The phrase “Play ball!” rings out around the country every spring, and Pelahatchie High School is no exception. Taking America’s favorite pastime and combining it with the hottest day of the year sparks many a challenge for ball players and fans.
In the 1920s, the school’s baseball team played teams their size within 100 miles. Later, local baseball leagues were formed. Baseball, as it was called, became the students’ favorite pastime. Students’ schools played each other in both the younger and older age groups. In the early years, the players learned to field the basics and to have instilled in themselves sportsmanship and fair play.
Now, back to the present. Thursday, June 29, 2023, to be exact, the weather was already scorching a blazing new record of its own. At 5:30 on the Pelahatchie High School baseball field, future legends took to the bases a rivalry of fun and seriousness. The Alumni versus the current Chief’s Baseball Team. Tip Nutt, the head baseball coach and organizer of this event, was finishing up some field maintenance as the two teams warmed up. Coach Nutt has been the baseball coach here at Pelahatchie High for 5 years and also has a background of 19 years under his belt. He barks some commands at the current team to get ready while he sets up a pitching net at the mound. They are short a few players and he will pitch for both teams. His assistant coach, Andrew Haygood, helps keep the current team organized and focused. When asked what brings them back, the alumni all have various reasons for coming back to play yet again. Some were superstars wanting to relive their glory, others just wanted the exercise, and some have caught on to the spirit that Coach Nutt is trying to spread in the community. He wants to build up the school’s baseball program and the connections that it makes within the surrounding community.
One alumnus, Jake White, says he just wants to come back and beat his younger brother, Isaac, who struck him out the previous year. Two other alumni suddenly agree that they too want to beat Isaac in this year’s game. They chuckle and take to the field for warm-ups. In the home dugout, the current players are complaining about wearing helmets at a friendly game. Coach Nutt informs them that he has responsibility for them, but not the alumni anymore. The words, “Let’s play ball,” sent a current of excitement through the stands. Nearly 50 bystanders were there to watch and yell for their favorites. I feel that I should point out at this point that Isaac White did hit a couple of doubles and scored more than once. The ones paying serious attention to the game should keep their eyes open for freshman Dannon Weaver who made some amazing plays in right field and hit a single and double as well. The game went smoothly with both sides showing their ease and familiarity with the game. The Alumni had a couple of parental fill-ins, and the pitching by Coach Nutt seemed to do well with both teams. The final win may go to the Alumni, but everyone there was a champion.
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