Unseasonably warm and humid weather did not keep former players from South Natchez, North Natchez and Natchez High School from having a good time at the first Natchez High Alumni Baseball Game at Liberty Park.

&uot;The game is all in fun,&uot; said Natchez High baseball coach and 1987 South Natchez graduate Michael Lindsey before the first game.

The format for the alumni game was changed from an 30-older game and an under-30 game to two games between North Natchez and South Natchez alumni and Natchez High alumni.

The number of innings played was cut down for both games from nine to seven because of the warm weather.

The first game saw three lead changes and a total of five errors between both teams, which was won by the &uot;older guys&uot; 8-6 over the &uot;younger guys.&uot;

Eric Dunham, a 1987 North Natchez graduate, and 1987 South Natchez graduateMichael Lindsey combined on a five-hitter and 10 strikeouts in the first game.

&uot;This brought back a lot of memories,&uot; Dunham said. &uot;It (the alumni game) can only get better. It was for a good cause.&uot;

The money raised from this event goes to the Natchez High Booster Club to buy new equipment for the baseball team.

Dunham was also happy about his pitching performance, which included eight strikeouts.

&uot;I’m not surprised I had eight strikeouts because I kney they would be looking. I might have won the battle, but they won the war because I’m ailing,&uot; Dunham said with a laugh after the game.

Wade Stephens, a 1974 South Natchez graduate, hit a home run to left field.

David Lindsey, an ’84 South Natchez graduate and Michael Lindsey’s brother, had two singles.

&uot;I loved it,&uot; said 1981 South Natchez graduate Boo Brumfield. &uot;I wish I was back in the ninth grade and doing it all over again.&uot;

&uot;It brought back some memories,&uot; said 1996 Natchez High graduate Lew Harveston. &uot;I enjoyed it.&uot;

&uot;It was great,&uot; said Joe Willis, also a ’96 Natchez High graduate. &uot;It was fun to be back out there.&uot;

&uot;It’s good to play with the guys I played with a few years ago,&uot; said Christian Rachal, a 1998 NHS graduate. &uot;It brought back a lot of memories.&uot;

One person who was thrilled to be a part of the alumni game was former South Natchez/Natchez High coach Buddy Wade, who coached the &uot;older guys.&uot;

&uot;It was good to be coaching again,&uot; Wade said. &uot;It was good to see all the guys again, young and old. Some of the guys I don’t get to see on a regular basis.&uot;

The second game was even more interesting because both teams ran out of pitchers. Therefore, a pitching machine was used instead.

The &uot;younger guys&uot; won that game, 8-6.

Andy Yates, an ’87 South Natchez graduate, hit a home run in the second game.

Demetrius Butler, a ’99 NHS graduate, hit a two-run triple as part of a five-run seventh to give the &uot;younger guys&uot; the come-from-behind win.

&uot;It was nice,&uot; Lindsey said about the game. &uot;It raises money for the baseball program.&uot;

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