By: Brandon Speck
Baseball is taking center stage – but also a back seat today in Saltillo.
When Saltillo hosts Amory in a noon-first pitch, it’s more than win or a loss. The Tigers have teamed up with the likes of the City of Saltillo, Saltillo Main Street and many others to add meaning to Amory’s first game back since a devastating tornado destroyed the town last week.
“We’re doing free admission, get all the people we can there,” Saltillo coach Eric Reynolds said. “All the proceeds, anything we can do to generate some revenue for them that they need to play their season is what we’re trying to accomplish here.”
All proceeds, including concession earnings, will go to help Amory rebuild. Saltillo teachers raised more than $1,000 and there have been individual donors. North Pontotoc’s baseball boosters are feeding the team, plus took up donations.
The game was originally scheduled to be played Saturday in Amory, but the Panthers lost their field in the tornado.
The dugout is gone. The press box is gone. Bleachers are destroyed. Roofs are gone off of facilities. Light poles are snapped in half. And that’s not even all the damage. All of the nearby facilities are destroyed.
“Two storied programs, both state champions, but you set all that aside and it’s two local communities getting to spend time with each other,” Reynolds said. “We want to make sure we make the transition back to playing as good as it can possibly be.”
Magnolia Hoops 