MADISON – When it comes to taking on challenges, the Rocket City Trash Pandas have turned “thinking outside the box” and “changing on the fly” into an art form.
The Minor League Baseball organization’s latest challenge was the sub-freezing and near-freezing temperatures in the forecast later this week with the inaugural Rocket City Softball Showcase due to start Wednesday.
In typical Trash Pandas style, they rolled with the punch from Ol’ Man Winter, and announced schedule changes to the lineup.
The Showcase will, instead, start Tuesday and then, due to the bitter cold temperatures expected Wednesday and Thursday, resume Friday and run through the weekend.
For the staff, who dealt with a pandemic in their inaugural season and then transformed a baseball field a football field a couple years later, this was just another bump in the road to success.
“A project like this only happens with everyone pulling together and we can’t wait to see Toyota Field take on a new look for this event with the support of PNC Bank,” said Trash Pandas General Manager Garrett Fahrmann. “Our team is known for providing a fun and festive environment for Trash Pandas games and we will bring that same mindset to a great week of softball here at Toyota Field.”
Presented by PNC Bank, the Showcase playing surface at Toyota Field will sport a softball configuration, including a dirt infield, highlighted by four programs from the Southeastern Conference: Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
The Crimson Tide, fresh off a Women’s College World Series appearance in 2024, help lead off the festivities Tuesday with a primetime matchup against Jacksonville State.
Rounding out the showcase lineup are local schools in UAH, UNA and Alabama A&M, former Women’s College World Series participant James Madison, Conference USA power Louisiana Tech, rising Southern Conference program East Tennessee State, regular NCAA Tournament contender Miami (Ohio) and Division II North Georgia.
The updated schedule with game times, schedule, and location is below. Gates will open one hour prior to the first scheduled pitch of the opening contest each day.
Some games will be played at Charger Park on the University of Alabama in Huntsville campus.
Tickets for Wednesday’s slate will automatically be switched for admission to Tuesday’s games. Tickets for Wednesday and Thursday’s games can be exchanged for any game during the Rocket City Softball Showcase.
Tickets can be exchanged in person at the Wicks Family Foundation Ticket Office at Toyota Field or by calling 256-325-1403 ext. 1. All parking purchased through Clutch at TrashPandasParking.com will be refunded.
Tickets start at $20 per day and are available at RocketCitySoftball.com.
The games at Toyota Field will be streamed live through FloSports via FloCollege.com. Trash Pandas broadcasters Josh Caray and Chris Harris will be on the call.
In addition to the college contests, the Showcase will feature six high school games on Feb. 24: James Clemens and Huntsville will open the day at 9 a.m.; Grissom faces Hartselle at 11 a.m.; Jemison matches up with Columbia at 1 p.m.; Hazel Green takes on New Hope at 3 p.m.; Buckhorn battles Sparkman at 5 p.m.; and Bob Jones vs. Athens will close it out at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 for the day and are available at RocketCitySoftball.com
SCHEDULE
Tuesday
- 11 a.m. – Women in Sports Luncheon, presented by PNC Bank
- Noon – Alabama A&M vs. TBD
- 3 p.m. – UAH vs. North Georgia
- 6:30 p.m. – Alabama vs. Jacksonville State
Friday
Toyota Field
- 10 a.m. – Ole Miss vs. East Tennessee State
- 1 p.m. – Auburn vs. Louisiana Tech
- 4 p.m. – Auburn vs. James Madison
- 7 p.m. – Mississippi State vs. Jacksonville State
Charger Park
- 1 p.m. – Ole Miss vs. North Alabama
- 4 p.m. – ETSU vs. Jacksonville State
- 7 p.m. – James Madison vs. Miami (Ohio)
Saturday
Toyota Field
- 10 a.m. – Auburn vs. North Alabama
- 1 p.m. – Auburn vs. Miami (Ohio)
- 4 p.m. – Ole Miss vs. Miami (Ohio)
- 7 p.m. – Mississippi State vs. North Alabama
Charger Park
- 10 a.m. – ETSU vs. Louisiana Tech
- 1 p.m. – Mississippi State vs. Louisiana Tech
- 4 p.m. – Jacksonville State vs. James Madison
- 7 p.m. – ETSU vs. James Madison
Sunday
Toyota Field
- 10 a.m. – Mississippi State vs. Miami (Ohio)
- 1 p.m. – Ole Miss vs. Louisiana Tech
- 4 p.m. – Ole Miss vs. James Madison
- 7 p.m. – Auburn vs. Jacksonville State
Charger Park
- 1 p.m. – ETSU vs. North Alabama
- 4 p.m. – Jacksonville State vs. North Alabama
Feb. 24
Toyota Field (High School Schedule)
- 9 a.m. – James Clemens vs. Huntsville
- 11 a.m. – Grissom vs. Hartselle
- 1 p.m. – Jemison vs. Columbia
- 3 p.m. – Hazel Green vs. New Hope
- 5 p.m. – Buckhorn vs. Sparkman
- 7 p.m. – Bob Jones vs. Athens
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