(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.)- Thomas More University is set to hold an inaugural kickoff celebration at Thomas More Stadium. The celebration takes place on Saturday, April 15, 2023, during the Saints baseball game versus the University of Cumberlands Patriots scheduled for noon. Arrive early to the game and see former major league baseball outfielder David Justice throw out the first pitch. Justice played baseball and basketball during his time at Thomas More and was inducted in the Thomas More Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996. Bobby Young, former Thomas More player who was later drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, joins Justice to catch the first pitch. Young was inducted into the Thomas More University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. The University will honor all previous baseball championship teams at the game as well.
"We are very excited to welcome David Justice back to a Thomas More University event," says Terry Connor, Thomas More athletic director. "We are also thrilled to invite the community out to Thomas More Stadium to see the facility and cheer on our Saints."
Tom Brady, director of development for athletics at Thomas More, hosts a "Past to Present Baseball" themed Chalk Talk before the game at 10 a.m. featuring Justice, Young, former baseball coach and current Thomas More Associate Athletic Director Jeff Hetzer, and former Thomas More baseball player George "Cubby" Lyon, Jr. Chalk Talks are events that dive into sports topics featuring coaches and leaders from various Saints teams. Chalk Talks are hosted by the All Saints Club, the fundraising arm that provides financial and supporting resources to all Thomas More University athletic programs through private and community level donations. "We have an amazing panel for this Chalk Talk," says Brady. "George "Cubby" Lyon played on Thomas More's first baseball team prior to his unique career in professional baseball and later starting his own company. David Justice was a standout player at Thomas More prior to his legendary career in professional ball, which included many years with the Atlanta Braves. Jeff Hetzer coached many great Thomas More baseball teams for 19 years prior to serving as our assistant athletic director. The event allows our panelists to share some great behind the scenes stories that have made Thomas More baseball such a great tradition." Attendance is limited for the Chalk Talk. Reserve your space by visiting tmuky.us/ctbaseball.
In March 2022, the University announced a partnership with the Florence Y'alls Baseball Club that resulted in the renaming of the home of the Florence Y'alls to Thomas More Stadium. As part of the agreement, the stadium is now home to the Thomas More Saints' baseball team starting in the 2023 spring season. Thomas More announced a major comprehensive fundraising campaign in Fall 2021 in support of a five-year strategic plan that includes enhanced athletic facilities for many of the Saints 31 sports programs. The University also announced in 2022 that they have been granted provisional membership to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II, making them the only Division II university in the Northern Kentucky/greater Cincinnati region. Thomas More currently competes in the Mid-South Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Saints have been in the NAIA for the past four academic years and will retain NAIA membership until completion of the 2022-23 academic year.
It is free admission into the game.Â
Below is the schedule of when teams will be honored:
Bottom of 1st-Dyllan Hasler
Top of 2nd-Competition Dance Team
Bottom of 2nd-Wrestlers
Top of 3rd-Devin Webster
Bottom of 3rd-Men's Basketball
Top of 4th-Women's Basketball
Bottom of 4th – 1956 Baseball Team
Top of 5th- 1964, 1965, & 1966Â Baseball Teams
Bottom of 5th-1993 Baseball Team
Top of 6th-1994 Baseball Team
Bottom of 6th – 2000 Baseball Team
Top of 7th-2003 Baseball Team
2:30-3:00 ish- Game 2 Begins
Bottom of 1st– 2008 Baseball Team
Top of the 2nd- 2010 Baseball Team
Bottom of 2nd- 2011 Baseball Team
Top of 3rd- 2013 Baseball Team
Bottom of 3rd- 2014 Baseball Team
Top of4th- 2015 Baseball Team
Bottom of 4th- 2016 Baseball Team
Top of 5th  – 2018 Baseball Team
7th inning stretch-Take me out to the ball game
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