Jump Starting The Jays

A special baseball meeting was held last Thursday night in Marianna by officials of the Big Bend Baseball League of Florida.  The meeting, held at  Jim’s Buffet and Grill, was in an effort to recruit additional players for the Jackson County Jays baseball club.  The Jackson County Jays are a member of the  Big Bend Baseball League of Florida and play in the West Division. The league, which is an adult baseball league, has a total of 8 teams that are divided into two divisions (East and West).   The league’s top ranking officials were present at the meeting.  In attendance were League Commissioner Morrell Bailey, Assistant Commissioner Don Stephens (West Division) and Harold Bailey, Director of Publicity and Promotions.  Homer Hirt was also present to show his support for the Jackson County team.  Carol Schauf, the league’s secretary was also present along Harold Bailey’s wife.  Both the ladies were there to try and keep the men folk straight.
The Jays have had difficulties in fielding a competitive team and are in need of additional players.  “With five High Schools in Jackson County that graduate high school baseball players every year there is no reason that Jackson County should not be able to field a solid team,” commented Harold Bailey.  In fact Bailey noted that Jackson County is the largest county in geographical terms of the counties represented in the league.
Several current and prospective players showed up for the meeting and began developing a list of prospects to start calling.  Those prospects included former players from Sneads, Malone, Marianna, Cottondale and Graceville.  Derek Welch, who played at Malone, is one of the players taking the lead on trying to get some additional ball players.  He was getting some help with the prospective list from former Malone Tiger Aaron Conrad and former Marianna High student Dylan Sellers. Their efforts must have paid off as four new players showed up for the games this past Sunday and the Jays gave the first place Liberty County Diamond Dawgs a run for their money, leading at one point 8-7.  Liberty County rallied for a 10-8 win in game one of the double header.  
Anyone wishing to get more information on how to become a member of the Jackson County Jays may contact Derek Welch at 693-0611.