Leechburg Youth Baseball Association’s opening day will be a blast from the past if Jonathan McLaughlin, president of the association, has anything to say about it.

McLaughlin is inviting everyone to participate who has ever been a part of Leechburg baseball.

“I want anyone and everyone,” he said. “If they raked the field for baseball, I don’t care. If they were affiliated somehow, I want them to come out.”

Former baseball and softball players, coaches, board members, team moms, concession stand workers, umpires, field crew and others who had a hand in the organization will be recognized during the opening-day festivities Sunday.

“I want our current kids to really see everyone that came before them and the impact (the association) makes,” McLaughlin said.

The day will mark the 75th opening day for Leechburg Youth Baseball, which began in 1951. Right before the national anthem, McLaughlin plans to call the former members to the outfield to be recognized.

In addition to the reunion, the day will include food trucks, craft vendors, raffle baskets, a 50/50 drawing and other activities.

Leechburg native Randy Sturgill will be throwing out the first pitch. Sturgill played college baseball at California University of Pennsylvania and pitched for the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League in 2011 and 2012.

“We’re making a big day of it for the community,” McLaughlin said. “Even if you don’t care about the baseball going on, just come out and enjoy the day.”

During the game, the association will honor Jeff Knight of Gilpin, who died suddenly in March.

“He and his wife, Melanie, they are just such community supporters,” McLaughlin said.

He said the couple have always embodied the association’s motto, “the kids first, always.”

“He was a great, stand-up guy,” McLaughlin said.

The association’s board has focused on building the program for the past two years. With most of the board members having played in the association at some point, they all hold the mission of helping the program thrive close to their hearts, McLaughlin said.

Each team has grown since last year, McLaughlin said. The association has enough sign-ups to create four full T-ball teams, two coach-pitch teams with 12 players each, and a combined 10U/12U team with 14 players.

For more information about opening day, visit Leechburg Youth Baseball Association’s Facebook page.