Kennett Co-ed Sports have opening day at revitalized Jones Park

KENNETT, Mo. - What started off as a vision and dream for Darrell Watson and Kennett Co-ed Sports came into fruition on Saturday, Aug. 24. 

The newly revitalized Darrell Watson Field at Jones Park hosted its first round of softball games for the inaugural Kennett Co-ed Sports slow pitch softball league.

After an ice storm froze over Kennett in 2009, Jones Park and its softball field fell victim to the aftermath. According to Watson, it was impossible to play on the disregarded field.

“Jones park was a disaster,” Watson said. “There were lights here and some of the lights fell, the storm destroyed some of the fencing, every bit of the grass was in the infield and it was a lot higher.”

This is the first time in over 15 years anyone has been able to play softball at Jones Park. 

As the Co-ed Sports league hosted their inaugural games on Saturday at Jones Park, they announced the softball field to officially be named Darrell Watson Field. 

“As the saying goes, ‘you build, they will come’,” Darrell said. “Well, our park, the city of Kennett’s Park, the county of Dunklin’s Park, even though it's not complete because there’s still many things to do, it is ready this day for softball.”

Prior to the games on Saturday, Co-ed Sports held an opening ceremony to recognize and celebrate the league finally starting play after a year of planning.

Kennett Mayor Jake Crafton addresses the crowd for the opening ceremony at Darrell Watson softball fieldPhoto by Kaelin Triggs, staff.

Watson was honored by the league in his work to prepare the softball field for play. The Kennett Fire Department held the U.S. flag over the field as the ceremony proceeded with a prayer over the league players and the field along with a singing of the national anthem. 

Following the prayer and national anthem, Kevin Ward threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Charles Smith to mark the first pitch ever on the new softball field.

Kennett Mayor Jake Crafton acknowledged his admiration for the hard work of community members to come together to make a positive change.

“If this project doesn’t inspire you,” Crafton said. “To see what can happen from a nothing-but-grass field and neglected for at least 20 years turned into this strictly by the vision and the want to succeed, not from the city government, but from citizens. This is a prime example of what I hope we become as a city. If we can keep visions like this moving, getting created and sheer work and desire to make it succeed, we’ll have a winning city.”

After the opening ceremonies, it was time to play ball.

The league played five games on the historic Saturday. Kennett’s Rotary Club opened up with the first win in league play.

The Rotary Club along with Next in Line, First State Community Bank and the Misfits picked up their first wins of the season on Saturday to start off 1-0. The team name Trash Talkers lost their first match against First State Community Bank, but came back to win their second game against Rent 2 Go, giving them a 1-1 record after opening day.

Next in Line sits at the top of the standing after Saturday with a 1-0 record. They scored 21 runs to lead the league. Tied for second is First State Community and Rotary Club which both scored 14 runs in opening play.

As community members made their way to Jones Park to watch some softball games, Watson addressed the crowd and invited them to walk down memory lane with him.

He told stories of how he spent his youth at this very softball field, creating core memories with his father. He said he is proud to bring spark to a field which hasn’t had a pulse in over 20 years.

“There are so many great hill softball players, including my dad, that are playing on the best field now,” Watson said. “They are looking down on us saying ‘Way to go, you guys did good.’”