With the sun shining and the stands filled with students and fans, the Bray-Doyle Donkeys were ready to take the field in their home opener on Thursday, March 7. The weather was perfect, but the Donkeys took the field for another reason Thursday, they played for their fallen teammate and friend Joe Lumbert. Bray-Doyle head coach Ron Booth had this festival on the schedule and dedicated it to Lumbert naming with the inaugural Joe Lumbert Memorial Festival.

    “I thought it was important to memorialize Joe, as I was told this was his favorite sport,” Booth said. “I didn’t have the privilege of coaching Joe, but I think the players that came out and played did it in a great way to honor him.”

    The Donkeys started the festival off on the right foot picking up a 9-7 win over Wayne with a solid effort on the mound from seniors Dalton Whitehead and Josh Hall.

    “I think we as a team were determined to win the first one for Joe,” Hall said. “Winning that game meant more to me than any other game. Joe always played his hardest for the team and we most definitely wanted to return the favor to him.”

    Skyler Cash echoed his fellow senior’s thoughts saying that Lumbert was and always will be with them on the field.

    “It was a special feeling playing for Joe,” Cash said. “Just knowing he was there with us gave us the extra boost to come back and win the first game.”

    If anyone were to ask this group of ball players, what they will think of most when remembering their brother it would be his caring heart and always having a smile on his face.

    “Joe loved to win so much and would always help the team,” Curtis Cox said. “It makes me happy knowing that he’s looking down on us smiling as we win and have fun. I enjoyed playing for him knowing he would love it and that he was here in all of our hearts.”

    Hall said he will remember Joe’s dedication on and off the field.

    “Joe never took the easy way out,” Hall said. “He was always working his tail off and making everyone else work that much harder. It not only has made me a better ball player because of it, but a better person.”

    The rest of the festival didn’t go the way the Donkeys had hoped losing to Walters and a tough 3-5 loss to Central High. The season is still early and the team still feels positive for their remainder of games.

    “We have a great feeling towards this season,” Cash said. “We have great depth on the mound and can swing the bats well. We want to make a deep playoff run and win a bunch of games in Joe’s honor.”