Belhaven Blazers Baseball
Pearl, MS
Trustmark Park
Capacity: 8,840
Opened: 2005
Belhaven University is a small private Christian university located in Jackson, MS. The school’s current location opened just north of Downtown Jackson in 1894 in the mansion of former Confederate Colonel Jones S. Hamilton. The mansion was named Belhaven and hence is how the university got its name. In 1927 a lightning strike destroyed the mansion, which housed the university’s only classrooms – the columns that stand today on the west side of the campus are the only remnants of the old college.
(Above: The Greek columns are all that stands from the original college that was burned down in 1927.)
The college was originally an all-female institute, however in 1954 males began being admitted the school, and the athletic program began two years later.  Baseball began being played at Belhaven in 1964, with the Blazers competing in NAIA.  In 2015 the Blazers moved up to NCAA Division III, where they compete in the newest conference in NCAA DIII athletics, the Collegiate Conference of the South.  Which they joined in 2022.   During their time in NAIA the Blazers had much success on the diamond advancing the NAIA Tournament 10 times, winning their Regional twice.  The Blazers best season was in 2010 when Belhaven played in their first NAIA World Series.  But since joining the NCAA the Blazers have only been made one Regional appearance.
The Blazers have had many homes over the years, playing everywhere from local parks to local high schools. From 1996-2011 the Blazers played on campus at McLeod Field, which is named after the first baseball coach in program history, and is now used as the home to the program’s softball team.  In 2012 the Blazers began playing at Historic Smith-Wills Stadium, in east Jackson, the former home to the minor league’s Jackson Mets/Generals (1975-1999).  In 2022 the Blazers would begin playing at Trustmark Park in Pearl, about 7 miles southeast of campus.  Originally sharing the stadium with the Double A’s Mississippi Braves. When there would be a scheduling issue with the M Braves Belhaven would play at Smith-Wills Stadium. But when the Braves left at the end of the 2024 season, it meant Belhaven would no longer have to share the park with the Braves and would play exclusively here beginning the 2025 season.
(The two former homes of the Blazers. Above: McLeod Field on campus, now home to the softball program. Below: Smith-Wills Stadium on Lakeland Drive)
Food and Beverage            2
Trustmark Park has six permanently built in concession stands around the concourse. Although only the Big Dawg stand on the first base side was open on my most recent visit. Trustmark Park also has a fully enclosed restaurant in right field called State Farm Grill, although it’s closed for Belhaven games. One plus to coming to a Belhaven game is you are also free to bring your own food or drink into the stadium.
(Above: A Closed-up concession stand and picnic area behind home plate on the concourse.)
Atmosphere 3
Trustmark Park opened in 2005 and served as the home of the Mississippi Braves from 2005-2024.  When the team’s 20-year lease was up on the stadium the team moved to Columbus, GA and re-branded as the Columbus Clingstones for 2025.  Trustmark Park is quite large with 8,840 permanent seats. For Belhaven games only one entrance is used behind the home plate entrance. You enter a wide and open spacious concourse on the street level looking down at the sunken in field. There is not a bad seat in the house because of the way the ballpark is configured.  The concourse is completely covered by the suites so no matter where you are on the concourse you are not getting wet. The only area on the concourse not covered is the picnic area behind home plate.  You won’t find any Belhaven signage throughout the ballpark. But there is also plenty of Braves signage still located throughout Trustmark Park. From the M Braves logo at the main entrance to the Braves logo on the giant videoboard.  One interesting note about the scoreboard in center field is it was the largest videoboard in Double A baseball when the Mississippi Braves.   Â
The usual amenities you would have found when attending minor league games here in the past will not be found at Belhaven. There are no promotions, mascot, fun zone or team store. Instead, the focus is purely on baseball. There is a PA announcer that plays music and walk up music but that is about it. The players even double as the groundcrew. The one positive is there are no ushers so you are free to go anywhere you want to go in the stadium. Both the second level party decks were open as well as the Picnic Pavilion in Left Field. The second level seating in front of the suites was also open as well. This works out well for the baseball purists who just want to sit and take in the game with no extras.Â
Neighborhood 3
Pearl is a suburb of about 25,000 people the next city over the Pearl River from Jackson to the east. Pearl has really grown in recent years thanks in part to its close proximity to the Capital and government buildings of the State. But being in a different county so not to deal with some of the issues Jackson has dealt with in recent years.
The opening of the ballpark in 2005 was meant to revitalize the area that was once all woods right off Interstate 20 – the opening of Trustmark Park has created many businesses that have popped up over the last 20 years.   Just across the street from the ballpark you can get plenty of shopping done at The Outlets of Mississippi; with over 75 stores including brands like Nike, Under Armour, Forever 21, Coach, and Marshalls you are bound to find something to buy at Mississippi’s largest outdoor shopping center.
