Flippin' the Switch
Flippin' the Switch
S6 E6: Summer Baseball with the Jacksonville Ospreys
Grab your peanuts and Cracker Jacks! Summer in Jacksonville means baseball season is in full swing, and we're diving deep into the heart of our hometown team.
Ever wondered how a summer collegiate baseball team comes to life? Dylan Hughes, General Manager of the Jacksonville Ospreys, takes us behind the scenes of creating a baseball tradition from scratch. What began as a simple desire to avoid long drives to neighboring cities for baseball games has blossomed into a community cornerstone that's quickly building its own legacy. The Ospreys represent more than just baseball—they're a testament to community connection. Players from across the country and even overseas find temporary homes with local host families, creating bonds that extend far beyond the diamond. These college athletes, all looking to perfect their craft during the summer months, bring high-level baseball right to our backyard while becoming honorary members of Jacksonville families.
North Carolina has a rich baseball tradition, producing legends like Catfish Hunter and Gaylord Perry. Now, Jacksonville is writing its own chapter in that story. With the All-Star Game coming up on June 28th featuring a Home Run Derby and pre-game festivities, there's never been a better time to catch Osprey fever. Become part of our baseball community and watch as Jacksonville's newest tradition takes flight!
welcome back listeners to another episode of flipping the switch. If you didn't notice from the intro, this episode is a special one. With warm weather ushering in fun summer happenings, this episode is all about the game of baseball. With a rich baseball history here in north carolina, it was only right to celebrate and shed light on our own summer collegiate team, the Jacksonville Ospreys. Today's guest is the general manager of the team, dylan Hughes. We are excited to hear all about the origin of the Ospreys, how it connects back to the history of baseball at NC and how this special team brings our community together. You don't want to miss it. And with that let's start flipping the switch.
Speaker 2:Summer is here and that means hot weather, there could be some bugs, but, most importantly, the best part of summer is that it's baseball season.
Speaker 3:That's right.
Speaker 2:So there are many things happening here in Jacksonville and for sports fans out there, nothing quite says summer like a good old day at the ballpark. In fact, this month's Carolina Country Magazine that our members receive and if you don't receive it you can go online and check it out it features North Carolina's deep roots in baseball, featuring Hall of Famers like Catfish Hunter Gaylord Perry, to modern stars like the Seeger Brothers. And right here in Jacksonville we are proud to have the Jacksonville Ospreys. So today we're excited to welcome Dylan Hughes to be here with us. He's the general manager of the Ospreys. Welcome, dylan.
Speaker 3:Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2:We're glad that you are here Now. He's going to share a little bit of the history, the heart and the hustle that makes this team kind of happen. And we were talking to him before we hit the record button and this week alone seems like it's a crazy busy week for you guys.
Speaker 3:Well, yeah, it's never a dull moment there at the ballpark.
Speaker 2:Well, we're glad to have the ballpark in Jacksonville. It was needed, all right. So, dylan, we've got some questions for you today. Go ahead, shoot. And you sounded like you were prepared to answer, so here we go. So first, dylan, we're really happy that you're here at the podcast room at Jones-Onslow with us.
Speaker 3:Yeah, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2:Well, let's start with your story. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and kind of how you fell in love with baseball?
Speaker 3:Sure, so I wasn't born here, but I was raised here. Due to military, I moved here. When I was one played sports all my childhood, all throughout high school, throughout college, and baseball was just my passion. I coached in college, I coached at the high school level. I don't know. Baseball is just one of those things where you come home from school the game's on TV because they're playing midday. So it's just, it's always there.
Speaker 2:And I know for you I've kind of had a sneak peek into some of the things you've done in your past from what you've told me. So you've coached at White Oak here locally and some other places. So go Vikings for any of those listeners. But your passion about the game I think really kind of shines through with what you do today with the Jacksonville Ospreys. Kind of. What's the story behind the owners that started this league and can you tell us a little bit more about the collegiate league?
Speaker 3:Yeah, sure thing. So that's a great question. Ellie and Arlene Patino, they're the two owners of the Ospreys and, just like everybody else in Jacksonville, they get in their car and they go to Kenston or they go to Moorhead to watch a ball game. But you know, it's quite a bit of a drive, yeah. And so they just thought about it and did some research and when they approached the city about bringing a team here, the city was all on board and so just it was kind of getting all the stones in the right spot and getting it all together. But yeah, that was that's how baseball summer collegiate baseball in Jacksonville kind of started. The owners wanted a more local team that they can bring their family out to and enjoy a ballgame.
Speaker 2:So I think they're doing it.
Speaker 3:They're doing a good job. They got the goal achieved.
