Salute To Service Special For Barbary And Blaine
March 17, 2024 | Softball
A pair of Bulldogs have deep ties to the military.
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State softball will host its Salute to Service Game at Nusz Park on Sunday to honor the men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving the United States.
For a few Bulldogs, the pregame flyover and recognition throughout the afternoon will mean just a little bit more.
Nadia Barbary's parents will be in town for the weekend series against No. 13 Texas A&M, and there will certainly be more than the game on their minds. Their reaction upon learning of the event, according to Barbary, showed their emotions.
"It's amazing…I kind of told them and they got really excited," Barbary said. "My dad was like, 'Oh, what's flying over?' And he started naming off all these planes and jets."
The sophomore comes from a family in which military roots run deep, specifically with the United States Air Force.
"My mom and dad are Air Force," Barbary said. "My aunt and uncle are Air Force — dad's side. My mom's brother was Air Force. My dad's mom was Air Force. My dad's stepdad… I want to say he was Air Force. My uncle on my dad's side was Air Force. I think that's it."
Understandably, the family's heavy involvement made a huge impact on Barbary's childhood.
"I grew up with a very structured household, and my parents instilled their military values into us," Barbary said.
The .338-batter was born on a military base in San Antonio, Texas, and her parents were discharged from active duty shortly afterwards. The family still spent many of her younger years in the region.
"I remember a little bit, it was always really hot, and I started learning Spanish at a daycare on the base," Barbary said.
One very special memory sticks out in the third baseman's mind.
"We did a tour of all the planes that they had on the base and we actually were able to go back a few years ago to recreate some pictures [of] when I was a little kid and my brother [was]," Barbary said.
Now, Barbary is considering continuing her family's legacy.
"I've thought about joining the military after college," Barbary said.
She added a bit more detail about her specific goals.
"I want to do dermatology, and both of my parents were on the medical side in the military," Barbary said.
There's no doubt that once Barbary's career in the Maroon and White ends, she will succeed wherever life takes her.
There's another MSU standout with a close connection to the military and that's Jessie Blaine. The junior, who has split time between catcher, outfielder and designated player so far this season, is the daughter of a current service member. Blaine reflected on her earliest years as a child in a military family.
"I grew up ingrained in that culture," Blaine said. "My dad is an active infantry Marine Corps officer, so I spent years on bases, I spent years away from him during deployments, I spent my childhood jumping around from state to state wherever Uncle Sam needed us, and my experience has been full of new relationships and new opportunities."
Blaine was never in one place for too long — and that's an understatement. From Indiana to Samoa, the State catcher has experienced life in many different cultures. She even played softball at four different high schools.
"I moved every year to two-and-a-half years," Blaine said. "I moved at least 13 times growing up in my 18 years as a minor, so I did my time as a dependent."
She continued: "That's just what my life was. It's what I knew, and I knew I was super close with my family and that's what would be important to me through each move and continuing throughout my life."
Despite these difficulties, the transfer student-athlete learned many life lessons in the process, all of which she has carried with her to every new town she's called home.
"I think it taught me to conduct myself with flexibility and maturity and learn how to accept and embrace new cultures across the country," Blaine said. "I think it benefitted me in the long run."
Blaine is also quick to recognize just how many sacrifices the loved ones of military servicemen and servicewomen have to make. A person who stands out in her mind and embodies this perseverance and strength is her mother, whom Blaine is eager to honor alongside her father.
"Military appreciation is going to be all about my dad and so many other service members and what they do for the country, but the partners left at home, the families left at home, put in months and years of service holding down the home front," Blaine said. "I always like to shout out my mom because she showed us what it looks like to be independent and what a healthy relationship looks like under stressful situations."
Blaine looks to continue making a huge impact for the Bulldogs, especially as they get into the thick of SEC play. While doing so, she continues to honor military members each and every day by sporting No. 22 to bring awareness to 22Kill, a non-profit organization that works to prevent suicide among United States veterans and first responders.
