Mississippi Braves Front Office

*Number of years with the M-Braves (including 2021): *3

*What you love most about working for the M-Braves: * Seeing, hearing, and feeling the fans doing The Chop during a late-game rally

Hometown: LaGrange, IL

States you’ve lived in: (5) IL, AR, GA, NC, MS

Spouse’s Name/Year you were married: Holly since 2000

Children: Daughter Kellan (10)

College degree/year/school: BA Journalism / 1991 / Eastern Illinois University

Sports idol(s) as a youth: Walter Payton / Bill Buckner

As a child, you dreamed of becoming: The second baseman for Chicago Cubs

Other sports teams/properties you’ve worked for (Include year’s/season): Arkansas Travelers (1992-93); Kane County Cougars (1994); Albany Polecats (1995); Piedmont Boll Weevils (1996-1999); Arkansas Travelers (2000-2012); Salvi Sports Enterprises: Schaumburg Boomers / Gary Southshore Railcats (2013 - 2017); Chicago Dogs (2018); Mississippi Braves (2019- present)

Sports played growing up: Football, Baseball, Basketball, Tennis

An interesting fact about you: Attended the first night game at Wrigley Field on 8/8/88. The game rained out in 3rd inning

Favorite Food(s): Almonds from visiting clubhouse

Favorite Music and/or Artist & Walk-up Song: Widespread Panic, Built to Spill, RL Burnside. Walk-Up: Aneurysm by Nirvana

Favorite College & Pro team(s) (Minus the Mississippi Braves): Notre Dame football and Chicago Bears

*Favorite Sports Movie: *Hoop Dreams

Favorite Recreational Activities/Hobbies: Seeing live music and painting

Number of years with the M-Braves (including 2021): 3

What you love most about working for the M-Braves: Being a part of a highly respected organization

Hometown: Ocala, Fl

States you’ve lived in: Wisconsin, Florida, North Carolina, West Virginia, Mississippi

Any Pets? My dog Lags

College degree/year/school: BS in Physical Education w/ Concentration in Sports Mgmt/1996/Methodist College

Sports idol(s) as a youth: Mike Singletary

As a child, you dreamed of becoming: NFL star

Other sports teams/properties you’ve worked for (Include year’s/season): Fayetteville Generals/Cape Fear Crocs (1996-2000) Piedmont Bollweevils/Kannapolis Intimidators (2000-2011), West Virginia Power (2012-2019)

Sports played growing up: Football, Baseball, Basketball, Volleyball

An interesting fact about you: Depends on who is asking

Favorite Food(s): Ribeye, Steamed oysters

Favorite Music and/or Artist & Walk-up Song: Hendrix / Voodoo Child

Favorite College & Pro team(s) (Minus the Mississippi Braves): Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers

Favorite Sports Movie: The Program

Favorite Recreational Activities/Hobbies: Cooking, Yardwork, and anything in or on the water.

Number of years with the M-Braves (including 2021): 17

What you love most about working for the M-Braves: I just enjoy my job

Hometown: Lexington, MS

States you’ve lived in: MS

Do you have pets? Bandit, Willow, and Gypsy

Children: See previous

College degree/year/school: Holmes CC, Hinds CC

Sports idol(s) as a youth: Didn’t have one

As a child, you dreamed of becoming: College softball coach and/or Law Enforcement

Sports played growing up: Softball

An interesting fact about you: You tell me

Favorite Food(s): Anything Mom makes

Favorite Music and/or Artist & Walk-up Song: I like a variety

Favorite College & Pro team(s) (Minus the Mississippi Braves): No favorite, mostly watch college softball and football & ATL Braves

Favorite Sports Movie: N/A, not big on movies

Favorite Recreational Activities/Hobbies: Most sports, hunting, fishing, goofing off with my family

Number of years with the M-Braves (including 2021): 2

What you love most about working for the M-Braves: Besides getting to wear the sweet M logo on all of my clothes? It’s gotta be helping families make memories that will last a lifetime.

Hometown: I give a different answer to everyone who asks since I’ve lived so many places. So, either Stow, Ohio, or Sherwood, Arkansas depending on how I feel at the moment.

States you’ve lived in: Ohio, Indiana, Arkansas, back to Indiana, and now Mississippi. I tell most people that I live “in the moment.”

Spouse’s Name/Year you were married: Holly, 2021. Not sure why she picked me, but thank goodness.

College degree/year/school: Henderson State University – Communication/Mass Media

Sports idol(s) as a youth: At different times, I wanted to be Jim Thome, Shaq, Mark Price, Bernie Kosar, or an Olympic bobsledder

As a child, you dreamed of becoming: An adult. Except when I was singing the Toys ‘R Us theme song. Then I wanted to be a kids with new toys.

