SALISBURY, N.C. – Catawba Baseball will hold its annual First Pitch Dinner fundraiser on Saturday, January 17, at Goodman Arena. 

The 2026 First Pitch event will feature a social hour beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Goodman Arena lobby. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. on the court, followed by a baseball panel discussion at 7:15 p.m. 

The panelists will include former Seattle Mariners great Kyle Seager, Northwest Cabarrus High School baseball coach Joe Hubbard, along with former Catawba baseball players Jeremy Simpson, Cole Hales and Scott Searles.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Doug Rice, former president and lead announcer for Performance Racing Network (PRN). Rice was the lead announcer for NASCAR races for over 30 years.

Seager spent his entire 11-year MLB career (2011–2021) with the Seattle Mariners, becoming one of the franchise's most consistent and respected players. Seager developed into a cornerstone of the Mariners' lineup throughout his career. He earned one All-Star selection and won a Gold Glove in 2014. By the time he retired after the 2021 season, Seager had compiled 1,395 hits, 242 home runs and 807 RBI, placing him among the Mariners' all-time leaders in several offensive categories. He ranks 4th all-time in Mariners history in games played (1,480), hits, home runs, RBI and at-bats (5,561), while ranking 3rd in doubles (309) and extra-base hits (565), and 5th all-time in runs scored (705).

2026 First Pitch Dinner Schedule
5:30 PM | Social Hour
6:30 PM | Dinner
7:15 PM | Baseball Panel Discussion

Ticket Information
• $100 - Dinner and Speakers Ticket

Sponsorship Opportunities
• $500 - Single (2 tickets included)
• $1,000 - Double (4 tickets included)
• $2,500 - Triple (6 tickets included)
• $5,000 - Home Run (8 tickets included)

Player Sponsorship
• $100 donation allows a current Catawba Baseball player to attend the event

To secure your sponsorship or to purchase individual tickets, visit https://catawba.edu/firstpitch or call (704) 637-4676. Email laldridg22@catawba.edu if you have any questions.