Military homecoming: Dad surprises son during minor league baseball pitch

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Thursday’s Jacksonville Suns home game ended up being postponed due to weather, but it was still a special night for one military family.

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Master Chief Petty Officer Mike Ball’s son was set to throw out the first pitch of the minor league game. Ball, who arrived at Naval Station Mayport Monday from a seven-and-a-half month deployment on the USS Iwo Jima, was set to surprise his son by catching the ball.

The pitch still happened, just under a covered area at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Ball’s son and daughters didn’t recognize him at first, as he was in full catcher’s gear. As soon as Ball pulled off his mask, the kids gave him big hugs.

The Suns game against the Barons was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Saturday.