If all goes according to plan, baseball will be played at Lincoln County’s new complex in the spring. On Friday, those who’ve worked to make the complex a reality gathered for a ceremonial ground-breaking.

With shovels in hand, they turned dirt over in preparation for the final phase of construction.

Those who gathered can attest to the challenges that had to be overcome to get to this point. There were naysayers. There were dissenters. There was fear of an economic divide. But the group leading the effort persevered. And we’re glad they did.

When it comes to baseball, Lincoln County self-segregated into the Dr. A.L. Lott league and the Dixie Youth league. Black children played in the Lott league, white children in the other. The new baseball complex has the potential to bring the separated leagues together.

Organizers have stressed that the new fields will be open to every player and league in the county. Organizers have created a foundation to help financially support lower income players, which is currently chaired by Bill Sones.

“The Lincoln Civic Center Foundation will provide monetary and volunteer support — not just for baseball but for all activities,” Sones said. “But my personal interest is to help, monetarily, the kids who can’t afford to play. That’s my real passion.”

The new complex will benefit thousands of ball players for years to come, and it will also boost the local economy.

We’re grateful that a dedicated group of community-minded people saw this project through.