M-Braves offer baseball, food, family fun in Pearl

By Brian Reynolds (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Wednesday, July 23, 2008

NATCHEZ — Crackerjacks, hotdogs and take me out to the ballgame — few things say summer quite like baseball, and Miss-Lou residents do not have to travel far to see big league sluggers.

The Jackson Braves, the Double A affiliate for the Atlanta Braves provide professional baseball and good, affordable family entertainment, Braves Public Relations Manager Nicholas Skinner said.

“We’re here to develop ball players in the most entertaining manner possible,” he said. “That’s one of the things we pride ourselves in is being able to provide affordable family entertainment, especially with the economy and gas prices the way they are.”

The Jackson Braves act as a place for the Atlanta Braves to build up new players, and to help rehab current pros.

Atlanta outfielder Jeff Fancoeur, recently returned to Jackson to help pull himself out of a slump by working with Phillip Wellman, Jackson manager and Francoeur’s hitting coach during his 2005 stint with the team.

Skinner said it is good for families to get to see stars that close-up.

“You can get a lot closer here than you can in Atlanta,” he said.

Skinner said he does not expect any Atlanta players to come back to Jackson, but said they never can tell because it is based on slumps, injuries and decisions made in Atlanta.

Much of the focus of minor league teams like Jackson is the fans, much more than in the big leagues, Skinner said.

“One of the things about minor league baseball is we put a big emphasis on the entertainment,” he said. “There’s more going on in the stands than on the field.”

That includes the “Fun Zone,” which has games for children 14 and under and between inning promotions like human hamster races.

There is also a lot more parody in minor league baseball as the best players get called up to the major league.

“It’s a good thing and a bad thing,” Skinner said. “If somebody gets good enough to go to the big leagues we’re proud of that, but if he becomes a fan favorite we hate to lose him.”

However, Skinner said fans should expect a good season from Jackson, which is current leading the Southern League South Division.

“Our organization is historically one of the more talented, “ he said. “Historically we have a lot of prospects and our fans know that.”

The team is in the middle a series against the Birmingham (Ala.) Barons, but will return to Jackson Sunday to begin a series against the Chattanooga Tenn.) Lookouts. As part of this series, Christian rock musician, Hawk Nelson will perform July 30.

The Southern League includes, the Montgomery Biscuits, the Birmingham Barons, the Huntsville Stars, the Carolina Mudcats, the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Jacksonville Suns, the Mobile Bay bears, the Tennessee Smokies and the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx.

Tickets at $5 for the berm, or lawn area, $8 for the field seats, $12 for dugout seats or $16 for club level seats. Tickets may be ordered online or bought at the stadium.

However, on Sundays, fans can get four dugout seats, four hot dogs or hamburgers, four 16 oz. soft drinks, four bags of peanuts or cracker jacks, four caps, two game programs and free fun zone wristbands for children for $52.