Speaker 2:We know ospreys are a bird and they're also. If you're military affiliated, you know that that is a type of an aircraft. So kind of what made you guys land on being the Ospreys? Owners put out a name the team contest, and so the Ospreys was one of the most popular voted on names from the community. The owner's vision behind bringing baseball to Jacksonville is definitely to be something here for the community. What got you involved at the ballpark?
Speaker 3:So my degree is actually in sports management and business degree is actually in sports management and business and upon graduating from college I got into coaching, tried to work my way up and be an athletic director. That was kind of the goal. But when the Ospreys came to town I was probably one of the first people to read the article that was published by JD News and I reached out to Chris Miller. He got me in touch with Ellie Patino and kind of just grew from there.
Speaker 2:Last summer you were kind of part-time working and now you're full-time. Full-time, that's right. That's very great. Now, when we go looking at all of these things with the Ospreys, I think one of the coolest part from picking your mascot and the name of the team is the connection it has in the community. How do you feel like that is evolving and making it even more special? Like what do you think that connection is?
Speaker 3:So we have a great community here in Jacksonville. Business members, the community members they've really bought into the Jacksonville Ospreys. You can tell just by going by the ballpark and seeing all the banners Um. So we have great sponsorships. We have a great collaboration with the city Um, so that definitely helps Um. Host families are a big thing too. Um players. You know they're coming from all over the country, even overseas, so having someone that they can almost call family um helps out.
Speaker 2:So for a listener that doesn't know how this type of baseball works, could you kind of explain it a little bit like from like where these players are coming from and how they wind up with the host family? Sure?
Speaker 3:So they are all college level ballplayers. They're either currently playing in college or they're a rising freshman that signed a letter of intent to play in college, and so over the summer college is not in session. They have to go home or stay in an apartment wherever their college is located, but they're not typically getting reps during that time, so they go to these college summer programs and continue to perfect their craft.
Speaker 2:That's really cool. Now, how does that work with a host family, because you guys have a lot of families that take in your players, correct?
Speaker 3:We do. We actually have some in reserves too. So if we get any more ballplayers family because you guys have a lot of families that take in your players correct? We do. We actually have some in reserves too. So if we get any more ball players, great yeah. Um, so the host families. Their only responsibility is to just provide a bed for them to lay their head on at night, but they do much more than that. They give them home-cooked meals. A lot of the families have little ones in the home, so they play catch in the backyard or get a little competitive in the video game world.
Speaker 2:They're just big kids too.
Speaker 3:Right. The players enjoy it, the kids in the home enjoy it, and then they get added benefits at the ballpark. They get VIP passes, so they get tickets to every game. They get discounts on merch. We throw parties every now and then.
Speaker 2:Maybe we all should be host families.
Speaker 3:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, now we talked about the ballpark, but you know, what we have not said is where the ballpark is located. So where can listeners go and check out the Ospreys play?
Speaker 3:Jack Amiette Park. It's at the Jack Amiette Rec Center behind Clyde Irwin and the New River Shopping Center. I believe the address is 1825 South Drive in Jacksonville.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the first time I went I had not seen it with like it's great revisioning of what it looks like now, so that it's a really great place to go and watch a ball game and bring a chair just in case the stadium bleachers are full One of the other cool parts, and I didn't have this on our list of questions, but your coach is a local guy too correct he is.
Speaker 3:He graduated from Southwest High School.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and think about putting that full circle whenever your players are coming from all over the place. But you've got them staying with local families, so you've got that family connection, and then your coach is here and all of his family lives here connection, and then your coach is here and all of his family lives here.
Speaker 3:I know they're going. Oh yeah, yeah, you see his dad there at every game.
Speaker 2:It's very cool and you know that makes it really special to know that your family can watch you do something that you love. That's cool. Now, we had mentioned at the top of this interview that one of the reasons why we're featuring is because it was in this edition of Our Carolina Country with Hall of Famers. So if you haven't check that out for sure Now, the legacy of baseball was what that article was about. Do you kind of feel like you guys are contributing to that legacy of baseball here locally?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so North Carolina does have a big history as far as baseball goes, jacksonville not so much, but with the Ospreys coming to town and being here for the long run, we hopefully can change that projection. We have a couple players last year from the league not from Jacksonville that did sign a major league contract. Wow. So that's the ultimate goal for a college ball player that comes to these summer programs to continue playing is to potentially sign a major league contract.
Speaker 2:So maybe one day in the future we'll have a jacksonville osprey that signs a big league contract I know, I didn't know until I went to a game but what is the league that you guys play in?
Speaker 3:the league is called the old north state league.
Speaker 2:It's consisted of 24 teams all within north carolina and how in there, are there any close to us?