First pitch for Sunday's Salute to Service Game is set for 11 a.m. CT.
Â
Â
For a few Bulldogs, the pregame flyover and recognition throughout the afternoon will mean just a little bit more.
Nadia Barbary's parents will be in town for the weekend series against No. 13 Texas A&M, and there will certainly be more than the game on their minds. Their reaction upon learning of the event, according to Barbary, showed their emotions.
"It's amazing…I kind of told them and they got really excited," Barbary said. "My dad was like, 'Oh, what's flying over?' And he started naming off all these planes and jets."
The sophomore comes from a family in which military roots run deep, specifically with the United States Air Force.
"My mom and dad are Air Force," Barbary said. "My aunt and uncle are Air Force — dad's side. My mom's brother was Air Force. My dad's mom was Air Force. My dad's stepdad… I want to say he was Air Force. My uncle on my dad's side was Air Force. I think that's it."
Understandably, the family's heavy involvement made a huge impact on Barbary's childhood.
"I grew up with a very structured household, and my parents instilled their military values into us," Barbary said.
The .338-batter was born on a military base in San Antonio, Texas, and her parents were discharged from active duty shortly afterwards. The family still spent many of her younger years in the region.
"I remember a little bit, it was always really hot, and I started learning Spanish at a daycare on the base," Barbary said.
One very special memory sticks out in the third baseman's mind.
"We did a tour of all the planes that they had on the base and we actually were able to go back a few years ago to recreate some pictures [of] when I was a little kid and my brother [was]," Barbary said.
Now, Barbary is considering continuing her family's legacy.
"I've thought about joining the military after college," Barbary said.
She added a bit more detail about her specific goals.
"I want to do dermatology, and both of my parents were on the medical side in the military," Barbary said.
There's no doubt that once Barbary's career in the Maroon and White ends, she will succeed wherever life takes her.
There's another MSU standout with a close connection to the military and that's Jessie Blaine. The junior, who has split time between catcher, outfielder and designated player so far this season, is the daughter of a current service member. Blaine reflected on her earliest years as a child in a military family.
"I grew up ingrained in that culture," Blaine said. "My dad is an active infantry Marine Corps officer, so I spent years on bases, I spent years away from him during deployments, I spent my childhood jumping around from state to state wherever Uncle Sam needed us, and my experience has been full of new relationships and new opportunities."
Blaine was never in one place for too long — and that's an understatement. From Indiana to Samoa, the State catcher has experienced life in many different cultures. She even played softball at four different high schools.
"I moved every year to two-and-a-half years," Blaine said. "I moved at least 13 times growing up in my 18 years as a minor, so I did my time as a dependent."
She continued: "That's just what my life was. It's what I knew, and I knew I was super close with my family and that's what would be important to me through each move and continuing throughout my life."
Despite these difficulties, the transfer student-athlete learned many life lessons in the process, all of which she has carried with her to every new town she's called home.
"I think it taught me to conduct myself with flexibility and maturity and learn how to accept and embrace new cultures across the country," Blaine said. "I think it benefitted me in the long run."
Blaine is also quick to recognize just how many sacrifices the loved ones of military servicemen and servicewomen have to make. A person who stands out in her mind and embodies this perseverance and strength is her mother, whom Blaine is eager to honor alongside her father.
"Military appreciation is going to be all about my dad and so many other service members and what they do for the country, but the partners left at home, the families left at home, put in months and years of service holding down the home front," Blaine said. "I always like to shout out my mom because she showed us what it looks like to be independent and what a healthy relationship looks like under stressful situations."
Blaine looks to continue making a huge impact for the Bulldogs, especially as they get into the thick of SEC play. While doing so, she continues to honor military members each and every day by sporting No. 22 to bring awareness to 22Kill, a non-profit organization that works to prevent suicide among United States veterans and first responders.
First pitch for Sunday's Salute to Service Game is set for 11 a.m. CT.
Â
Â
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ SoftballSOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Raelin Chaffin ESPN2 Postgame Interview
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Friday, May 16