Baseball for youth of all ages took center stage at Rathert Field Sunday evening.

Up first was the annual opening ceremony for the Junction City Junior Baseball Association. Players and coaches paraded around the base paths in their team uniforms while parents and friends watched from the grandstand.

Then the Junction City Brigade summer collegiate team played their home opener in which they fell to the Kansas City Monarchs  (10-1 )  by a score of 15-1 in a seven-inning ballgame.

Brigade Head Coach Derek Francis noted the first week has been a challenge for the team. ” You know, I think it’s going to get better. Some of these guys haven’t played baseball in two or three weeks. As we go and as we gel as a group it’s definitely going to help us. We’re also waiting on a couple of guys to get here and I think they could definitely contribute to what we’re trying to do. Hopefully it gets a lot better than this.” The Brigade ( 0-4 ) are waiting on the arrival of four more pitchers for their team.

Brigade General Manager Cecil Aska noted there was a good crowd and the weather was good.  There were also some challenges such as the scoreboard failing to work and an under-estimate on the amount of food that would be needed for the large crowd. Those matters will be corrected.

Junction City will host the Liberty Monarchs Monday evening at 7 p.m.