Russell Steiner, the father of former Iberia Athletic Association player John Steiner, throws out the first pitch during IAA opening ceremonies Saturday afternoon at the Airbase fields. The IAA is dedicating the 2016 season to the memory of John Steiner, who died during the 2015 season.

Saturday was opening day for two youth baseball and softball organizations in New Iberia as Evangeline Little League kicked off its 54th season and the Iberia Athletic Association marked its inaugural season in the PONY organization in ceremonies at the leagues’ two ballparks.

Parish President M. Larry Richard threw out the first pitch at Evangeline Little League Saturday morning. The league also honored former president Jim Picheloup for his six years service in that role from 2009-14.

Around 500 players are signed up for this season, ELL president Misty Mellon-Montgomery said. Players, parents, coaches and league board members were joined at the opening ceremonies by parish and city officials for the opening ceremony before games got underway.

The league begins its season Monday.

IAA honored its 2015 Babe Ruth 15U state championship team, though most of the players from the team were absent as they are on high school baseball teams that were playing Saturday. Around 275 young players are registered this year, league director Kenneth Stansbury said.

Stansbury said the move to PONY this year from the Babe Ruth organization was not because of any dissatisfaction with the previous league.

But there were few leagues in the organization in the area, and the IAA All-Star teams played their district and state tournaments far away. The costs for parents to rent hotel rooms and for the league to travel so far was tough in the current economy, Stansbury said. 

PONY district tournaments for the local teams are much closer in Youngsville and Broussard, for the most part, he said.

As the opening ceremony drew to a close, Stansbury announced that the season will be dedicated to the memory of John Michael Steiner, an IAA player who drowned last season. 

A large group of Steiner’s family members attended the ceremony, including parents Russell and Michelle Steiner. Blake Steiner read a message from the family remembering his younger brother.