AMERICA’S PASTIME: Former Picayune Baseball players Richard Imhoff, Hunter Gill and Heath Stevens play in the 2013 Alumni Game. This year the game will be a co-ed, slow-pitch softball game with former Picayune Softball players.
Photo submitted

Picayune baseball coach Cayne Stockstill and softball coach Kristi Mitchell have come up with a new twist to the annual alumni games. This year instead of a separate alumni baseball and softball game, the coaches have decided to have a co-ed slow-pitch softball game.

Mitchell said the game will be odd years versus even years and they are hoping to get about 45 players registered for the game at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lady Tide Park.

The reason for the change to the game comes from Mitchell’s difficulty getting enough softball players to register.

“It’s real hard for us to get enough girls here to put two teams together because they’re at that age where they’re young mothers, expecting babies,” Mitchell said.

She said this is the first time in about five years they have been able to do an alumni softball game.

“We just wanted to bring a lot of the old guys back and let them mingle with the younger guys,” Stockstill said about why they started the alumni games. “It lets the younger guys see what kind of tradition and what kind of upstanding guys we’ve had come through the program.”

Mitchell said alumni players would pay a registration fee that will help the baseball and softball programs at Picayune High School. The alumni players will get a t-shirt and be fed jambalaya and other treats as a thank you for participating.

“It’s sort of a fundraiser, but it’s more or less about bringing the old girls and guys back to let them be a part of the program again,” Stockstill said.

Both Mitchell and Cayne have fond memories and say the players have enjoyed it in the past.

Stockstill said for a lot of the guys it’s about getting to see each other.

“It may be the only time they get to see each other all year and baseball is that special bond that brings you back together,” Stockstill said.

“The last time we did an alumni game it was fun because the girls brought out their children and we took a family photo,” Mitchell said. “So it was real nice seeing the ladies and where they’ve progressed to in their lives.”

Mitchell and Stockstill invite anyone in the community to come out to the game. There is no fee at the gate and concessions will be sold with proceeds going to both programs.

Mitchell said she’s sure she’ll “provide plenty of entertainment.”