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There's no crying in baseball, but Frontier Community Service's World Series Baseball event can certainly bring tears of joy and laughter to your eyes.

The sixth annual game, held at the Kenai Little League fields on Saturday, had everything anyone could want from a baseball game: big hits, diving stops in the field and close plays at home plate to go with lots of laughing and cheering, high fives, autographs, players kissing their baseballs and bats for good luck, and hot dogs, burgers and ice cream for everyone.

The event helps Frontier Community Services, which offers assistance to developmentally disabled individuals among its many programs, raise awareness in the community.

"It's important on a multitude of levels," Ken Duff, Frontier's executive director, said of the annual ballgame. "One, it's consumers being able to come out and do something they typically wouldn't be able to do.

"On top of that, it raises awareness of not just disabilities, but the abilities of people to come out and do things."

In that respect, Duff said, the event is as important for the community as it is for the consumers who participate.

The day started with an opening ceremony during which six teams -- the Red Sox, Orioles, Brewers, Blue Jays, Nationals and Angels -- were led onto the field by a Civil Air Patrol color guard. Joining the opening ceremonies were members of the Peninsula Oilers, a summer collegiate baseball team.

For many players, sharing the playing field with the Oilers was a highlight of the day.

"I'm an Oilers fan -- I go to every game," said Tina Haag, who added that the college-level ballplayers taught her how to throw harder.

For others, the highlight was on the field, where they heard their name announced over the public address system and chanted by the crowd, took their cuts at the plate and rounded the bases.

Dan Endicott of Soldotna said he had a pair of home runs during the day's competition. It was his third time playing in the event.

"Playing the game is fun," Endicott said, adding that he's a baseball fan.

Elijah Stafford of Kenai said his favorite part was getting a home run -- and driving in three teammates.

"The way they play is not typical," said Scott Snodgress, an Oilers pitcher from Stanford University, noting that players would sometimes skip the tag out, instead letting the runner have the base. "It's more a loving sort of way to play the game. It's a good atmosphere. It's fun to be around everyone."

And for some -- like Darryl Magen of Soldotna -- the best part was the ice cream after the game.

Carl's Jr. served up more than 400 burgers and the ice cream for the event, to go along with salmon on the grill.

Joe Malatesta, who good-naturedly called the balls and strikes and hatched the event six years ago, called it a great day.

"It's always a good time had by all. It's always a good crowd," he said.

Kathy Kenner, the Frontier Community Services office manager and World Series coordinator, did him one better: "It was the most awesome day."

Will Morrow can be reached at will.morrow@peninsulaclarion.com.