Pascagoula baseball downs Gautier, honors teammate Braylyn Knowles

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (WXXV) — Pascagoula baseball is mourning the loss of Braylyn Knowles, who died over the weekend.

The junior was a beloved member of the Panthers program, and on Tuesday night, hundreds packed Richie Tillman Field to watch Pascagoula take on Gautier on the diamond in his honor. Fans brought signs, wore buttons and wrote notes to Knowles. The field was also painted with a #4 in his memory.

“Braylyn was my baby cousin, but he felt more like a little brother to me,” PHS senior Shanyrrius McWilliams said. “Every time he’d see me in the hallway or see me at a game, he would always come up, ‘Oh Shay!’ He would always choke me around the neck and play with me, and I’ll miss those memories forever because he truly brought life to everybody he spoke to, was in the same room [as], related to. He truly brought life, and we’re all carrying memories of him through us, so I feel like that’s the only way Goula will heal: is by coming together.”

“I also feel the same way,” PHS sophomore Emani Lee added. “Bray was my best friend, and I loved seeing him every day. No matter what was going on, he’ll make sure that everybody was happy. If you’re down, he’ll pick you up. He’ll joke with you. He’ll make sure everyone was straight, and he loved everybody and I feel like this is the moment for everybody to come together and help each other be one big family and put everything aside, because Bray was dearly loved and we love him.”

Pascagoula would go on to win a key district matchup on the diamond, taking down Gautier by a score of 9-3. The Panthers jumped out to a 4-0 lead through the first two innings and never looked back. The two teams will face off in game two of their final district series on Friday night.