Inaugural BNL Baseball First Pitch Dinner an Unforgettable Evening

BNL Baseball First Pitch Dinner February 28, 2026

The Bedford North Lawrence Baseball program celebrated its past, present, and future on Saturday, February 28, as players, coaches, families, alumni, supporters, and friends of Stars Baseball gathered for the inaugural BNL Baseball First Pitch Dinner.

Held inside the beautiful Historic Indiana Limestone Building, the first-ever event proved to be an incredible evening and a tremendous success. From the moment the doors opened until the final song of the night, the First Pitch Dinner brought together the BNL Baseball community for a night filled with great food, memorable stories, laughter, recognition, and excitement for the season ahead.

A Grand Welcome

Guests arriving at the Indiana Limestone Building were welcomed by members of the BNL Baseball team, setting the tone for an evening centered around the players and the program.

Before dinner, attendees had an opportunity to mingle while enjoying baseball-themed snacks, browsing an outstanding collection of silent auction items, and visiting the baseball-themed photo booth to capture memories from the evening.

Guests also received the inaugural BNL Baseball First Pitch Dinner Program , a special publication created to celebrate and preserve the history of Stars Baseball. The program featured season and career records, noteworthy stories from throughout the program's history, memorable accomplishments, and a complete look back at the 2025 BNL Baseball season.

More than simply a program for the evening, it served as a celebration of the players, coaches, teams, and moments that have helped build the tradition of BNL Baseball.

An Outstanding Group of Speakers

The evening's program featured a tremendous lineup of speakers, each bringing something special to the event.

Reece Goodgame, BNL senior, kicked off the evening by introducing former BNL Baseball Head Coach and Athletic Director Jeff Callahan, who served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

Jeff did an outstanding job throughout the night. Callahan introduced the evening's speakers while keeping the crowd engaged, enthusiastic, and entertained from beginning to end. His energy and personality helped make the inaugural First Pitch Dinner feel special from the opening welcome through the night's final activities.

BNL Head Baseball Coach Steven McNabb officially welcomed everyone to the First Pitch Dinner and thanked those in attendance for their continued support of the program. McNabb introduced the BNL coaching staff and players and spoke about the importance of everyone who contributes to Stars Baseball—from the athletes and coaches to the parents, families, sponsors, volunteers, alumni, and community supporters who make nights like this possible. Coach recapped the 2025 season and gave a preview of what to look forward to in 2026.

Coach McNabb also honored Coach Dennis Kissinger for his 15 years of service as a BNL Baseball coach, including his time as JV Head Coach and Varsity Assistant Coach.

Reggie Joslin delivered the benediction over the evening and those in attendance. Joslin also shared several wonderful stories from baseball days gone by, providing a connection between the current Stars and the generations of players and coaches who came before them.

A Fantastic Dinner from Mattie's Meats

Following the opening portion of the program, guests were treated to an outstanding meal provided by Mattie's Meats. The dinner featured delicious barbecue along with a variety of sides, drinks, and dessert.

Mattie's Meats did a fantastic job providing a meal worthy of the occasion and was an important part of making the evening such a success.

Looking Toward the Future of BNL Athletics

BNL Athletic Director Michael Babin addressed the crowd and provided an exciting look at the current state and future direction of the BNL Athletics program.

Babin spoke about what is happening throughout BNL Athletics and discussed the future of Stars athletics, including facilities, equipment, continued improvements, and the aspirations for BNL athletic programs moving forward.

His remarks provided an opportunity to look beyond the upcoming baseball season and toward the continued growth of athletics at Bedford North Lawrence.

Honoring Cal Gates

One of the evening's most special moments came when Coach McNabb recognized Cal Gates, a 2025 BNL graduate and standout member of the Stars Baseball program.

Gates was honored with a custom-framed BNL jersey commemorating an extraordinary senior season and career. His 2025 honors included All-State recognition, selection as an Indiana All-Star, and IHSBCA District Player of the Year, along with the numerous BNL records he established during his career.

Cal was unable to attend the First Pitch Dinner as he was out of state playing for the Indiana Hoosiers. His parents, Nick and Anna Gates, along with his brother Cam, accepted the framed jersey on his behalf.

The presentation was a fitting tribute to a player who left his mark throughout the BNL Baseball record book and represented the Stars program at the highest level.

"Hold the Rope" — Jeff Mercer Sr.

The featured moment of the evening belonged to keynote speaker Jeff Mercer Sr., who captivated the audience with a message that extended far beyond baseball.

Mercer delivered his unforgettable "Hold the Rope" message, sharing stories from his past teams and explaining the importance of teammates being willing to hold the rope for one another.

His message centered on trust, commitment, accountability, sacrifice, and what it truly means to be part of a team. When adversity comes and a teammate is depending on you, will you hold the rope?

Mercer's combination of humor, storytelling, experience, and motivation kept the audience engaged throughout his address. His message resonated not only with the BNL players in attendance, but with coaches, parents, families, and supporters throughout the room.

It was a powerful message and a perfect way to help set the tone for the 2026 season—one that those in attendance will remember long after the First Pitch Dinner.

A Perfect Start to a New Tradition

Following the speakers, the evening concluded with the final bidding in the silent auction and music from the night's outstanding DJ. Guests had another opportunity to visit with friends, families, coaches, and members of the BNL Baseball community as an unforgettable evening came to a close.

For an inaugural event, the BNL Baseball First Pitch Dinner could not have gone better.

What began as an opportunity to celebrate the 2025 season and build excitement for 2026 became something even more meaningful. It was a night that connected the history of BNL Baseball with the players wearing the uniform today and the future of the program still to come.

Most importantly, the evening would not have been possible without the tremendous support surrounding Stars Baseball.

Thank you to every sponsor, family, player, coach, volunteer, donor, speaker, and community member who helped make the inaugural BNL Baseball First Pitch Dinner possible. Whether you donated an auction item, sponsored the event, helped with preparations, volunteered during the evening, purchased a ticket, or simply came out to support the Stars, you played a part in making the night unforgettable.

The First Pitch Dinner provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments and memories of the 2025 season while turning the page toward another chapter of BNL Baseball.

The first dinner is now part of Stars Baseball history.

And if the inaugural event was any indication, the BNL Baseball First Pitch Dinner has the makings of a very special tradition for years to come.