WHITE OAK, Texas — There are few things better than baseball on a summer night. Thanks to the Piney Woods Timberhogs, fans in East Texas get just that.
"Yeah the Timberhogs is something in the making the last 20 months, we actually put together the league over the last two years, for the Mid America League," Timberhogs president David Upchurch said.
Upchurch has helped run the youth-sports academy “Five Star Performance Baseball” for the last ten years, working with kids from ages 8 to 18. He wanted a way to get some of those kids he had coached who were in college back developing in East Texas during the summer. The Timberhogs and five other teams came together to form the Mid America League, which is currently in its inaugural season and the team’s reach has gone way beyond East Texas.
"Two boys here from Cuba. 6’7, 6’8 right-handed pitcher. He’s leading the league in ERA. Also Juan Mario, who’s the outfielder from Cuba as well, he’s leading the league in hitting home runs. And we have a gentleman here also from Japan," Upchurch said.
Upchurch said the Timberhogs have run a few promotions this season to draw fans, but one that was always important to him was Sunday's First Responders and Military Appreciation night. It was put together by Upchurch along with Minutemen Coffee, a craft roaster founded and operated by veterans and one of the Timberhogs sponsors.
"First responders for me, and on the veterans side is one of the most important things that we can do. Our veterans have basically signed a blank check for their country and their life, and the sacrifice that they’ve made and their families have made, it’s our responsibility to not only honor them but support them in every way that we can," founder and president of Minutemen Coffee, Don Aman said.
It was a great opportunity to enjoy a beautiful summer night, take in America’s pastime, and honor those who have served.
"We have the group that’re serving our country, and we have the group that’re serving our communities, and we have to support them," Aman said.