Former Diamond Dogs Return to Starkville for Baseball Alumni Weekend

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) —A weekend filled with golf, football, food, fellowship and, of course, baseball, awaits former players, managers and trainers attending the 2012 Mississippi State Baseball Alumni Weekend activities on the MSU campus this weekend.

Former Diamond Dog Paul Maholm is expected to be one of the many MSU alumni returning to Starkville this weekend.

Eight decades of Mississippi State baseball will be represented among the Diamond Dogs returning for the weekend’s events, which begins Friday with a 1:30 p.m. golf tournament at the MSU Institute of Golf. Following the golf event Bulldog head coach John Cohen and his wife Nelle will host a barbecue dinner for the returnees.

“It’s a thrill for our staff and players to welcome back our baseball alumni,” said Cohen. “We certainly treasure the many contributions of the former players, managers, trainers and coaching staffs and feel like we’ve planned something that will be enjoyed by all of those returning this weekend. It’s doesn’t get much better — having fellowship with friends and former teammates capped with a chance to see Dan Mullen’s top 20-ranked football team play.”

A busy day awaits the baseball returnees Saturday, beginning at Noon at Dudy Noble Field with a home run derby/batting practice. A three-inning alumni game will follow at 1 p.m. ahead of Mississippi State’s scheduled 2:15 p.m. fall practice scrimmage

Family members of the former MSU players will have an opportunity to watch Saturday’s baseball activity at Dudy Noble Field from the dugout and other field level areas. Later they will have an opportunity to tour MSU’s baseball facilities, including the player locker room, the Palmeiro Center, the alumni skysuite at Dudy Noble Field and the Templeton Center for Athletic Academics.

The former Diamond Dogs complete the busy baseball alumni weekend schedule Saturday night at 8 p.m. with tickets to the sold out MSU-Tennessee football game at Davis Wade Stadium.

Atlanta Braves pitchers Paul Maholm (2001-03) and a pair of past Major League pitchers, Eric DuBose (1995-97) and Jay Powell (1991-93) are among more than 50 former Diamond Dogs expected to return for alumni weekend activities. That list also includes a trio of other Diamond Dogs active on the minor league level of professional baseball, catcher Ed Easley (2005-07), outfielder Grant Hogue (2008-09) and third baseman Jarrod Parks (2009-11).

Mississippi State, in the second week of fall practice, has adjusted its weekly scrimmage routine this week in conjunction with alumni weekend activities. The Bulldogs will scrimmage Thursday afternoon at 4:14 p.m. and Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

All of the scrimmages as well as the alumni weekend events at Dudy Noble Field are open to the public with no charge for admission.