On Friday, the Savannah Sand Gnats lost to the Greenville Drive 4-3, but celebrity chef and restaurant owner Paula Deen brightened the evening a bit by putting in an appearance at Grayson Stadium.
Deen and her sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen, helped America’s Second Harvest by signing autograph before the game for anyone who brought a jar of peanut butter to donate to the food bank.
"I tell you what, America’s Second Harvest does a great job. They fill a lot of empty bellies and with times as hard as they are now, they’re more important than ever," Deen said. "They show every day that one can (of food) can make a difference."
Deen said her favorite baseball team, excluding the Sand Gnats of course, is the Atlanta Braves. "But Albert Pujols is my favorite player," she added, holding up her necklace. "He and his wife gave me this necklace and they were so sweet."
Even with the support of the "Lady and Sons" and 2,000 fans in the stands, the Gnats couldn’t stop Greenville from scoring three runs in the 7th inning and earning a win.
The Drive’s pitcher Fabia Williamson (2-1) got the win, striking out 6, walking 1, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk and 1 earned run.
Pitcher Wendy Rosa (0-1) picked up his first loss of the year for the Sand Gnats, allowing 2 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks and striking out 2.