Tarp Skunk No. 5, Nigel Sebastianelli, shortstop, attempts to turn two with a throw to first as second baseman Austin Matranga looks on in Thursday’s PGCBL game at Diethrick Park. Sebastianelli came to the rescue of one young Tarp Skunks fan who lost her autograph ball by getting her a new one and had the entire team sign it, during the game. P-J Photo by Scott Kindber

One little girl’s Jamestown Tarp Skunks experience would have been ruined recently if not for the compassionate actions of one player.

Shannon Fischer reported that her six-year old daughter had dropped a baseball that she had a few of the players autograph for her. However, Fischer’s daughter became heartbroken when she dropped the ball and lost it in the bleachers Thursday at the Russell E. Diethrick Park.

The quick action of one ball player appeared to save the day for Fischer’s distraught daughter.

“We had the best night last night. Shout out to number five, Nigel (Sebastianelli) for saving the night,” posted Fischer on the team’s official Facebook page. “I can’t thank you enough for seeing how upset my daughter was about dropping and losing the ball that she had players sign. After about 10 minutes, he came back and delivered her a ball with the entire teams’ signatures on it. I can’t thank you enough. Great game to all, but the character of the players means so much! You made my six year olds’ night.”

According to the Tarp Skunks general manager and director of business, Chirstian Dolce, actions like this are what his organization is all about. Thursday’s game drew 1,309 fans, and Dolce said several local attendance records have been set during the 2024 season.

“Positive, fun, player and fan interactions are what I want this team’s culture to be about,” he said. “Not only is this a great group of ball players, but their good people as well; they care about each other and this community as well.”

Bobby Strang, a sophomore at Georgia Southern University and Tarp Skunks player, is a veteran of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League and wanted to play for the Skunk’s organization this year after playing the 2023 season with the Auburn Doubledays.

“It’s like night and day,” he said. “The fans here (Jamestown) are loud, and they show up in droves to our home games. It’s a lot of fun to play for the Tarp Skunks, a positive experience and I believe a lot of this year’s team wants to return next year.”

Local, legendary sports fan Scotty James added.

“I’m a big fan of the Tarp Skunks,” he said. “They’ve taken me on an up and down roller coaster ride this year, but they’re my team – and I love them.”