Seminole State College will celebrate the start of the 2026 Trojan Baseball season with its annual Trojan First Pitch Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 6:30 p.m. in the Enoch Kelly Haney Center.

This year’s guest speaker will be Chris Schroder, a former Trojan baseball player and SSC Hall of Fame member. Schroder serves as executive director of the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma (ACCO). In his role, he oversees the day-to-day operations of ACCO, including providing counties with property and liability coverage and workers’ compensation coverage, legislative advocacy, training programs for county commissioners and staff, and planning and hosting three conferences annually. Schroder has worked for the association since 2011 and was named executive director in 2021.

While at Seminole State College, Schroder pitched for the Trojans baseball team. He completed his associate degree in 1999 and then attended Oklahoma City University. Following graduation, he went on to play professional baseball, including time with the Washington

Nationals from 2001 to 2008, the Oakland Athletics in 2009 and the Florida Marlins in 2010. He was inducted into the Oklahoma City University Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

Schroder is active in his community as a member of the Guthrie Public Schools Board of Education, a Dispute Resolution Advisory Board member, a diaconate at the First Christian Church of Guthrie and a coach for his daughters’ softball and basketball teams. He resides in Guthrie.

“This banquet is a special tradition for Trojan Baseball,” SSC Head Baseball Coach Mack Chambers said. “It’s an opportunity to recognize the legacy of the program, celebrate anniversary teams and build excitement for the season ahead while bringing alumni and supporters back together.”

During the banquet, the Trojan baseball program will honor the 1985-86, 1995-96, 2005-06 and 2015-16 teams for their 40th, 30th, 20th and 10th anniversaries, and will introduce the 2026 Trojan team.

The Trojans are scheduled to open their season at Globe Life Field—home of the Texas Rangers—in Arlington, Texas, in the 2026 New Balance Future Stars Series JUCO Showdown. Seminole State College is the only team from Oklahoma of the nine teams invited to the event. The Trojans will play Sunday, Jan. 25, at 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Monday, Jan. 26, at 8 a.m.

For ticket and sponsorship information for the Trojan First Pitch Banquet, contact Coach Chambers at m.chambers@sscok.edu or the SSC Athletics Office at 405-382-9541.