The 58th year of the Napa Valley Girls Fastpitch Association began at 8 a.m. Sunday with Napa Mayor Jill Techel telling the players on the 13 softball teams gathered around the edge of the outfield grass at Kiwanis Park that they’re part of a summer tradition.

“You’re in for a wonderful summer,” said Techel, a special guest at the league’s hour-long Opening Day program. “It’s a great place to spend your summer here at this wonderful field in the middle of Napa. I am so pleased to be part of this tradition. I hope you have a wonderful summer, and to all of you the best of luck.”

Techel was joined by three other guests — Napa High School softball coach John O’Connor, Vintage coach Ward Mullins, and Nadine Knedel of the Napa Junior Girls Softball League — who took part in the festivities. The ballpark, located on the corner of Elm and Coombs streets, was dressed up with red, white and blue bunting. League officials have been working on the field since February to make sure it was ready to go this month.

“Honestly, it takes a village to run this program — a village of volunteers,” said Wendy Brady, the league’s president.

The NVGFA honored the late John Sapata, acknowledging his support and dedication to the league over the years. The league recognized Sapata, who founded the Napa Sports Officials Association and was in charge of umpires for youth and adult softball in the area for 20 years, with plans to award a scholarship annually to a graduating senior in his name. Sapata also coached youth softball, was a board member and executive board member with the NVGFA, and was involved in the Napa Junior Girls Softball League. Sapata passed away in January. He was 54.

“He has done so much for our league,” said Kristen Grubbs, who is on the league’s executive board as a player representative and is also the manager of Conwell Insurance, a Senior Division team. “John was a longtime umpire, a fan of softball. He was always the first person to buy a kid a soda at the snack bar and help out with our 50-50 raffle.

“He was always out here, giving just the extra mile so everybody could participate in the league. He was a really good person, a good friend.”

League officials observed a moment of silence in memory of Sapata.

Sapata’s wife, Cathy, threw out the first pitch at the ceremonies to get the spring and summer softball league off and going. Jason Sapata, John’s son, was on the receiving end of the ceremonial first pitch. A plaque was presented to Cathy Sapata.

“John encouraged, supported and challenged the young women to profoundly benefit from their experiences here in this league,” said Dick McCulley, a coach with MIV, a Senior team. “But above all, John also believed in scholastic performance. And he believed that their experiences here along with scholastic performances would better prepare the girls to meet the challenges in their life ahead.”

The John Sapata Scholarship will be presented each year to a graduating senior who best epitomizes the scholastic athlete.

“John was such an integral part of the league becoming a place where these girls could come out and have a good time and learn the game,” said Grubbs. “All of us are better people for having known John. He wasn’t out here for the glory, he was out here for his girls to learn the game.

“John understood and he stressed the importance of getting an education and doing well in school and knowing that sports and school go hand in hand. As long as we keep his spirit alive out here, teaching these girls, he’ll live on forever.”

The national anthem was performed by Jessica Brady, who is with the Vintage High concert choir. There was also a raffle.

Binstock Enterprises, Coleman Insurance, Fosters, Jonesy’s, Napa Valley Engraving, Steves Hardware and Kiwanis are the major teams, made up of players ages 13-15. Bicycle Works, Branagan Insurance, Conwell Insurance, Fazerrati’s, MIV Insurance and Silverado Veterinary Hospital play in the senior division, comprised of players ages 16-18.

“It’s going to be a very competitive, fun and exciting year,” said Brady.

There were six games, starting at 10 a.m. and continuing until 10 p.m., that were played yesterday to start the 2007 season. The NVGFA plays its games Sunday through Friday, the majority of those being at night.

Playoffs in mid July lead up to the city championships that will crown division winners.

“I think that we just have a diverse group of girls,” said Grubbs. “It’s not based on talent, it’s just based on age, and everybody gets to play. I just think that it makes it a good environment for all of the girls to learn and be a little bit competitive, but most importantly have fun with the game of softball. I really think that the league does a good job of gearing everything toward the girls to come out here and have a good time and to learn the game of softball.”