There’s no denying the arrival of spring once the cherry blossoms bloom and spiked cleats begin digging into the dirt at local Little League diamonds across the state.

This past weekend, teams of excited youngsters from around Rhode Island converged to begin a new season on their own field of dreams; searching for a small slice of glory in a world that can so often seem to be overly complicated and working against that simple pursuit of hard-won happiness.

The microcosm of baseball, and Little League specifically, is one worth delving into. This is particularly true during a time when it seems like more and more people are turning away from such storied community endeavors in favor of an isolationist, untrusting approach to their neighbors. Little League reminds us of how communities prosper when they come together.

Teams are sponsored by local businesses that benefit from the additional attention brought by their names and logos emblazoned on outfield signs and jerseys. Players come from every walk of life for a common goal, bringing together neighbors and members of the community who might not ever otherwise say hello to one another; possibly even forming lasting friendships in the meantime. Coaches are comprised of our local police officers, firefighters, teachers, and assorted business owners, all volunteering their time to serve as role models and instructors for kids who may need such a presence in their lives.

Once the action on the field gets going, kids learn incredibly valuable lessons about the spirit of competition, how to persevere through long odds, the difficult but important ability to accept a loss with dignity, and the elation of winning with graciousness; all while getting exercise and sunshine that is so vitally needed when there are no shortage of digital temptations that can lead to depression and increased anxiety.

We are grateful to the people who make such a storied tradition possible in each of our communities, and to the parents who also invest the time in making sure their children have such a valuable experience. While a career in baseball is not a likely end point for most of these kids, the lessons they learn along the way will serve them well in whatever field they wind up in; be it a literal field or not.