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Clinton Day Debuts at MC Baseball Doubleheader May 3


MC pitcher Brooks Fortenberry of Magee, Miss.

President Lee Royce and Clinton Mayor Phil Fisher will toss the ceremonial first pitches, free hot dogs go to fans, and there’s a baseball doubleheader being played at Mississippi College.

The combo is part of the inaugural Clinton Day on Saturday May 3 at Frierson Field. Admission is free to both games on the diamond at noon and 2:45 p.m. There will be time for Clinton area youngsters to run on the field with their favorite Choctaws players.

The Mississippi College contests with American Southwest Conference foe Texas-Tyler will close out the 2014 baseball season for the Choctaws.

Clinton Day comes as MC athletic teams make the transition to rejoin NCAA Division II ranks and the Birmingham-based Gulf South Conference for the first time since 1996 starting this fall. MC has played for nearly two decades in NCAA Division III and the Texas-based ASC.

With temperatures expected to be in the mid-70s under sunny skies, the spring weather in Central Mississippi should be perfect for fans catching the Choctaws twin bill. Visitors are eligible to win door prizes every inning thanks to local businesses like Zaxby’s, Applebees, Hungry Howie, Newks and Farm Bureau insurance.

The Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Clinton public schools, area businesses, Clinton Parks and Recreation Department, and Choctaws fans are rallying around this event, said David Nichols, MC’s sports information director.

Also scheduled Saturday: Clinton High student Nia Sims will sing the National Anthem. David Eldridge, pastor at First Baptist Church Clinton, is invited to deliver the invocation. The event will pay tribute to fans and paramedics reviving a grandmother passing out in the stands during an MC baseball game in early March.

Don Fortenberry, father of MC Choctaws baseball player Brooks Fortenberry, helped organize the initial Clinton Day. His son is a talented 6’5” MC junior and left-handed pitcher who’s a Magee High graduate.

“Two Choctaw victories would be the icing on the cake,” Don Fortenberry said. One of his buddies from Magee will run the grill. He’s bringing at least 1,000 hot dogs for hungry Choctaws fans.

For more information, contact David Nichols at 601.925.3234 or Nichols@mc.edu or Don Fortenberry at 601.382.2171.