Showing off bright smiles and holding hands, hundreds of players marched into Memorial Stadium Thursday during the opening ceremony for the city’s baseball and softball league.

Many wore their jerseys, which showcased sponsors from all over Selma, and ball caps for the first time in front of friends and family. They’ll get to wear them again Friday and Saturday, as every team plays its first game of the year during a packed opening weekend schedule.

“This is all about the kids and seeing the look on their face when they put that uniform on,” said interim recreation director Lebo Jones. “They get a chance to go out there and compete and have fun.”

There are 12 games scheduled for Friday starting at 6 p.m. at the Dallas County Sportsplex and at the Baseball Complex. Forecasts call for up to an up 80 percent chance of rain, but Jones said the city is planning to do anything it can to get the games in.

“We will try to let everybody know as soon as possible [if we have to cancel],” Jones said. “We are going to do all we can to play tomorrow and hopefully Saturday. It’s a long season so we are going to try our best to play this weekend but if not we will make it up later.”

Jones said he if the games are postponed, he would let coaches know as soon as possible Friday morning.

If the rain holds off and the season does get underway Friday, many players will get a chance to play in their first ever youth baseball or softball game, but they aren’t the only ones that might get a case of the butterflies.

Several parents will also be coaching teams for the first time and in many cases they might be even more nervous than the players.

Kenyotta Rucker, head coach of the 9-and 10 year-old Cash & Carry baseball team, is among those coaching for the first time.

“My main focus is the kids and making sure they learn and have fun,” Rucker said. “I’ve always been the kind of person that focuses on young people and that development in whatever they may do. This being my first year, I’m just really looking forward to it.”