ashley@athensnews-courier.com
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For years, parents with sons and daughters involved in the city's spring baseball and softball programs have had the tough task of deciding which ballpark to attend when games fell at the same time on the same night.
Would it be the Sportsplex, or before then, Fifth Avenue for baseball? Or would it be the fields next to Cowart Elementary for softball?
Now, after more than a decade of talk, relief is in sight.
Beginning this spring, parents will need travel to only a single location, as youth fast pitch softball will join baseball at the Sportsplex. All softball games will be played on the north pod, closest to the city swimming pool, while baseball games will be on the south pod.
"We're pretty excited about it," said Corey Patton, Athens Dixie Girls Softball League president. "It's a lot of change for us, but it's a huge step in the right direction as far as girls getting updated facilities."
The fields at Cowart have been home to girls softball for roughly 30 years and, over the course of time, have produced five state championship teams at the high school level.
While it may be somewhat bittersweet to leave behind a ballpark where so many memories were made, Patton said he's excited to see what's in store for the future of the league.
"There's some things we're going to miss, but this is a new beginning for us and we're excited to get it going."
Cowart currently has seven fields available. Patton said the plan is to turn the top four fields back over to the cemetery to bulldoze and turn into cemetery plots. The bottom three fields would be turned over to the Athens City School district.
The Athens Recreation Center plans to start a youth tennis league this spring. Registration begins April 1 and runs through the end of the month. Plans are also in the works this spring to offer flag football and adult basketball for those ages 18 and older.
