The Selma Recreation Department will hold an opening day ceremony Thursday, introducing fans to the teams taking part in this year’s baseball and softball leagues and honoring the late Elton Reece.

The 50 teams will be introduced first, said baseball and softball director Lebo Jones. After introductions, a short ceremony will be held honoring Reece, who served 23 years with the recreation department. Each player will also be given a pin for their hats that has Reece’s initials on it.

“The pins are important for all the kids who knew him and all the coaches just to remember the man that was behind the baseball program here in Selma,” Jones said.

After the teams are introduced, pastor Phillip Morgan of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Dozier will speak. Morgan played baseball for Reece and is from Selma. Once he has finished speaking, Jones said anyone who would like to say a few words will be given a chance. However, Jones said he’d like to keep the ceremony short because it’s what Reece would’ve wanted.

“We all know how important coach Reece was, but he wouldn’t want the attention on him,” Jones said. “He’d want all the attention on the kids and the coaches and the baseball program.”

The ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m., but teams are asked to arrive by 5:30 p.m. The first games of the season will be played Friday and Saturday.