West Central Reporter

The Leatherneck Baseball team of Western Illinois University commenced the spring 2025 season by raising over $22,000 at their annual First Pitch Dinner. The event took place on February 1, 2025, at Park Place of Macomb, gathering community members, alumni, and the team's coaching staff to support the upcoming season.

The dinner included a silent auction featuring various items, along with an alumni appreciation segment. Attendees were introduced to the 2025 team and participated in a question-and-answer session with former Major League Baseball coach Larry Owens. Owens has previously coached for both the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox.

Head Baseball Coach Terry Davis expressed his gratitude: "Our Annual First Pitch Dinner is a great way to kick off the season, and this year's event was bigger and better than last year," he said. "We would like to thank everyone who supported in any way and made the event possible. Thank you to our guest for the evening, Larry Owens, for taking the time out of his busy schedule to spend an evening with us. Our program got better and it's always good for our players to hear from those that have been successful at the highest levels."

Funds raised during the event will be used for various aspects of the baseball program, including travel and competition expenses for the 2025 season. Western Illinois Athletics and the Leatherneck Baseball team expressed their appreciation to all attendees.

Despite the closure of the silent auction, opportunities remain open for supporting the baseball program through initiatives such as Coach Davis's Baseball Meal Club. This initiative aims to enhance nutrition and performance for WIU Baseball student-athletes with different giving levels available:

- Platinum – $500: Sponsor a team meal on road trips.

- Gold – $250: Partially sponsor a team meal on road trips.

- Silver – $100: Sponsor an in-game nutrition package.

Those interested can contribute by visiting GoLeathernecks.com or contacting 309-298-1190 for more information about Leatherneck Baseball's fundraising efforts.

For updates on Leatherneck Baseball, visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow them on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.