MADISON, Ala. (TENNESSEE VALLEY LIVING) - Grab your hats, your jerseys, and the family and head out to Toyota Field, because it’s time to cheer on the Rocket City Trash Pandas! The team’s home opener is April 3, with the first pitch set for 6:35 PM.
Before the action unfolded between the home team and their competitors- the Biloxi Shuckers- TVL, the WAFF 48 Sports team, and meteorologist Jeff Desnoyers were having some fun of their own on the field!
48 Sports Director Carl Prather and Sports Reporter Kaleigh Tingelstad joined TVL Host Payton Walker to highlight all things baseball! They broke down some of the highlights of the new season, including the team’s new manager, Joe Kruzel!
Watch Payton’s full interview with Trash Pandas Manager Joe Kruzel!
Joe also gave the crew a crash course on the different baseball pitch grips!
Watch Trash Pandas Manager Joe Kruzel’s lesson on baseball pitch grips!
And Kaleigh also caught some hilariously candid moments with Joe during the Trash Pandas Media Day!
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Watch these hilarious outtakes with Joe Kruzel!
Kaleigh and Carl also brought in highlights of their own, including a question-and-answer session with some of the Trash Pandas players and what else is happening at the field this season besides baseball action.
Watch Kaleigh’s Q&A with the Trash Pandas!
Watch Carl chat with Trash Panda’s Exec. Vice President/GM Lindsey Knupp about other Toyota Field events!
Jeff joined the fun as the gang split into teams to compete in a friendly game of Homerun Trivia! Trash Panda’s Ricky Fernandez and mascot Sprocket hosted the fun competition.
Watch to see if Team Payton & Kaleigh or Team Carl & Jeff won Homerun Trivia!
And, what’s a day at the ballpark without chowing down on some good food? A chef at Toyota Field joined the party to share just a taste of what you can order at the ballpark for yourself soon!
Check out what’s on the menu as the 48 crew chows down on some new food offerings!
To bring it all back to home base, the 48 crew wrapped up the fun on the diamond with a Grand Slam Showdown- a fun race around the bases.
Watch to see who won the Grand Slam Showdown!
You can enjoy all that Toyota Field has to offer by attending a Trash Pandas game during the 2026 season or other events at the ballpark. Keep up with the Trash Pandas schedule and Toyota Field happenings on their website.
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