New partners ‘all aboard’ to engineer 2025 Railroaders

When the previous owner of the Fulton Railroaders put out feelers in search of a potential buyer, a group of community members and baseball fans came together, each with different talents, skill sets and resources, but all in agreement as to their shared goal. 

They knew the Twin Cities of Fulton and South Fulton could not lose their Ohio Valley League franchise.

So it was, that this new partnership, consisting of Jeff Campbell, Sam Hancock, Joe Yoes, Paige Dennis, Terry Ballard, Tyler Gray, Meribeth and Zo Meza, Lloyd Jones, Lisa and Charlie Ferbet, Jill Crittendon, Don Parr and Buckey Allen, was able to secure the franchise and go to work on recruiting a team to fill the 2025 roster.

Taking control of the team as new owners in November 2024, past the heavy recruiting cycle of August, September and October, an early December Christmas break for college athletes created quite a challenge. 

However, the 2025 Fulton Railroaders’ roster boasts 28 players and that includes 13 pitchers, ready to compete against other Ohio Valley League team members, including Hopkinsville, Ky., Madisonville, Ky., Henderson, Ky., Paducah, Ky. and Hendersonville, Tennessee’s Full Count Rhythm. 

Host families homes have been secured for the team. 

Charlie Ferbet was the first staff member on board for the Railroaders this year, to serve as General Manager. 

He will run the entire baseball operations and returns to Fulton after playing two seasons for the Railroaders. He will arrive back in Fulton after having graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, where he played for the Bearcats all four years. He is currently also pursuing a Masters degree.

Head Coach for the 2025 Railroader is J.D. Willis, a graduate of Willamette University where he played baseball all four years as a left-handed pitcher and is currently enrolled in their MBA program.  Willis has played in the OVL for two years, having pitched for the Henderson Flash in 2022 and 2024 and hails from Arizona.

Assistant Coach is Jake Vitale. He played for the Railroaders in 2024 and was a fan favorite because of his positive attitude and the high level of energy and enthusiasm he brought to the field every day. Vitale is a 2025 graduate of Quincy University where he played baseball the past two seasons as an outfielder for the Quincy University Hawks. He is from St. Louis, Missouri.

An intern trainer will meet with each player, gather workout history and develop fitness plans and gym schedules, for six days a week, a minimum of two hours per day. 

This year’s season opener will be at Lohaus Field, home of the Railroaders, on May 31 and the first 100 spectators will be treated to free general admission, courtesy of The Meadows Hotel. 

Hendersonville’s Full Count Rhythm will be the opponent for that contest. Home game time is 6:30 p.m., unless otherwise announced.  

That exciting opener will include a special “first pitch” and each home game, the national anthem will be performed by major pageant title holders.

The very next night, June 1, area residents will have the opportunity to enjoy another home game at Lohaus Field, when the Railroaders host Paducah Chiefs.  

Spectators will notice the extensive renovations to the stadium, as well as field upgrades, and will have the opportunity to see their hometown Boys of Summer make good use of the “Tornado Bats”, also known as the “Torpedo Bats”, purchased for the team by one of the partners, Lloyd Jones, as first year budgetary constraints would not have allowed for the expensive purchase.  These bats are designed with an elongated barrel, to maximize the sweet spot and potentially increase power on contact.  

The concession stand will list some new additions to the menu, including Wagyu burgers, BBQ sandwiches, nachos, all beef hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn, big pickles, peanuts, sunflower seeds, lots of ice cream and frozen treats.

Coke products, energy drinks, teas, seltzers and beer will also be offered.

Fan merchandise will include an all new tee shirt designs, vintage engineers’ gray and white striped hats, train whistles, caps and toy bats.

Regular general admission tickets are $5 per person and season reserved seats are still currently available. Reserved seating availability may vary from home game to home game, however, often reserved seating will be available at $10 per person, first come, first served.

The popular party deck is available for rentals, for $300 per game. However, those renting the deck may provide an after-game meal for the team members and there is no cost for the rental. 

Those interested in reserving the deck, or in season reserved seating may contact Jill Crittendon at 270-626-0803.

Future plans for the season’s specialties could include a supervised “carnival-like” play area for children, a bouncy house, helium balloons and a bubble machine.

Customarily, the Fulton Tourism Commission partners with the Railroaders for a Fourth of July extravaganza, paying admission for the first 300 spectators, and then staging a fireworks show immediately following the home game, as the Lohaus Field outfield provides the perfect location for the best view of the show.