TIFTON — The South Georgia Peanuts will be holding “Tifton Back to School Night” Saturday at the Paul Eames Complex in Albany. The Bradenton (Fla.) Juice will provide the opposition for the Peanuts in a key South Coast League baseball game.

Tift County school superintendent Patrick Atwater is set to throw out the first pitch for the 7:10 p.m. contest and free tickets are still available at the offices of The Tifton Gazette.

Prior to Tuesday night’s game against the Anderson (S.C.) Joes, South Georgia was sporting a 15-8 record during the second half of the South Coast League schedule. The Peanuts captured the first half title.

It has been a successful first season for the Peanuts and team general manager Keith Michlig wants everyone in the area to know the team is proud to represent all of South Georgia.

“We want everyone in South Georgia to come over,” Michlig said. “It’s a wonderful thing for the Peanuts. We want to show folks the entertainment value we have and the level of baseball we play. We want folks from Tifton and all over your area to come over Saturday night. We want them to know the South Georgia Peanuts is their team.”

The South Coast League is considered an independent league. That means players from the league are free to go to any team in Major League Baseball.

A recent member of the Peanuts, Steve Garrabrants, recently signed a Major League deal with the Boston Red Sox organization. He is currently at Boston’s high-A club, Lancaster, which is in the California League.

Michlig feels the level of play of the South Coast League is on par with a high-A league.

“We play a very exciting brand of baseball,” Michlig said.

The Tifton night is the third community event the club has held and Michlig wants everyone in the Tifton community and in the Tiftarea to come over for the contest.

“We sure are looking forward to Saturday. We feel like it is a wonderful chance for you to come over and enjoy a game with your neighbors and friends,” Michlig said. “You can get together and enjoy a great ball game.

“We are hoping people will take advantage of the free tickets and come over and make it a true community night.”

While Michlig wants people to come over with their neighbors to see the game Saturday, some Tifton residents may know some of the people on the field.

Two members of the Peanuts’ coaching staff, pitching coach Buddy York and bench coach Bubber Birdsong, played at Abraham Baldwin College. York is a native of Leesburg, while Birdsong is a native of Fort Gaines.

While he is currently not playing, former Tiftarea Academy Panther Chris Howell is a member of the Peanuts’ roster.