Speaker 3:The closest one to us would be New Bern, okay, new Bern, south Paws, and that's who we played for the opening, the home opener.
Speaker 2:Very cool. Now, on average, the stadium's pretty packed Every time I've gone. I feel like you guys have got it under control and getting the seats full. When a person goes to the stadium, what can they expect? Are there concessions, activities, things like that?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so we do have concessions. We also have food trucks at every game. We have a beer tent. Last year we had a beer garden, but we've been able to eliminate the beer garden and be able to consume alcohol throughout the concourse of the stadium. So that's nice In between any activities so the fans can get on the field. One of my favorite things so far this year is the World's Fattest Grounds crew.
Speaker 2:Oh, what is that?
Speaker 3:So we pick three people from the stands to get into a sumo outfit and they drag the field in the fifth inning.
Speaker 2:Oh, so you like put them to work.
Speaker 3:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, do they win anything?
Speaker 3:Some of the games do have prizes, but the World's Fattest Grounds Crew is kind of just an added entertainment. Well, and if you need some.
Speaker 2:You know like you missed your workout that day. Sign up for that one. One of the other things is that you have to have a ticket to go to an Ospreys game, so how do people buy tickets?
Speaker 3:Tickets can be purchased online at wwwjacksonvilleospreyscom, or you can buy a ticket at the gate. Tickets are $10 for adults, that's anybody over the age of 13. And then kids tickets are $5.
Speaker 2:I think it's a great night out with your family to go to the Ospreys game. Now you have a mascot. He is an Osprey, but does he have a name?
Speaker 3:He does have a name. It is Orville the Osprey.
Speaker 2:Now for listeners of this podcast. You will see a post on social media and that could or could not be the question that we ask. But to win some tickets to the All-Star game that will be happening June 28th, you have to answer that correctly. So, don't forget, his first name is Orville. Orville, not Redenbacher, but he's Osprey. Answer that question correctly and you may win those tickets. That's how you win our prize. But we did mention those tickets are for the All-Star Games. So, dylan, can you tell us a little bit more about what that day looks like?
Speaker 3:Sure. So think of it just like a Major League All-star weekend. We're going to have a home run derby and an all-star game here at Jack Amiette Park. Leading up to those events, we'll have a pre-game party. It's a free event that the city is going to help put on. We'll have the splash pad open, we'll have some games out there at the ballpark, some live entertainment as far as music, that's going to go on from 3 to five, and then we'll go straight into the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game right after.
Speaker 2:Well, it sounds like a great night at the ballpark. And if you don't win the tickets, don't worry, you can still buy them.
Speaker 3:And we're off to a hot start. We're six and one currently. We have another game tonight and we're three and one in conference play. So we're off to a hot start. We might even get some home playoff games, right, that's it.
Speaker 2:Congratulations. That's great, so don't miss out on your chance to go to a local baseball game. You will not be disappointed, and definitely go and see the players, because they're the shining stars at the ballpark. And if you'd like more information about the Jacksonville Ospreys, what's your website?
Speaker 3:wwwjacksonvilleospreyscom.
Speaker 2:Well, thanks, dylan, for being here and thanks for listening to this edition of Flippin' the Switch.
Speaker 1:Hey everyone, it's Natalie and I'm back for this episode's edition of what's Happening at your Co-op. That interview was one of my favorites. There's something about a ball game in the summer that just can't be beat. Do you want to attend a summer Ospreys game? Don't forget about our ticket giveaway. Head to our social media to participate and comment to enter for your chance to be in the stands. With summer fun comes lots of delicious summer recipes, and what's better than an easy walking cup of goodness? Check out a sneak peek of our July recipe, courtesy of Carolina Country, on our social media. This walking Mexican street corn recipe is sure to be a crowd pleaser and easy make a head side for when you're hosting your loved ones this summer. Stay tuned.
Speaker 1:Summer activities are in full swing. One thing us folks here at Jones-Onslow are being mindful of is the start of hurricane season. Don't let the summer fun distract you from being prepared. Start thinking about what you want to put in your emergency kit. Make sure those batteries are charged for your storm radio and flashlights, and renew your insurance, if you have not done so already. For more hurricane prep tips, visit our website at wwwjoemccom. Let us set you up for success this hurricane season, don't forget, our co-op offers rebates on energy efficient appliances, heating and cooling equipment and more as you update your home this summer. Let us help financially and apply now on our website. From our homepage, hover over the EnergyWise tab and click on rebates to see if you are eligible, and that's what's happening here at your co-op this month. Well, folks, that's all for today's episode of Flippin' the Switch. Be sure to follow us on our social media platforms to stay in the loop with Jones Onslow. We'll see y'all next time.