Nearly 450 local youngsters – with bats, balls, gloves and caps – will file in to the city’s Hogan Park fields early Saturday and get ready for a new season, waiting to hear the words “Play Ball!”

Opening Day for the 2015 Babe Ruth baseball and softball season in Escalon will be marked on Saturday, March 7 with special ceremonies starting at 8 a.m.

Mayor Gary Haskin and councilmember Robert Swift are expected to serve as emcees, as the teams take their places on the field for introductions. T-Ball through Majors division players are ready for the new season.

“We have 445 kids, 40 teams,” said Bridget Gaines of the city’s Recreation Department. “That’s up about 50 kids from last year.”

The special program will also include the throwing out of the first pitch by Juliya Roche, the 2014 Miss Escalon first runner-up, then the teams will be ready for a full day of competition.

Many of the teams are sponsored by local businesses, with some also sponsored by the Escalon Recreation Department.