The Kentucky State and Tuskegee baseball teams are taking a different approach to their weekend series at KSU this weekend. The Throbreds and Tigers are having dinner tonight at KSU before their weekend series starting tomorrow. Friday features a 12:00 doubleheader with a single game on Saturday, also at 12:00 PM.
The idea for the shared pre-game meal was born from a conversation KSU Head Coach Rob Henry had with then-Tuskegee Head Coach Montressa Kirby and current Head Coach Reggie Hollins. “Our rivalry with Tuskegee during the five years I’ve been here has been one built on mutual respect between our players and coaching staffs. We’ve had some evenly matched teams and great competitive games and we get after each other when we play, but when the games are over, we leave with a lot of respect for each other. It’s nothing for Coach Hollins and I to call or text each other to check and see how the other one is doing, and we would like for that to extend to our players. Someday, these guys are all going to hang up the spikes, and we’d like to play a small part in helping them expand their network of friends and contacts they can tap into as they move forward in life. These players share a common experience as college baseball players which can be a great starting point for them to develop some lifelong friendships.”
Tuskegee Head Coach Hollins echoed the same sentiments. “Tonight is a special night for both teams. This dinner shows that it’s about more than competing on the baseball diamond, but also building relationships that can last for a lifetime. I am thankful to my good friend and colleague Rob Henry for hosting this dinner!”
Tuskegee and KSU are currently next to each other in the SIAC standings, with Tuskegee holding a 2-1 record after taking 2-3 games at Morehouse College last weekend. The Breds are trailing the Tigers with a 1-2 mark after salvaging the final game of their series at Paine last weekend with an 8-2 win on Sunday.
Courtesy Kentucky State University Head Baseball Coach Rob Henry
This is what baseball is all about, Kudos to the two coaches.