Gainesville District Little Leaguers gained access to the Catharpin Park fields off of Sudley Road for the first time last autumn for fall ball. So, yeah, the new fields have already been christened and there’s not too much new to report on that end.

But this is the spring. Fall is for football; spring is for baseball and softball.

And now Cathparin Park actually feels like a real field too for the Little Leaguers.

"...Compared to last year, it is really coming along a lot better than last year. The grass is really coming in," said Chris Howell, manager of the Group A Raptors.

According to Howell, grounders shoot through the infield and outfield grasses "a little more crisp" while Brett Andrews, manager of the Group AA Yankees, opined, "I don't know that I've seen a nicer field than what they've done there at Catharpin."

The GDLL spring season began this past Saturday with opening day ceremonies taking place at Catharpin Park. Four other fields in western Prince William County, including Long Park and Pace West in Haymarket, Tyler Elementary in Gainesville and Bristow Run Elementary in Bristow, are also set to host games and practices throughout the spring, and the effect of having a new set of fields is paying off for the entire league.

Previously on opening day, parking had "been a nightmare," according to Andrews. "So, it's been good with having more availability to practice and [have] some flexibility on that."

Barabara Holowecki, a team mom for the Group AA Rays, explained that parking at Pace West and Bristow Run for practices and games is easier now too.

"It seems the schedule is more conducive to every day. I noticed a huge difference in the fall with the new field available," she said.

But for the kids actually playing ball, that's all politics. Now, it's all about the game.

Andrews recalled a play set up on Saturday by shortstop Tiara Newman and third baseman Claire Lancaster that made the parents in the stands erupt into applause.

With the baseball game tied and the opposing team having runners on first and second in what could have been the last inning, a grounder made its way toward Lancaster. She inched forward, scooped up the loose ball, turned to third base, and without any prompting, there was Newman, ready to catch the ball and record the inning-ending force out that kept the game alive for the Yankees.

Such an act "is not something 8-year olds tend to do," Andrews said.

Howell, a rookie manager coaching at the pitching machine level, said the mission for his team is simply to enjoy their time on the field and improve their skills.

"I could really care less if we win or not," he said,

It's a sentiment shared by Andrews, who began coaching for GDLL in 2004.

"Some of the strongest memories I have about baseball are pitching to my dad..." said Andrews.

Baseball, like an old photograph, is passed down in families from generation to generation. For example, Holowecki's father coaches her son Kanoa Akau, now in his nine Little League season.

"The most important thing for them is to have fun because if they have fun, they'll play hard," Andrews said about the players. "If they have fun, they'll pay attention. If they have fun, they want to play more."