Friday night, the crack of the bat and the sounds of leather hitting the mitt will again be heard on Selma’s youth baseball and softball fields.

Opening ceremonies, which will begin at 6 p.m., will kick off with all teams and coaches gathering at the Selma Sportsplex and Softball Complex to kick off 2011, Selma Park and Recreation Director Elton Reece said.

“We are ready to get it started,” he said.  “We were going to do everything at the stadium as we usually do for opening ceremonies, but there is still a little work to be done.  Instead, we are just going to do it at the two locations and get going from there.”

During the opening ceremonies, Reece said the teams and coaches from each squad would be recognized.

At the complex, the 5 and 6 year old girls, 11 and 12 year old baseball and 13 and 14 year old baseball teams till hold their ceremonies.

At the Sportsplex, the 5 and 6 year old baseball squads, 7 and 8 and 9 and 10 year old slow-pitch softball squads, 9 and 0 and 11 and 12 fast pitch softball, 9 and 10 year old baseball and 13 and 14 year old slow pitch teams will open. Each field at both facilities will host two games each, which will be limited to two hours, Reece said.

The facilities, Reece said, are ready for the heavy traffic. Now, he said it’s all up to Mother Nature.

“We’re ready,” he said. “We just hope the weather holds up for us.”