To kick off the 2024 baseball season, Seminole State College will host its annual Trojan Baseball “First Pitch” Banquet February 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Enoch Kelly Haney Center.

Former Trojan baseball Coach Lloyd “Z” Simmons will serve as the event’s guest speaker.

During Simmons’ career in coaching junior college baseball, he amassed 1,804 wins. He led his teams to an unprecedented 13 trips to the NJCAA World Series, where they returned home as runners-up four times. His teams won 16 NJCAA Region II titles and 13 NJCAA District championships.

He coached 41 NJCAA All-Americans, and more than 200 of his players signed professional baseball contracts, with 43 of those playing in the major leagues. Simmons was Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association Coach of the Year eight times during his career and was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 1997.

In 2019, Simmons was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Three former SSC baseball teams will receive special recognition at the SSC kick-off banquet. The 1983-84, 1993-94, 2003-04, and 2013-14 rosters will be honored for their 40th, 30th, 20th and 10th anniversaries. Members of the 2024 Trojan baseball team will be introduced by SSC Head Coach Mack Chambers.

“We invite our former players and our supporters to join us officially kicking off the 2024 season,” Seminole baseball program,” Coach Chambers said. “Attending this banquet will be a great show of support for a program that has played an important part in all of our lives.”

Tickets are $30 per person, or you may purchase an event table sponsorship for $225, which includes eight tickets. Tickets may be purchased by contacting Chambers at m.chambers@sscok.edu or the SSC Athletics Office at 405-382-9541.