for Hands On TBall thru Bronco. Please refer to your division schedule for your team picture time as pictures will run throughout the day!
Please arrive 15 minutes early for pictures so the photographers and games can stay on schedule!
The printable flyer is located here: https://gcyaa.com/baseball-softball-tball/schedules/
If you purchase your pictures online at www.thepicturedaypros.com beforehand, you can get a discount!
*GAMES*
Games will be played throughout the day. Hands On TBall will take their pictures and begin their games during the ceremony. All other divisions, will play after the ceremony. Please check your division schedule for your game start time!
*PARADE OF TEAMS*
One of our longest standing traditions is a parade of teams filmed by GCTV where players walk with their team to the outfield of Moeller 7 as parents and spectators cheer them on. It is a great time to celebrate and show your team spirit! The parade of teams begins at approximately 10:15am.
For the PARADE OF TEAMS, please meet up with your division, team & coach on Moeller Field 1 between 9:30-9:45am. (If you are scheduled for pictures during this time, please meet there as soon as you are finished).
Feel free to bring banners, posters, noisemakers, etc. to show your team spirit during the parade and ceremony.
All the TBall, Pinto, Mustang & Bronco teams (except for Hands On TBall) will parade from Moeller 1 down the street to the outfield of Field 7. On Field 7, all the teams will line up in the outfield to have prime viewing for the ceremony! Parents of the players are not allowed on Field 7, only the coaches and the players. All parents will view the ceremony outside of the fence of Field 7.
*OPENING DAY CEREMONY*
The Opening Day ceremony begins at approximately 10:30am.
At this ceremony, the National Anthem will be sung, GCYAA board members, city council and dignitaries will be acknowledged, and sponsors will be thanked for their support. We will also recognize all our teams and coaches, have our Baseball & Softball First Pitches and hold some amazing giveaways before and during the ceremony!
As part of the ceremony, we will be giving away some awesome bat bags to lucky winners from our TBall and Boys & Girls Pinto divisions. Be sure to get your raffle ticket from your coach in these divisions during parade lineup for your chance to win!
One of our sponsors, Merriman Road Baptist Church, will also be awarding 3 winners a Family Four Pack of tickets to the Detroit Tigers Home Plate event on Saturday, June 22 during our ceremony!
You can read the details of the event and register for the giveaway prior to the ceremony here: https://gcyaa.com/baseball-softball-tball/schedules/
A table will also be set up by Field #7 prior to the ceremony for you to register. You MUST BE PRESENT at the ceremony you win!
*BASKET RAFFLE*
Our second annual basket raffle will be held at the Moeller Garage with 12 awesome donated baskets in the following themes –
1. Mini Photography Session
2. Jay’s BBQ – Seasoning, Sauce & Catering
3. Dee’s Auto Tint & Customs
- Flower Garden
- GCYAA Baseball Spirit
- Girl Scout
- American Made Tree – Red, White & Blue
- Spa Day
- Treats
- Lottery tickets
- GCYAA Coach
- Game Day Snacks
Throughout the morning, you can stop by the baskets displayed by the Moeller garage, buy some tickets and take a chance to win a basket while supporting our program! All proceeds go directly back into our program.
WINNERS WILL BE DRAWN AT 2PM. YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN!
*New this year, we will be holding a canned food drive in conjunction with the basket raffle to help support the food pantry at Merriman Road Baptist Church. This is your opportunity to help those struggling in the community while also getting a chance to win a great basket!
Basket raffle tickets are as follows:
1 canned food item = 2 tickets
$1 = 1 ticket
$10 = 12 tickets
$20 = 30 tickets
CASH ONLY!!
*FUNifaces*
After the ceremony is concluded, please visit the FUNifaces tent which will be located behind the concession stand area. At this tent, we will have a Face Painter, an Airbrush artist, and a Balloon Twister! This is paid for by the GCYAA so it is FREE for you! They will be available from 11:30am-3pm so please stop by and get one of their AWESOME designs!
*CONCESSIONS*
Stop by throughout the day to our concession stand to purchase the items we offer. We have a lot of variety and great prices! The concession stand helps us to keep our costs down and puts money back into the program. Come hungry!
*TRASH*
Last, but not least, please as coaches, parents, spectators and players, pick up your trash during and after your games and throw it away in the trash cans provided at each field. There is never any reason to just drop your trash on the ground and leave it for someone else to take care of. We take pride in our fields and we expect you to as well. It only takes a moment to clean up after yourself. Not only will you be keeping the fields clean, you will be teaching your player a valuable life lesson. Thank you for your help!
Thank you for taking the time to read all this important information for Opening Day 2024.
We look forward to seeing soon and sharing in the festivities of Opening Day 2024! Let’s play ball!