For the baseball players at Picayune Memorial High School, the season never ends as they focus on escalating their talents each and every day. To make sure that the players only have to worry about themselves, the Maroon Tide Diamond Club also works year round to take care of the team’s needs.

Even though the high school’s baseball season doesn’t begin until late February, Gerald Wells, fundraiser chair of the Diamond Club, said they are working as hard as ever to get everything lined up for this upcoming season.

“The Diamond Club is always looking for ways to raise funds for these players,” Wells said. “Right now I’m in fence sign mode trying to find local businesses that want real estate on the fence surrounding the field.”

It is commonly assumed that booster clubs like the Diamond Club only operate during the respective season. However, Wells said that without the support of the booster club, the players would not have the luxuries that come along with being part of a team.

“I don’t know what would happen if any high school sports program did not have the support of their booster club,” Wells said. “We wouldn’t have things like updated equipment, a nice facility or the concession stand for the fans.”

Throughout the year, the Maroon Tide Diamond Club holds multiple fundraisers including a 5K run in January. In June, the Picayune Diamond Club held its first golf tournament fundraiser to support the team’s new Head Coach, Cody Stogner, and the Maroon Tide baseball team.

Stogner said his goal is to raise funds for a special project each year. This year, that project is to build a roof for the bullpen, which can cost around $7,000, Wells said. Also, the Diamond Club is seeking to raise funds to construct a roof over the middle of the bleachers for spectators to be protected from bad weather and the sun.

“It means a great deal for the kids to be able to go out and do what they love without worry. We want to make sure that is all taken care of,” Wells said.

The overall goal of the Picayune Diamond Club is to make sure that players and their families do not have to pay for equipment such as hats, jerseys, bats, gloves and all the expenses of playing the sport because, “having these type of things is what the proper experience of being on a team is about,” Stogner said.

Wells said that they are there for the team’s needs in order to help it be successful during the season. With the support of the Diamond Club and the community, Stogner and the Maroon Tide baseball team are working hard to raise funds for top tier equipment in order to become a top tier contender this upcoming season.

The Diamond Club is looking for new members. Coach Stogner would like to encourage the community to rally behind the team by joining the Diamond Club. Anyone interested in becoming a member can contact Amy Smith, secretary of the club, at joshamysmith@bellsouth.net for an application form.