Little league ball opening day was held in Williamston Saturday morning. There were twenty three teams consisting of two hundred eighty six players present. This was a record attendance. They walked from the Spring Park to the ball fields as people lined the route. (Photo by David Rogers)
Opening Day in Williamston – A Celebration of Community, Family, and Love of the Game
By Alisha Tuttle
Families gathered in the heart of Williamston this past Saturday for a fun and festive start to the spring sports season—Opening Day for Williamston Rec.
With 286 kids taking the field across 23 teams in baseball, softball, and t-ball, the Williamston Rec Department kicked off the season with a festive parade, a ceremonial first pitch, and a day full of community pride, joy, and team spirit.
Rec Director BJ Tompkins, who has worked in recreation for 20 years and with Williamston Rec for the past seven, oversees a growing network of youth sports that includes not just baseball and softball, but cheerleading, tackle and flag football, and basketball. In total, more than 800 children participate throughout the year—many of them playing multiple sports. “Just t-ball alone has 126 kids this season,” Tompkins shared.
The Opening Day parade, followed by speeches and the ceremonial first pitch from town leaders, has become a staple event over the past seven years. This year, Councilman Lee Cole had the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch—a tradition that highlights the strong support of town leadership. “Everybody loves the parade,” Tompkins said. “I hear feedback all the time that ‘It’s the best day of the year.’” This year, twelve games were scheduled on Opening Day, and vendors like Little Pigs and Vampire Penguin added to the festive atmosphere. Teams also took their individual and group photos on-site.
Though Tompkins is technically a part-time employee, the work of running the program is never-ending. “I’m always busy writing notes to keep track of everything,” he said. He keeps a notebook with him at all times, handling everything from finding umpires to dragging and chalking the fields. High school athletes from Palmetto High School also volunteer to umpire, giving back to the program that many of them came through.
Coaches and volunteers are at the heart of what makes the Williamston Rec program so impactful. Tompkins estimates at least 80 volunteers are involved in baseball alone—and over 200 across all sports. “They’re very vital. I need as many as I can get,” he said. He credits help from longtime supporters like Tony Hudson, Cory Barns, and his own wife for keeping things running smoothly.
The heart of the program, however, lies in its influence on the kids. “I mean, just their attitudes and everything, just a whole lot better,” Tompkins said. “They mature a whole lot by the time they leave the rec program.” He shared a touching story of one coach who noticed a player didn’t know how to tie his shoes. The coach started taking him home each day, stopping beside McDonald’s for ten minutes to practice. “You’d think that kid won the lottery,” Tompkins said. “You don’t see that stuff, you don’t hear about that.”
That behind-the-scenes care is part of what makes Williamston stand out—not just to locals, but to other towns. “We want you for homecoming because you bring the crowd,” other teams tell him. “Williamston always brings the crowd,” Tompkins said proudly.
Now in his seventh year with Williamston Rec and his twentieth year in recreation overall, Tompkins has already seen a legacy take shape. “When I first started in rec, my kids were playing,” he said. “Now we’ve got grandkids playing. I’ve got guys I coached years ago coaching for me now.”
When asked what keeps him going, the answer came easily: “Just the kids. It’s all about the kids to me.”
