Pike’s ‘350 Club’ provides large home field advantage from beyond the fence

Despite being over a football field’s length from home plate, a group of Pike Liberal Arts students feel that they have the best seats in the house at Butch Austin Field.

The ‘350 Club’ is Pike Liberal’s unofficial student section beyond the centerfield wall and in the back of a pickup truck. The rowdy section of Patriot supporters feel it is their duty to provide Pike as big of a home-field advantage as possible.

Pike seniors Chandler “Willy” Coston and Trip Roberts lead the group. Roberts said the group started small, but has grown exponentially in recent weeks.

“When it all started, there was four of us,” Roberts said. “We wanted to just do something different, and thought that backing the trucks up to fence would be fun. There are now about three trucks full of folks just hanging out and having a good time.”

Perched high atop a truck bed in centerfield not only allows the group perfect sight lines to the game, but also allows them to heckle the opposing centerfielder.

“We do our best to get in the heads of the other players,” said Coston. “We are always talking to them and poking fun at them when they mess up. Alabama, Troy and Ole Miss all have cool outfield sections, so why not us?”

More and more members have joined the original four members of the 350 Club over the latter part of the season. The fans grew to “about eight,” before last week’s series again Fort Dale.

The Pike softball team joined the group, and boosted the membership to more than 20.

They group celebrates good plays by the Patriots with cheers, chants and the occasional “Bama Bound” sign when Chandler Avant gets a hit or strike an opposing batter out.”

“Anyone that wants to come sit out there with us is welcome to,” Roberts said. “As long as they are cheering for Pike and like to have a good time, they will fit right in with us.”

Pike outfielder Brian Adams summed up his feelings simply.

“I am really glad they are on our side. They get on those other guys’ nerves.”