Opening Day Home Run Kicks Off Green Hornets’ 70th Anniversary

Baseball and softball Opening Day ceremonies in Maryland are as unpredictable as the Orioles’ season, and they often succumb to the ever-changing Maryland weather. League commissioners are always at the mercy of April showers. Luckily for the nearly 900 players in the Greater Severna Park Athletic Association who anxiously awaited the kickoff the Green Hornets’ 70th year on Saturday, April 6, at Kinder Farm Park, Mother Nature decided not to deliver the fans a curveball.

“We plan Opening Day each year knowing there is a 50/50 chance we could possibly be rained out, snowed out or simply frozen out,” said Michael Phillips, Green Hornets baseball commissioner. “This past Saturday, we were blessed with what I believe might have been the most beautiful weather we have experienced on Opening Day in the past 10 years.”

Opening Day is filled with decades-long tradition. The annual parade of teams and banner contest was spectacular, and the Wild Pitch, Hit & Run competition was made extra special for the kids because they were escorted by Severna Park High School players from the varsity and junior varsity softball and baseball teams.

The annual Wild Pitch, Hit, & Run effort is coordinated by the Wild family in memory of their son, Taylor Wild, a former Marine and Severna Park High School baseball player.

“We had about 140 youth players compete in the Wild Pitch, Hit & Run. We are so proud every year to keep a connection to Green Hornets and Severna Park baseball and softball,” Betz Wild said. “So many memorable moments in Taylor’s life happened while playing sports. As a big brother, Taylor was always good to his siblings, Griffin and Libby. The high school players did a great honor to Taylor by showing the youth players kindness and encouragement. We are so thankful to the high school coaches for helping to make this a great event for everyone!”

Now in her first year at the helm of Green Hornets softball, commissioner Christina Young had the perfect way to honor Eddie Proulx — a former Green Hornets baseball player whose life was tragically cut short on March 1, 2019 — while highlighting an up-and-coming pitching standout, Lydia Proulx.

“Opening Day was an amazing first experience for me as commissioner,” Young said. “The highlight of my morning was watching my own daughter, Megan Young, catch the first pitch thrown by Lydia Proulx, who stood perfectly confident on the mound and nailed her underarm pitch straight to home plate. The sound from the crowd’s cheers are still echoing in my ears days later. It truly was an amazing moment for all.”

Lydia is wearing her brother’s No. 43 in his honor this season.

The occasion was also special for Michael Phillips, a Severna Park native who can remember four decades ago standing in line at Severna Park Middle School with his mother while waiting to register for Green Hornets baseball.

“It is an honor for me to play a small part in carrying on the now 70-year-old vision of Harvey Garcelon, who formed the first Green Hornets teams back in 1949. As baseball commissioner, I hold the bragging rights to overseeing the longest standing Green Hornets sport,” Michael Phillips said.

“I’ve now come full circle in the Green Hornets program as a player, father of sons who played Green Hornets sports and are now in high school, coach and administrator,” Phillips continued. “My guess is there were a few hundred kids in the baseball program when I first played. Our program has grown to more than 760 players in the spring who play America’s favorite pastime and more than 350 players who join us again when autumn rolls around for fall baseball.”

The parade of teams proudly walked behind their banners down the asphalt path at Kinder, through the “tunnel of brotherhood and sisterhood” formed by the Severna Park High School baseball and softball players. They went out onto the 90-inch baseball diamond, filling the infield three rows deep with teams. Michael Phillips was struck by the emotional tradition and strong sense of community.

“As I stood on the mound and looked around at all the Green Hornets and Severna Park High School baseball and softball players and coaches circling the infield, I was overwhelmed be the realization that baseball is not only a game but a sport that binds communities, families and friends like none other,” he said.

Grayson Phillips and Colin Gillespie presented the Maryland and United States flags as part of Boy Scout Troop 450 before Cameron White, a freshman at Archbishop Spalding, sang the national anthem. Then, commissioners Young and Phillips stood on the pitcher’s mound and jointly shouted what everyone came to hear: “play ball!”

What Coaches Said About Opening Day

“I am just honored to be a small part of such a great tradition. The Green Hornets is such a wonderful organization for so many kids, including my own, over the years. I would like to thank the Green Hornets for including the Severna Park High School baseball team in the festivities.”

-Eric Milton, SPHS Varsity Baseball Head Coach

“I always look forward to the Green Hornets Opening Day because it brings back lots of great memories while raising my own children. In representing Severna Park High School as a coach, I enjoy bringing my team each year and seeing them interacting with the young kids.”

-Dave Ferris, SPHS Junior Varsity Baseball Head Coach