From the pressbox, Don and Judy Harritan (above) direct the Opening Day ceremonies for the 2006 Whiteville Optimist Dixie Youth Baseball season at Optimist Park’s Harritan Field. The ceremonies included introduction of all players and coaches of the league’s six major-league and six minor-league teams as well as recognition of local dignitaries and Dixie Youth Baseball officials. Whiteville Optimist is celebrating its 37th season in Dixie Youth Baseball, making it one of the state’s oldest DY league franchises. In photo below, Best Western batter Justin Turner fouls off a pitch during an Opening Day minor-league game. Whiteville Optimist is one of six leagues Dixie Youth leagues in Columbus County. Dixie Youth League Baseball, which was founded in 1955 in Charleston, S.C., is played in North Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. The 2006 Dixie Youth World Series will be played in August at Goodlettsville, Tenn.

Staff photos by Mark Gilchrist