The Columbus High School baseball team First-Pitch Banquet will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the school’s cafeteria.
Former Columbus High, Itawamba Community College, and Mississippi State football standout Tyson Lee will be the guest speaker.
“We use it to kick off the season, establish some alumni support, and get them back involved in the program,” Columbus High coach Jeff Cook said. “It’s a good way to come out and see the players we have and, of course, listen to Tyson, who is a fine speaker. It’s a good way to get the season started.”
All alumni is invited to attend the banquet and to participate in an alumni game at 11 a.m. Saturday. That game will be followed by a purple and gold scrimmage at 1 p.m.
Anybody who wants to play in the game can contact Cook at 587-1993, call Columbus High (241-7200) or e-mail Cook at cookj@columbus.k12.ms.us.
The event will serve as a fundraiser for the baseball team, which will travel next month to Orlando to participate in a tournament at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. The tournament will be March 13-19.
The banquet will feature a silent auction of sports memorabilia, which will include Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken Jr., Ryne Sandberg, Colby Rasmus, Hines Ward, Mike Mussina, Dale Murphy, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine items and more.
Tickets are $10, which includes choice of smoked chicken or grilled pork chops with baked beans, potato salad, and dessert.
Columbus High will open the 2010 season with a seven-team jamboree at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 20. Caledonia, Hamilton, Heritage Academy, New Albany, New Hope, and West Point also will compete in the jamboree, which will feature four-inning games.
The final game of the jamboree will begin at 6:30 p.m.
