Pascagoula greats Sean Smith Jr. and Keilon Parnell give back at Panther Club Clinic!
Summer camp season is officially underway, bringing together athletes of all ages to sharpen their skills, learn more about their sport, and enjoy the game they love. That was certainly the case at the 2026 Panther Club Clinic, where campers had a memorable morning with a pair of Pascagoula greats.
Fresh off his trip to the Men’s College World Series with West Virginia, Sean Smith Jr. came back home to Pascagoula to pour into the future of Panther baseball. After teaching, interacting with, and encouraging rising first- through sixth-graders, Smith Jr. spoke about why he enjoys giving back.
“I really love it,” Sean Smith Jr. said. “The community supported me throughout my entire career, and I feel like I owe them. Inspiring the next generation is what I’m here for, and I just hope they can stay focused and someday go to Omaha just like me!”
The Mountaineer wasn’t the only former player looking to brighten the day of young athletes. Current Alabama A&M outfielder Keilon Parnell explained how it felt to put smiles on the faces of kids who were just like him years ago.
“It’s amazing,” Keilon Parnell said. “It makes you feel like you did something with your life. I’m just trying to teach the kids to continue having fun and keep big smiles on their faces while they’re young, and especially as they get older. Seeing what Sean did and how he played this season, seeing how we grew up together, and seeing him put the work in—it’s awesome to come back and give back. We had a special coach, Richie Tillman, who instilled those values in us, so we’re just trying to do the same.”
Current Pascagoula head baseball coach Colton Caver explained how special it is for these campers and this community to have examples like Smith Jr. and Parnell.
“It’s a great experience for our youth and for Pascagoula,” Colton Caver said. “Being able to spend time at camp with guys like Sean and Keilon, who have played at the highest level, is special. Sean making it to the College World Series this year is especially meaningful for Pascagoula baseball history. He gets to come back and share his knowledge with these kids today. The number of kids we have out here today is awesome for me as the head baseball coach of this program. We want that interest, and we want baseball to be popular in our community.”
With alumni like Sean and Keilon, plus the amount of talent on display at this camp, the future of Pascagoula baseball is bright! What an amazing experience for these Panther Cubs!
