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A sea of hair bows, eyeblacks and cleats of all shapes and colors adorned Veterans Memorial Park on March 6 for Hollister Heat’s opening ceremony.
Like the games, the ceremony produced a variety of emotions from the happy faces crossing the fog to enter the field to the love shown to player Avery Trevino, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia.
With the first pitch dedicated to Trevino, the entire field and spectators broke into an “Avery, Avery” chant.
“We love her,” Hollister Heat board president Gina Annotti said. “She is one of ours. If you know how we are in the Heat, it doesn’t matter if it’s our daughter, our granddaughter playing, they are all heat girls.”
The organization is also showing its support by having Trevino’s own team called Avery’s Angels and the umpires embellishing “Avery’s Angels” on the leukemia ribbon image on the back of their shirt.
The ceremony included more than 400 young softball players ages 4 through 14 marching around the bases to the beat of their walkout songs, prayers and the traditional first pitch.
For Golden Glove Girls player Giselle Reyes, 10, she said she is excited to enter into her second season because she gets to meet new people.
“I just like making new friends,” she said.
She said this year she is trying pitching after having played outfield and infield in her first year.
In her third season, outfielder Raelynn Hunt, 7, said her favorite memory on the diamond is when she got a hit with the Pink Flamingos.
“I like hitting the ball really far and getting on a great team,” she said.
Hunt, whose twin also plays softball, said she wants to work on her pitching this season.
The celebration also included a ribbon-cutting for the Rookie Field for the 4-to-6-year-old athletes.
Annotti said the project had been in the works for five years and the organization considered different uses for that area, including as a batting cage.
“Now they have their own field,” she said. “It’s really cool.”
Hollister Heat also recognized county employee Lupe Vasquez; Annotti said he and his crew have maintained the fields for over a decade.
“He saw the vision and he has helped so much,” Annotti said. “Our park is really beautiful because everyone joined together and he is a big part of it.”
Following the ceremony, the first game was held in the Majors division.
Hollister Heat was founded in 1991 and offers play year round. This season it has 30 teams.
“Hollister Heat is thankful for past boards, current board members and the volunteers that make the organization great,” Annotti said.
Avery’s Angels player throws out the ceremonial first pitch. Photo by Noe Magaña. 
Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard during the national anthem. Photo by Noe Magaña. 
Two players holding hands during the ceremony. Photo by Noe Magaña. 
A Mini Firecrackers player steps on second base during the opening ceremony. Photo by Noe Magaña. 
Players donned colorful cleats for the Hollister Heat opening ceremony. Photo by Noe Magaña. 
Players wore the traditional hair bows during the opening ceremonies. Photo by Noe Magaña. 
Rookie team Blue Diamonds rounding first base. Photo by Noe Magaña.
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