| County Commissioner Bill Krompel, Sheriff James Cordova and Mayor Joe Piccolo cut the ribbon for the opening day of the WBBA. Donations for the renovations of the field in the Toy Atwood Complex were received from Carbon County Recreation and several local businesses in the area. |
After a series of pre-season games, local Western Base-Ball Association (WBBA) leagues kicked off their regular season on Saturday, May 7 in Price, Helper, Wellington, and Sunnyside. Parades in Price and Helper early Saturday morning got activities started in those communities. The Price parade began down Main Street at 8:30 a.m. and Helper started at the R&A Market at 8 a.m.
After appropriate ceremonies at the various fields, a full slate of games took place at the respective fields. The Carbon League, the merged group formally known as Northern Heights and Price National, played four games at the north side park in the Toy Atwood Complex and five games at the south park field. The first game at each site began at 10:30 a.m.
Two games were planned in Wellington, the first at 11:00 a.m. and the second at 1 p.m. Activities began at noon in Sunnyside, two games were on tap for the afternoon.
The Helper league provided breakfast for players and fans at Walt Borla Field immediately following the parade, members of the Clampers provided the food. A special ceremony just prior to the first game honored the memories of the late Mr. And Mrs. Tony Hribar. A plaque honoring the couple was unveiled and their son, Tommy Hribar, had the honor of throwing out the ceremonial “first ball”. The late Tony Hribar served as coach, director, and former president of the Helper league and his wife, Mary, operated the concession stand for several years. Four games followed.