SU baseball, softball to hold alumni games

The Southern University baseball team will host its first alumni game Saturday at noon, at Lee-Hines Field as part of the Homecoming 2004 Game Day Activities.

Scheduled to play for the alumni team are former Jaguars and current pro players: Rickie Weeks (Milwaukee Brewers), Damian Ursin (Cincinnati Reds), Kevin Vital (Houston Astros), Dewon Day (Toronto Blue Jays), Antoine Gray (Chicago White Sox), Michael Woods (Detroit Tigers) and Josh LeBlanc (Anaheim Angels).

Special guest and current major league player with the Chicago Cubs, Trent Hubbard, will also play for the alumni team. 

"We have a great baseball tradition here at Southern, and we want our younger kids to learn some tricks of the trade from some of the best we have produced," said the alumni assistant coach Fernando Puebla.

Also joining the alumni team will be former Jaguars Carl Primus, Melvin Anderson, Robert Primus, Jerel Johnson, Jason Anderson and Jerome Anderson.

"We have a younger team this season, and it gives the guys a chance to see just what caliber of players we produce here at Southern with hard work and dedication," said assistant coach Barrett Rey.

The softball team will also host an alumni game at 10 a.m. and a homerun derby Saturday starting at 2 p.m. as part of Homecoming. 

Both activities will take place at Lady Jags softball field located on the north end of the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

"We wanted to have the game so some of the old players can get involved with the new players," said Lady Jaguar's head coach Nancy Marshall. "We can use the game to tune up and see what we might need to work on."

The alumni game will consist of former players, including members of both the 1999 & 2003 Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship teams.  Also included will be players from the 1996 team, the first softball team at Southern.

Only former players can participate in the alumni softball game, but everyone is encouraged to be a part of the homerun derby.  Interested persons can contact Coach Nancy Marshall or Assistant Coach Wilbert Early at (225) 771-2176.

"We hope to have as many players as we can get," Marshall said.  "I know some of them have gotten a little older, but if they think they can play, they are welcome."

The homerun derby will be used as a fundraiser for the 2005 squad.  For $5.00 participants can receive 10 balls, to see how many you can hit over the outfield fences.  As with any game of chance, the more balls you buy, the better your chances of winning.