In addition, right next door to the Outlets you can get the latest hunting and fishing gear at Bass Pro Shop, then hop on over to Cavender’s Outfitters next door and buy your gear to hunt and fish in. A couple of restaurants worth checking out. Next to the Outlets is Huey Magoo’s Chicken Tenders a new local chicken tender joint. Just down the road near the interstate is Frisco Deli, a family-owned deli-style restaurant, and Moss Creek Fish House, the only place in Pearl to get seafood.
For nightlife, Pearl is in a dry county, but alcohol can be sold in certain restaurants. The Mississippi-based sports bar Mugshots just opened on Bierdeman Road, where you can get a good selection of drinks or a burger before or after the game. The Holiday Inn next to the Bass Pro also has a cool bar called the Alumni House, and of course, the Bass Pro Shop has a pretty unique restaurant/bar surrounded by giant fish tanks. Other than that, your best bet for nightlife would be to venture into Jackson’s Fondren District, about 15 minutes away. Jackson is also the State Capital and has several historical attractions worth checking out, such as the new and old Capitol buildings and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
(Above: Uncle Buck’s Restaurant and Bar inside the Bass Pro Shops across the street from Trustmark Park)
Fans 2
Trustmark Park is just too large for the Blazers as they average between 100-150 fans per game during the 2025 season. Most of the fans in attendance seemed to be friends and family of the players. The good thing was because of the close relationship with the players most of the people there seemed into the game and were knowledgeable of the players. The Belhaven campus also sits next to the Milsaps College campus just north of Downtown Jackson about 7 miles away. The two school meet up every year in the Cowboys Maloney’s Series. They play a game at Trustmark Park and a game at Milsaps College every year. When the two school meet up expect more fans at Trustmark Park. Cowboy Maloney’s is a Jackson based appliance chain owned by J. Con Maloney the former owner of the Jackson Mets.
(Above: Crowd at the Belhaven Blazers game)
Access 4
Getting to Trustmark Park is pretty easy. If coming from out of town I-20 or Highway 49 would be your best bet – the park is located right off the I-20 and Highway 49 interchange at Exit 48. As you are driving on the Interstate you can see the park next to the Bass Pro Shop and the Outlets, right before you get to the Jackson exit at I-55. Once you get off Exit 48 travel north on Highway 49 about a half mile, then get on Highway 80 and take the first right onto Bass Pro Drive, and you’ll see the park up ahead.
Because of lack of fans parking shouldn’t be an issue as you can just pull right up to the stadium. Once in the stadium being able to walk around wherever you want was obviously a plus. There will be entire sections you’ll get all to yourself if you like watching baseball in the natural elements in the most tranquil setting. Being able to go up on the suite level was a plus also.
Return on Investment 3
Parking is free, tickets are free and you are free to roam any where you want a minor league stadium, so you can’t beat that.  The only thing you’ll be paying for is concessions, or you can bring your food from home. Just don’t come expecting any bells and whistles. The focus will be strictly on the game. If you do want to come to a Belhaven game here I’d recommend coming for the Cowboy Maloney Series as it’ll be much more lively atmosphere.Â
Extras 4
The Blazers have had 7 players drafted into the MLB Draft, with the highest selected pick, Thomas Robbins, being taken in the 9th round of the 1970 MLB Draft. There has yet to be a player from Belhaven who has made it to the Big Leagues.
If you have time to check out the Belhaven campus it’s about a 10-15 minute drive from Pearl through Downtown Jackson. The campus is small but filled with many historic buildings and makes for a great walk if you enjoy walking around college campuses. The neighborhood is filled with many mansions as well, and Millsaps College is located just across the street as well.
(Above: Aerial view of the beautiful Belhaven campus)
One extra for the Blazers playing at a minor league ballpark with so much history and so many big games played here over the last 20 years. These small college players are playing on the same field Ronald Acuna, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Max Fried, Dansby Swanson and Spencer Strider all got their start at, as they all came through here as members of the Braves organization. Another extra for all the baseball games held at Trustmark Park throughout the year. In addition to Belhaven Trustmark Park serves as a neutral site home for Southern Miss, Mississippi State and Ole Miss when they play each other every year. The ballpark also hosts the Mississippi High School Baseball State Championships every year. In May 2025 Trustmark Park will welcome its newest tenant, the Mississippi Mud Monsters of the Independent Frontier League who play here in the summers.Â
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