WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The University of Central Missouri Mules Baseball team announced the 2003 National Championship team will be inducted into the Diamond Club this year at the 2023 First Pitch Banquet. Headlining the banquet as keynote speaker will be Jim Crane '76, decorated Mules Baseball alumnus and owner of the 2022 World Series Champion Houston Astros.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 22, inside the UCM Multipurpose Building on the campus of the University of Central Missouri. The doors are slated to open at 6 p.m. for all guests with dinner at 7 p.m. and the program shortly thereafter. The banquet will follow the Mules' noon game against Central Oklahoma in the weekend's three-game series.

The 2023 event marks the seventh annual event which has served as a tribute to the Mules Baseball greats while also building the future of the program. Each year, this event raises tens of thousands of dollars from alumni, donors, family, and friends to ensure Central Missouri Baseball remains one of the top programs in NCAA Division II.

The 2003 Mules baseball team won the second NCAA Division II National Championship in program history. They went 51-7 overall and 27-2 in the MIAA, winning the conference and regional titles in the process. Head coach Brad Hill's squad was paced by starting pitchers Danny Powers, Phil Sobkow and Nick Denning, as well as closer Eric Horner. All-Americans Zach Norman and Joe Strada led a powerful Mule lineup that finished fifth in the nation in batting average at .363. They also ranked seventh in the country in ERA and sixth in fielding.

The First Pitch Banquet committee (Rob Ruth '75, Dave Ezell '78, Stu Rogers '82, Alex Kent '11, and Billy Maloney '16) is pleased to present several registration options for guests. Tickets start at $60 per person with several sponsorship levels available. Guests who purchase a Home Run, Grand Slam, or Diamond Club sponsorship will be invited to the MVP Social Hour beginning at 5:30 p.m. with an opportunity to take a photo with the 2022 World Series trophy.

For those unable to attend but still looking to support the event, Mules Baseball encourages the purchase of a 'Sponsor a Mule' ticket to underwrite a player's meal at the event or contribute to the silent auction. Please contact Michelle Schubert at schubert@ucmo.edu or (660) 909-2159 for any questions about donating to the silent auction.