JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida baseball team and the U.S. Military All-Stars are teaming up to bring an exhibition game to Harmon Stadium at 7 p.m. on April 6.
The game is part of the All-Stars’ “Red, White and Blue Tour of America.” They will be practicing at Harmon Stadium April 1-19 as part of their spring training and will be based out of the U.S. Naval base in Mayport Beach.
“The idea of playing this game has always appealed to me. I think we need to do everything we can to support the military,” UNF head baseball coach Dusty Rhodes said. “With our field being available for them to practice on and Jacksonville having a Navy base, we did everything we could to get them here. I think this game will be a great thing for our city because this is a military town.”
The U.S. Military All-Stars are in their 19th season of existence. The team is comprised of active duty, reserve and veterans who participate while off-duty. The purpose of the All-Stars is to promote awareness and support of soldiers.
The game will have a special meaning for UNF junior closer Tyler Stohr, whose brother, Brad, is a pitcher for the All-Stars. Tyler is also a former pitcher for the U.S. Military Academy.
“I haven’t played with or against my brother since high school, and I haven’t been able to see him much, so I’m excited for this game,” Tyler said. “I had a chance to play these guys over the summer when I played in the Cape Cod League. They are a bunch of high-class guys, and they can play some ball.”
The Ospreys and Rhodes are avid supporters of the military, holding Military Day the past two seasons at Harmon Stadium. To commemorate the occasion, UNF wore special camouflage jerseys and alternate hats. This season, the Ospreys wore replica U.S. Military All-Star jerseys in their game against Mississippi State on Feb. 24.
The mother of fallen U.S. Marine Joshua C. Watkins, Amy Vazquez, was honored before the Feb. 24 game when she threw out the first pitch. Vazquez established the Joshua C. Watkins Endowed Scholarship for military personnel at UNF trying to complete their education. UNF auctioned off their jerseys after the game, and the proceeds went to the scholarship fund.
Admission will be free for all military personnel with an ID.