New Albany's state champion baseball team swapped its usual uniforms for Halloween costumes Tuesday, Oct. 27, hosting youth players and families at Bevelhymer Park for the program's 2nd Annual Halloween Costume Game.
Varsity players competed in an open intrasquad scrimmage while wearing costumes, according to the New Albany Eagles Baseball program on X. Candy was offered and a chance to interact with the high school roster. The program posted beforehand, inviting fans to "come out to Bevelhymer Park to watch the guys compete in an open scrimmage in costume."
After the game, the program called it "a beautiful day for some baseball" and said it was "awesome to see all the future Eagles," a nod to the younger players in attendance.
Separately, New Albany Youth Baseball & Softball described it as a chance for kids to watch a scrimmage in costumes and get candy. The youth organization said the first costume game, held in 2025, was "a blast with kids and players interacting."
The costume scrimmage is one way the Eagles program connects its varsity roster with the community's younger players. Head coach Michael Sandman's squad went 27-7 in 2026 and captured the OHSAA Division II state championship, defeating Walsh Jesuit 4-1 in the title game. A proclamation issued by New Albany Mayor Sloan T. Spalding on July 21 honored the team and noted it played every game on the road that season because it had no home field. The proclamation also recognized assistant coaches Don Carter, Andrew Westbrook, Chris Keaton, Logan McClain and Johnathan Braund.
The team allowed just four total runs across six tournament games on its way to the state title.
Bevelhymer Park sits on 145 acres along Bevelhymer Road and houses 32 fields for baseball, softball, soccer, football and lacrosse, according to New Albany Parks. The complex also includes tennis courts, a paved walking trail, playgrounds and concession stands.
