Pike Liberal Arts officially kicked off the fall sports schedule Thursday with the Meet the Patriots Rally at Dewight Ward Field at Delaney Kervin Stadium.

Twelve teams and squads were introduced in front of the Patriot faithful.

“To be good today you have to work very hard,” said Pike Liberal Arts Booster Club President John Ramage. “These kids take a week off of school and then they start summer workouts … Tonight is kind of the kickoff of the reward. Tomorrow night football kicks off. They are looking forward to that.”

Four football teams from termites to varsity were announced along with their cheerleaders and dance team. The junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams began their season a week ago.

“The good thing about tonight is you have the seniors and this will be the last time they do this and you have the third-graders who are out here for the first time,” Ramage said. “The great thing about Pike is we are all on one campus. We all choose to be here and it’s a family atmosphere.”

Enrollment at Pike continues to grow each year.

“It’s great we are hitting those numbers,” Ramage said. “It’s not by accident. We have great leaders in lots of key places. We are having growing pains, but that is just part of it. I think we will continue to grow.”

One major announcement that was made on Thursday night was the future development of an indoor batting facility for both the baseball and softball teams.

“It has been a year’s worth of work,” Ramage said. “It is really going to help both of those programs. We play baseball and softball when it’s freezing cold, and it’s raining everyday. Come January those guys and girls will be able to get inside.”

Construction on the hitting facilities is scheduled to begin within the next 30 days.

The varsity football team will take part in the Kingwood Christian Jamboree in Alabaster this afternoon at 4 p.m. The volleyball teams will be in action on Tuesday when they host Lee Scott. The termites, Peewee’s and junior varsity football teams will kick of their seasons on August 30.