It’s the phrase eagerly awaited every spring: “Play ball!”

The East Jefferson Little League will officially start the season with a jamboree on Saturday, April 16.

Gavin Rogers, president of the East Jefferson Little League, said that while a few games have already been played over the past week, the jamboree marks the grand start to the season.

The league boasts 14 teams from players 5 and up, with about 170 players, including a few from Quilcene.

The event begins with team arrivals at 11:30 a.m. at the East Jefferson Little League fields at 200 Elkins Road, Port Hadlock-Irondale, with the Opening Day ceremony starting at noon.

Games begin at 1 p.m.

The opening event will start with the girl players reciting the Little League pledge.

Rogers said Saturday’s ceremony will include a nod to those who have been instrumental to the league over the years, as well as appreciation to the volunteers, coaches, and others who keep the organization going.

The league’s new board members will be honored, as well as outgoing members and a few past members who were big contributors to the league, including Bob Bates, a founder whom the home field is named after. 

Those to be recognized include crucial cogs like Jim Bishop and Kenny Yingling, and 

a memorial will also be presented in memory of Dave Garing, whose family were big contributors to the league.

Although COVID-19 couldn’t cancel last year’s jamboree, the event didn’t include a familiar favorite: the concession stand.

The stand will reopen for this year’s jamboree, and league officials invite the community to come out and celebrate the start of the season, enjoy a game, and cheer the kids on.