Other sports teams/properties you’ve worked for (Include year’s/season): Arkansas Travelers (2006, AA-LAA), Gary SouthShore RailCats (2014-19, Independent)

Sports played growing up: I was the top-ranked junior table tennis player in the state of Arkansas for like a month.

An interesting fact about you: I have 9 toes. (I also have 10 toes. You can’t get to 10 toes without having 9 toes first)

Favorite Food(s): It’s a 7-way tie between cheeseburgers, enchiladas, Frito chili pie, my mom’s chicken and dumplings, pizza Margherita, General Tso’s chicken, and oatmeal crème pies.

Favorite Music and/or Artist & Walk-up Song: My walkup song would be either “Beverly Hills” by Weezer or “Wellerman” by The Longest Johns.

Favorite College & Pro team(s) (Minus the Mississippi Braves): I’m both an Ohio State and Arkansas fan, collegiately. Professional sports? Any Cleveland team – Browns, Indians, and Cavs

Favorite Sports Movie: Major League 2…not Major League 1, it’s not nearly as good.

Favorite Recreational Activities/Hobbies: Answering the telephone at breakneck speed. Also, I enjoy car travel and random adventures.

Number of years with the M-Braves (including 2021): 7 years

What you love most about working for the M-Braves: Being part of the Braves’ organization

Hometown: Brandon, MS

States you’ve lived in: MS, OK

College degree/year/school: BS Sports Administration 2012 USM / MS Sports Administration 2015 USM**

Sports idol(s) as a youth:** David Justice, Dan Marino & Alonzo Mourning

As a child, you dreamed of becoming: Movie Star

Sports played growing up: Baseball & Soccer

An interesting fact about you: I love the water, but I despise the beach sand

Favorite Food(s): Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Favorite Music and/or Artist & Walk-up Song: Favorite Artist: Pink Floyd / Walk-up Song: Widespread Panic - Tall Boy

Favorite College & Pro team(s) (Minus the Mississippi Braves): Atlanta Braves, Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat, USM Eagles, UNC Tarheels, FSU Seminoles

Favorite Sports Movie: Not fair… Does Dodgeball count? Bull Durham

Favorite Recreational Activities/Hobbies: Fishing and Sailing

Number of years with the M-Braves: 1

What you love most about working for the M-Braves: *Working for a team that values the community

Hometown: Amarillo, Texas

States you’ve lived in: Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, & Mississippi

College degree/year/school: B.S. Sport Management Minor: Management / 2017 / Emory & Henry College; M.S. Sport Management / 2020 / East Tennessee State University

Sport idol(s) as a youth: Michael Young and Shawn White

As a child, you dreamed of becoming: Gourmet Chef, that could beat Bobby Flay in Iron Chef battle.

Other sports teams/properties you’ve worked for: (2019 Tri-City Otters Summer; ETSU Athletics Summer & Fall) & (2020 Myrtle Beach Pelicans Spring)

Sports played growing up: Football, Basketball, Baseball & Snowboarding.

An interesting fact about you: I have been to 31 states out of 50

Favorite Food(s): Mexican (Burritos, ACP, or Tamales) & Southern (Biscuits & Gravy and Country Fried Steak)

Favorite music & walk-up songs: Country(Eric Church) & Butterfly Effect By Travis Scott (Batting)/ Line of Sight Odesza (Pitching)

Favorite College/Pro teams (not including the Mississippi Braves): Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, and Clemson Tigers

Favorite Sports Movie: The Rookie

Favorite Recreational Activities/Hobbies: Photography, Hiking/Adventuring & Brewery Hopping

Evans enters his sixth season with the Mississippi Braves and second as Director of Stadium Operations. He previously served as Concessions and Stadium Operations Manager as well as working in a number of departments as a trainee.

In Zach's role as Director of Stadium Operations, he manages all day to day operations at Trustmark Park, all clubhouse operations, and creates and manages new and existing sales accounts.

Zach is a graduate of Mississippi College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management and was a 3-year starter for the Choctaw baseball team. Zach attended Taylorsville High School where he was actively involved in Baseball, Football, FCA, BETA Club, Drug-Free Teen Counsel, South Mississippi Red Cross, and HOBY.

Zach is a member of the Pearl Kiwanis Club, an organization dedicated to serving children in local communities and around the globe, and The American Red Cross.

In Zach's spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife Shannon and his son Tucker, while also deer & duck hunting, watching baseball, playing softball, and cheering on the Ole Miss Rebels. However, the most important thing to Zach is his faith in God, his family, and his friends. Zach currently resides in Brandon, MS.

