Photo by: Taylor Sullivan/MSU Athletics
Making Memories With Challenger Baseball
October 27, 2025 | Baseball
STARKVILLE – Rainy weather on Sunday afternoon may have forced a small change in venue but it didn't dampen the spirits of the Challenger Baseball players who competed alongside their Mississippi State counterparts inside the Palmeiro Center.
The Challenger organization is centered around baseball lovers with special needs and have collaborated with Diamond Dawgs for decades of memories for players and families alike.
"The families and everybody involved in this event, we all know how much it means to them," MSU head coach Brian O'Connor said. "Certainly, for our players at Mississippi State, for them to engage with the people in the community and for them to have the opportunity to share a couple hours with people that look up to them is really special."
Four teams competed in two games in front of large crowd of friends, family and fans with Challenger players paired up their own representative from the Bulldogs with smiles shared all around.
"It allows us to be able to put it into perspective and understand that it's more than baseball here in Starkville," said MSU first baseman Noah Sullivan, who participated in the event for the second consecutive year. Â
The annual event is something the families of Challenger Baseball players look forward to each fall.
"It just warms my heart," said Onita Hampton, grandmother of Challenger player Torrance Hampton Jr. "To see him in an act and see people that accept him, seeing different types of disabilities and seeing him so happy was my greatest accomplishment. [Torrance] was withdrawn and he really doesn't talk, so seeing him communicate was just beautiful."
Hampton Jr., as well as the other players on the field, came out to their own walk-up songs and swung the bat before rounding the bases, smiling from ear to ear. Mississippi State embraces these opportunities to give back to the community and will continue to show its appreciation.
"Wearing the Mississippi State baseball uniform, I know our players are very grateful for the opportunity that they have here," O'Connor said. "This is a way that they can engage with others and give back to this community that's given so much to them."
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The Challenger organization is centered around baseball lovers with special needs and have collaborated with Diamond Dawgs for decades of memories for players and families alike.
"The families and everybody involved in this event, we all know how much it means to them," MSU head coach Brian O'Connor said. "Certainly, for our players at Mississippi State, for them to engage with the people in the community and for them to have the opportunity to share a couple hours with people that look up to them is really special."
Four teams competed in two games in front of large crowd of friends, family and fans with Challenger players paired up their own representative from the Bulldogs with smiles shared all around.
"It allows us to be able to put it into perspective and understand that it's more than baseball here in Starkville," said MSU first baseman Noah Sullivan, who participated in the event for the second consecutive year. Â
The annual event is something the families of Challenger Baseball players look forward to each fall.
"It just warms my heart," said Onita Hampton, grandmother of Challenger player Torrance Hampton Jr. "To see him in an act and see people that accept him, seeing different types of disabilities and seeing him so happy was my greatest accomplishment. [Torrance] was withdrawn and he really doesn't talk, so seeing him communicate was just beautiful."
Hampton Jr., as well as the other players on the field, came out to their own walk-up songs and swung the bat before rounding the bases, smiling from ear to ear. Mississippi State embraces these opportunities to give back to the community and will continue to show its appreciation.
"Wearing the Mississippi State baseball uniform, I know our players are very grateful for the opportunity that they have here," O'Connor said. "This is a way that they can engage with others and give back to this community that's given so much to them."
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Players Mentioned
UTL/RHP
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