December 13, 2025
East Central Community College in Decatur will officially usher in the 2026 baseball and softball season with a special First Pitch Dinner featuring one of the most accomplished coaches in college baseball, Mississippi State Head Coach Brian O’Connor, on Monday, January 26, at 6:30 p.m. in Brackeen-Wood Gymnasium.
The evening will bring together fans, alumni, and supporters of ECCC baseball and softball for a night of fellowship, inspiration, and championship-level insight from a coach whose career has consistently reached the sport’s biggest stage.
O’Connor, who was named head coach at Mississippi State following a nationally celebrated tenure at the University of Virginia, brings with him a résumé few can match. During his previous coaching career, O’Connor led his program to seven College World Series appearances, captured the 2015 College World Series national championship, and guided his teams to 18 NCAA Tournament bids. His leadership and sustained excellence earned him five ACC Coach of the Year honors, cementing his reputation as one of the game’s elite minds. Now at the helm of one of college baseball’s most storied programs, O’Connor continues to shape the future of the sport while emphasizing player development, accountability, and a championship culture—values that resonate deeply with the mission of East Central’s athletic programs.
The First Pitch Dinner serves as both a celebration of the upcoming season and a fundraiser supporting ECCC baseball and softball, offering attendees a unique opportunity to hear directly from a coach who has built winners at the highest level of collegiate athletics.
Tickets for the event are $50 for adults and $25 for children under 12, and must be purchased by January 19. For more information or to purchase tickets, call ECCC head baseball coach Neal Holliman at 601-635-6374 or email nholliman@eccc.edu or ECCC head softball coach Leigh White at 601-635-6301 or email lwhite@eccc.edu.
