The spring season may have officially started on March 20, but it didn't seem like spring until this past Saturday as the Johnston Recreation youth all-girls softball teams swung into action, opening their softball season at Woodlake Park in front of Mayor Joseph Polisena, Johnston dignitaries and many supportive parents.

"There are 175 girls playing softball; it starts with … 5- to 6-year-olds and goes to U-16," explained Jack Plouffe, head coach of Councilman Robert Russo's U-10 team.

Plouffe said there are six U-10 teams that don't keep track of scores and two U-12 teams and two U-16 teams that do keep score. All the games are played at Woodlake Park and all teams will have playoffs at the end of June.

"It is a great day for the girls, they get to make new friends and be with old friends, and have fun," said Polisena.

It may have been Johnston against Johnston but it was all in fun as the girls started playing scrimmage games, which consisted of each team playing two innings instead of a full game.

Before the girls separated into their teams and went to different Woodlake fields to play, they first gathered in Woodlake's middle field so Mayor Polisena could throw out the first pitch to Lindsay Haskins of Dimitri Law U-16 softball team.

Polisena wasn't alone on the mound as he threw out the first pitch, he was surrounded by many of Johnston's dignitaries, including Sen. Christopher Maselli, Johnston Town Council President Robert Russo, Vice President Stephanie Manzi, Town Councilman Ernest Pitochelli, Rep. Stephen Ucci, Rep. Peter Petrarca and School Committeeman Robert Lafazia.

"The Johnston recreation center is doing an exemplary job with a skeleton crew," Polisena said, adding the volunteers, coaches and parents are the backbone of youth recreation.

Johnston Parks and Recreation Director Dan Mazzulla Jr. is asking all parents to please volunteer at the snack bar.

For more information, visit www.johnstonrec.com.