VALDOSTA — Looking to drum up excitement for Valdosta State baseball and softball’s season openers this week, the teams held the ‘Blazer Bash’ on Sunday at Billy Grant Field and Steel’s Diamond.

The Blazers welcomed the community to the fields with a variety of stations and games where they could interact with the student-athletes on the Valdosta State baseball and softball teams.

“We just like giving back to the community,” said Thomas Macera, the VSU softball head coach. “The community comes out here and supports us during our games and stuff, so it’s just a way for the girls to give back and work with these young kids.”

Blazer baseball head coach Greg Guilliams added: “I think this is a great event for the community, but I think it’s also a great event for the baseball and softball players.

“It’s an opportunity for them to give back a little bit, but I think, hopefully a lot of these kids get excited and we’ll have some new fans at our games.”

VSU gave away free T-shirts to the first 200 kids to register for the clinics, and once the event got underway, at Billy Grant guests could participate in a pitching elimination game, catch pop ups, hit the ball off a tee under instruction from the baseball players, and watch, and even talk trash, with the players as they swung at pitches in the batting cage.

At Steel’s Diamond, the Blazer softball players participated in a simulated game with the kids.

“It’s a fun day; it’s always a fun day at the park,” Macera said. “The girls are into it, and its a relaxing day for them.

“We’ve been practicing so hard getting ready for our season, so it’s just a relaxing day for them to come play with some kids.”

Macera and the Blazers’ softball team opens their season this Saturday at the Gulf Shores Invitational in Gulf Shores, Ala.

VSU’s first game of the season is against North Georgia at 11 a.m., and it plays again at 4 p.m. against Auburn Montgomery. On Sunday, the Blazers face Barry at 12:30 p.m and Spring Hill at 3 p.m.

Softball’s first home game is scheduled for Feb. 21 against Florida Tech.

Blazers fans won’t have to wait as long to get a live look at the baseball team.

VSU baseball hosts Albany State in its home opener at Billy Grant Field today at 4 p.m., after which it’ll hit the road for four games before coming back home for a doubleheader against Wingate at 1 p.m. Feb. 11.

Guilliams hopes to see the effects of ‘Blazer Bash’ at today’s opener, and hopefully, the entire season.

“I think what happens is, as they get out here and get to know some of the players, then when they come to the games, it’s always a lot more fun when you know somebody,” Guilliams said.

Derrick Davis is the sports editor at the Valdosta Daily Times.