A year after they formed their new league, founders of Tiverton Baseball and more than 100 pint-size players celebrated the opening day of their second season Saturday afternoon at the Town Farm.

As has been a recurring theme this Spring, rain threatened the ceremony, but the skies parted following a three-hour delay and a parade and celebration kicked off just after noon. Seven-year-old Liam Chapman, who is battling health issues and plays for the Orioles, threw out the first pitch, and Blue, the Tiverton police dog, also came out to watch the fun along with other Tiverton officers.

League co-founder Jason Methia said this year's participation of 114 players is slightly down from last year, when 142 signed up for the inaugural campaign. He attributes the lower number to spring soccer, which is drawing big numbers this year, not the quality of the league — "one thing I heard over and over again is how high the level and quality of baseball is," he said. "This is one of the most important things for us."

The league has two Babe Ruth teams, two Majors teams, four minor teams, four rookie teams and an instructional T-Ball division.

— Ted Hayes