Rose State College Hosts Military & First Responders Appreciation Day Published April 2, 2025

Rose State College proudly honored service members, first responders, and their families during a special Military and First Responders Appreciation Day held at both baseball and softball games. The event featured custom jerseys, dignitary first pitches, and community engagement as both Raider teams took the field on a day full of gratitude and celebration.

The ceremonial first pitches were thrown by several special guests with deep ties to service and Rose State:

Softball Honorees:

• Bob Whitaker – A United States Navy veteran who served from 1969 to 1972 and continued in the U.S. Navy Reserves until 1976. Bob is also a familiar face around Raider athletics, photographing games through his platform, 18SportsPix.
• Kacey Taylor – A Raider softball alumna who played as a catcher and third baseman from Fall 2015 to Spring 2017. Kacey now serves the community as a police officer with the Oklahoma City Police Department.

Baseball Honorees:

• Jay Jones – The father of current Raider baseball player Drake Jones, Jay served as a captain in the United States Army for nine years, including deployment to Iraq from 2006 to 2007 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Jimmy Gillespie – A Raider baseball alumnus from 2008–2009, Jimmy now serves as a master sergeant with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department, where he has committed 15 years to protecting and serving.
• Carmen Mustari – The father of current Raider Evan Mustari, Carmen is a lieutenant with the Oklahoma City Police Department, bringing 25 years of patrol experience to his community.

Adding a special touch to the pregame festivities, two youth teams joined the Raiders on the field for the National Anthem:

• Oklahoma Athletics 35, coached by softball Head Coach Nickie Madden (Coach Madden’s daughter’s team), joined the Raider softball team.
• The Raiders, a little league baseball team coached by Raider baseball alumnus Clay Seachrest, stood proudly alongside the baseball team.

Game Highlights:

• Softball faced Eastern Oklahoma State College, taking Game 1 with a 5-2 win before a close 2-4 loss in Game 2, showcasing resilience and Raider pride throughout both matchups.
• Baseball battled against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO), earning a gritty 9-7 win in Game 1 before falling 4-8 in Game 2, rounding out a competitive day on the field.

Military and First Responders Appreciation Day united players, alums, community heroes, and future Raiders to honor service and sacrifice. Rose State College expresses heartfelt gratitude to all who have served—and continue to serve—with courage and dedication.