When the Stetson Hatters open the 2013 baseball season at Melching Field this weekend against Saint Joseph’s, there will be some dignitaries on hand to help get the year started on the right foot.

For opening night on Friday, Stetson University President, Dr. Wendy Libby, and her husband, Dr. Richard Libby, will get the year started by jointly throwing out the first pitch of the year. Dr. Libby is in her fourth year as Stetson University’s President and will be throwing out the first pitch for the first time since her rookie year.

The Hatters will also have a special guest on hand to throw out the first pitch on Saturday afternoon for the second game of the three-game weekend series with the Hawks. Former Atlanta Braves all-star third baseman, and DeLand native, Chipper Jones will make his annual appearance at Melching Field.

Jones, who is the godson of Stetson head coach Pete Dunn, has been active with the Hatters baseball program since his earliest days in the game when he was attending Stetson baseball camps. His father, Larry Jones, Sr., was a Stetson assistant baseball coach from 1994-2000.

Jones threw out the first pitch on February 24 last year, a game that ended in a 4-2 victory over Central Michigan.

The 2013 Hatters open with six straight games at home, three against Saint Joseph’s this weekend and three against Maine next weekend. Stetson’s schedule includes 26 of the first 29 games at home and includes the annual Bright House Invitational Tournament March 1-3 with Ohio State, Connecticut and Central Michigan participating.

Game times for this weekends’ games are 6:30 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Season tickets for Stetson baseball are still available for as little as $75, which includes all of the games in the Bright House Tournament as well as 35 more home games through the regular season.

The Hatters will also once again host the 2013 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, which will expand to eight teams for the first time. That event is scheduled for May 22-25.

Call 386-738-HATS or visit GoHatters.com for more information on season or single game tickets for all Stetson University Athletics events.