Ray Knight Sportsplex dedicated

The Ray Knight Sportsplex was bustling with activity Saturday morning following opening ceremonies.

Years from now, several hundred grandfathers and grandmothers will be able to point to the Ray Knight Sportsplex and say "I played in the first games on those fields."

And play they did Saturday! There were 26 baseball and softball teams filled with rosters of boys and girls ages 5-12, almost 300 total, providing a day full of action.

The day started with a dedication ceremony during which the Ray Knight family was honored. Also honored were the families of Nelson Hattaway and Marty Howard who donated the property for the sports complex.

Following a ribbon-cutting by the Blakely-Early County Recreation Department board of directors, Ray Knight's wife, Dot, made the ceremonial first pitch.

From that point, the fields were astir the rest of the day with boys and girls playing ball, and proud parents, grandparents and friends watching from the

bleachers and sidelines.

Play at the complex actually debuted the day before when the Early County High Bobcats took to the baseball field for their first game in the complex.

new Ray Knight Sportsplex.

Following Mrs. Knight's ceremonial pitch Friday, the Bobcats went on to shut-out Mitchell-Baker 15-0 to notch their first win on their new homefield.

Accompanying the new fields is a new, two-story building housing concession stands, scorer's tables, restrooms and storage.

The concession stand will be in full operation during games with chicken fingers, hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, candy, cold drinks, etc.

The recreation complex has been on the drawing board almost 10 years. The project was funded with $1.8 million in SPLOST revenues which were on the 2002 SPLOST referendum ballot.

The four fields which opened Saturday represent the first phase of construction at the sportsplex.

Cost overruns have further hampered the construction of the complex which initially included four or five baseball fields, a multi-purpose field for soccer and flag football, tennis courts, a playground, recreation department offices and a nature trail or jogging path.

The new complex will allow the recreation department to host ASA playoffs. Early County High School will use the baseball, softball and tennis facilities for high school competition.

the first pitch in the Bobcats' first game in the new facility.

The Blakely-Early County Recreation Department is an intergovernmental department funded by Early County and the City of Blakely. The department provides recreational opportunities for local citizens including baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, cheerleading and flag football. For more information about recreation department programs, call 723- 3197.

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