By Dan Guttenplan
Sports Editor
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NEWBURYPORT — Pioneer league interim President Dino Pantelis kicked off Opening Day Saturday morning by thanking all of the volunteers and donors for their efforts in achieving Phase 2 in the Diamonds Dreams renovation plan: the opening of Pepe softball field on Merrimac Street.
He then set a goal before the roughly 700 athletes from 58 teams and their parents of achieving Phase 3 by Opening Day next season.
The Pioneer League has opened two new fields in a span of one year. Last year, the first phase finished on time when Hawkes-LaPre Field was completely renovated and unveiled by Opening Day. This year, the respective defending Pioneer League softball champions from each division opened their seasons on the new Pepe Field. Next year, Pantelis plans to open Founders Field on Merrimac Street.
"My message was that we've done two fields," Pantelis said. "We'd like to begin renovations on the third one this fall."
Pantelis estimated that the Pioneer League would need to receive $100,000 in donations before construction workers could break ground on the new field.
"It's a formidable challenge between now and September, but the community has stepped up twice before," Pantelis said.
Pantelis said the league started its season without any major changes from last year with the exception of dropping two senior division teams in baseball.
"A lot of the kids are playing high school baseball or playing golf," Pantelis said. "That's obviously fine, too."
