D1 Baseball/Softball's Mark Etheridge to Serve as Keynote Speaker at Troy's First Pitch Banquet

TROY, Ala. – One of the leading voices on college baseball and advocate for both collegiate baseball and softball via the D1Baseball and D1Softball websites, Mark Etheridge will be the keynote speaker for Troy's First Pitch Banquet, presented by Rick and Shari Smith.

Set for January 24 in Trojan Arena, tickets to the fourth annual First Pitch Banquet are available by visiting TroyTrojans.com/FirstPitch. In addition to a powerful message from Etheridge, the evening features a silent auction, exclusive meet-the-team content and the ability to mix and mingle with players and staff from both programs.

"I am excited to get to Troy for the First Pitch Banquet as the baseball and softball programs kick off another successful season," Etheridge said. "I've followed Troy Athletics for decades and am excited to participate in this event where there are so many potential storylines to discuss. The past few seasons have brought us realignment, the transfer portal and NIL. As a result, college athletics have never been more challenging to understand, but also never more fascinating to examine. I look forward to discussing these big picture topics, along with an angle on how it impacts Troy programs."

Etheridge most recently came to Troy last spring when the Trojans hosted Alabama at Riddle-Pace Field when the upgraded facility was officially dedicated – you can read the account of his visit by clicking here.

A storyteller, Etheridge has covered college baseball for newspapers and various publications since 1999. He spent 11 years at SEBaseball.com managing the staff content before joining d1baseball.com in 2015 as a feature writer and columnist. At d1baseball.com, Etheridge serves as the bracketologist for the NCAA regional projections and focuses on telling stories on the sport at large with an emphasis on southern programs. A graduate of Livingston University (West Alabama), Etheridge resides in Mobile, Alabama.

In 2018, Etheridge authored a memoir (Petunia out of Water) about parenting an autistic teen following the sudden death of his wife. In addition to the diamond sports topics, Etheridge will also give his testimony, often described as poignant with humorous anecdotes, as he learned to solo parent his non-verbal daughter and navigate the life lessons learned in the process.

"We were unable to resuscitation her."

"Those six words changed his life. Suddenly, he was lost, overwhelmed, afraid. Etheridge had been coasting through life and now was alone. Well, except for his 18-year-old daughter, locked in her own world of autism, wondering where her mom was. Over the next year, he chronicled their journey from the initial shock, struggling with grief, establishing new routines, handling big events like holidays, dances, anniversaries, and also the everyday occurrences that made them both yearn for someone who couldn't be there."

As his world crashed around him, Etheridge turned to writing as a way to organize the chaos. A sportswriter for two decades, he shared some of his journey publicly. The story resonated with people and he kept sharing, which eventually became a relatable, journaled memoir.

"We are thrilled to have Mark at our First Pitch Banquet as the keynote speaker," Troy Baseball head coach Skylar Meade said. "His passion for our sport and his story will be riveting for all in attendance on Jan 24 in Trojan Arena."

"Mark's story is one of inspiration and hope," Troy Softball head coach Eric Newell said. "I look forward to hearing his message, and I know our fans will certainly be moved by his testimonial. I've known of Mark for years and am appreciative of his advocacy for both collegiate baseball and softball at the national level."

Season tickets for the 2025 baseball season are now on sale by visiting TroyTrojans.com/tickets or calling the Troy Athletics Ticket Office at 877-878-WINS. The 2025 schedule kicks off for the baseball program on Feb. 14 against St. Louis at Riddle-Pace Field, while Troy Softball opens the week before with the Trojan Classic on Feb. 6-9 at the Troy Softball Classic.

Troy University Athletics

D1 Baseball/Softball's Mark Etheridge to Serve as Keynote Speaker at Troy's First Pitch Banquet

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