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Those attending this weekend's annual Monroe youth baseball/softball opening day will be treated to "vintage base ball" and other festivities.

The Cincinnati Buckeyes, an amateur team that plays the game according to the rules of 1869, will face the Monroe Nine, a team of local coaches and fans, in an exhibition game at Monroe Community Park on Saturday at 11 a.m.

"We just wanted to do something new at the park this year, something to keep the fans at the park longer," Monroe Sports Association board member and Monroe Nine team member Roger Pyle said.

The Buckeyes, named after one of the original baseball teams formed in Cincinnati after the conclusion of the Civil War, dresses in 1860's attire and plays the game the way it was played back then, which includes not wearing gloves in the field. They also play by "gentlemen's rules" in which there is no spitting, swearing or any other conduct that may be considered "offensive to a lady." They also congratulate opponents when a good play is made and help umpires judge close plays. Players on the Monroe Nine team will have to play by the vintage rules.

"It should be interesting for us," Pyle said.

Other noticeable differences in the vintage game include underhand pitching, the lack of a pitcher's mound and only one umpire working the game. The umpire typically stands behind and off to the side of the field, does not call balls and strikes and enlists the help of players and spectators alike to make close calls.

The days festivities will begin with a parade from the old Lemon Monroe High School to Monroe Community Park. Parade participants will assemble in the west parking lot of the old high school from 9:30-9:45 a.m. and the parade will begin at 10 a.m. The parade will proceed out of the school parking lot, up West Elm Street to South Main Street and down South Main Street to the park entrance. The parade will be followed by a raffle and welcome from the Monroe Sports Association. Bean soup and corn bread will be available at the log cabin compliments of the Monroe Historical Society.

Following the morning festivities, the first slate of baseball games will begin at 1 p.m. and there will be youth exhibition games and skills competitions going on throughout the day.

Contact this reporter at dgedney@coxohio.com.

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