Q & A with Zach:
Favorite ballpark food? Philly Cheesesteak Nachos
Favorite baseball player growing up? Mark McGwire
Favorite TV show? The Office
Favorite movie? Warrior
Why I enjoy my job? Seeing the smile on a kid's face when they get their first autograph or catching their first foul ball makes all the hours and tarp pulls worthwhile.
My 12-year-old self would tell me? Don't forget to smile and have fun.

Number of years with the M-Braves (including 2021): 4

What you love most about working for the M-Braves: Being owned and operated by the Atlanta Braves and getting out in the community to promote our Reading Program, etc.

Hometown: Lexington, TN

States you’ve lived in: Tennessee and Mississippi

College degree/year/school: B.S. Communications/2007/Bethel U

Sports idol(s) as a youth: Penny Hardaway and Mark McGwire

As a child, you dreamed of becoming: Major League Baseball Player

Other sports teams/properties you’ve worked for (Include year’s/season): Memphis Grizzlies (intern: '06), West Tenn Diamond Jaxx/Jackson Generals ('09-'14), Biloxi Shuckers ('15-'18), UL-Monroe/ESPN+ ('18-21).

Sports played growing up: Baseball, Basketball, Golf.

An interesting fact about you: My Tennessee Little League team won the State Championship in 1997 and lost to eventual U.S. Champion Bradenton, FL in the Southern Region Finals, one round from competing in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.

Favorite Food(s): Seafood

Favorite Music and/or Artist & Walk-up Song: Foo Fighters/Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N' Roses

Favorite College & Pro team(s) (Minus the Mississippi Braves): Memphis Tigers, Memphis Grizzlies

Favorite Sports Movie: 1. The Natural, 2. Field of Dreams, 3. Major League II, 4. Remember the Titans, 5. Bull Durham

Favorite Recreational Activities/Hobbies: Golf, Hiking, Netflix

Thompson enters her tenth season with the Mississippi Braves as Director of Food and Beverage. Felicia previously served as concessions manager and commissary manager, where she oversaw the day-to-day operations of the concession stands and commissary. Book your special event now.

In Felicia's role as Director of Food and Beverage, she is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of all Food and Beverage areas, ordering food and beverage for the entire stadium, and managing a staff of over 100 part-time employees.

Felicia is a graduate of Tougaloo College, where she earned a degree in Health and Recreation with an emphasis on Community Health. Felicia attended Crystal Springs High School, where she participated in Beta Club, Track and Field, Cheerleading, and Basketball.

Felicia is a member of the Crystal Springs Chamber of Commerce and board president of Crystal Springs Main Street, a non-profit that promotes and celebrates downtown Crystal Springs by preserving historic resources and through projects, events, and activities.

In Felicia's spare time, she enjoys traveling the country, reading, working at her bridal shop, and spending time with her fur babies Kendall, Brownie, and Kelala. Felicia was born in Clarksdale, MS, and currently resides in Crystal Springs, MS.

Q & A with Felicia:
Favorite ballpark food? Crawfish PoBoy
Favorite baseball player growing up? Ken Griffey Jr.
Favorite TV show? Live PD
Why I enjoy my job? It allows me to meet a diverse group of young people and offers many of them a first-time opportunity to be a part of the workforce.
My 12-year-old self would tell me? My 12-year-old self would say to me to be involved without breaking a sweat.

Our beloved mascot Trusty, grew up loving the game of baseball. Born along the Mississippi River Valley and the Atchafalaya River Basin in northeast Louisiana, Trusty knew he was special. While his siblings were all Black Bears, Trusty was red and gold. This never tailored his enthusiasm for fun and baseball. He was always the best player on the team but found a love of entertaining between inning and taking pictures with fans. Trusty was especially beloved with the cubs. When Trusty heard that a baseball team was coming to Pearl, Mississippi, he knew he had a great opportunity in what was considered swampland.

Trusty wowed the Braves with his constant enthusiasm and contagious personality. Immediately he was hired as the Mississippi Braves Director of Fun. He then assembled a team of various backgrounds that shared his enthusiasm for baseball and fun. (Tommy Hawk, Pearl, Jackson, Uncle Froogle)

Q & A with Trusty:
Favorite Braves Player: Ronald Acuña Jr. because he likes the ñ.
Favorite Food: Catfish from our Mississippi Fixins' Concession Stand
Favorite Baseball Movie: Bad News Bears
Favorite TV Show: Man vs. Wild
Favorite Book: Bernstein Bears
Favorite Song: (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear by ZZ Top