Opening day at the Athens Sportxplex was both cool and colorful as excited young baseball and softball players endured the pomp and circumstance that goes along with just getting on the field and playing ball.

The temperature was about 45 degrees but there was plenty of warmth Saturday for the city’s youth softball and baseball teams at the Athens Sportsplex.

Mayor Ronnie Marks threw out the first pitch for each ceremony and remarked that this is the largest number of players for the programs.