Philadelphia Eagles star large receiver DeVonta Smith, alongside a number of teammates and mates, placed on a present Saturday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park within the third annual DeVonta Smith and Associates Movie star Softball Recreation.
Echoing chants of “E-A-G-L-E-S” and renditions of “Fly Eagles Fly” may very well be heard throughout Coca-Cola Park, with the practically full Allentown stadium adorned in Eagles merchandise. Along with Smith, Eagles stars similar to Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts, Brandon Graham, Darius Slay and A.J. Brown have been current — different well-known stars on the sphere included former large receiver Terrell Owens; Washington Commanders WR Jahan Dotson, a former Nazareth Excessive and Penn State star; and Quez Watkins.
“Yearly, it looks like the gang will get greater and greater,” Smith stated. “Which means we’re doing one thing proper.”
For Graham, an Eagles legend who’s about to begin his fifteenth season with the staff, the laid-back occasion permits him to make a fan’s day.
“They spend plenty of time simply attempting to get your consideration or get an autograph,” Graham stated of the followers. “I’m all about them.”
Baseball has at all times been a sport that Graham treasured. He made a number of spectacular catches whereas taking part in within the outfield.
“It was one of many issues I began off with,” he stated. “Then soccer took over.”
Saturday’s occasion started with a home-run derby, with Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rodgers successful the competitors after smacking 12 residence runs. The competitors was adopted by the exhibition softball sport — Smith’s Crew Smith confronted off in opposition to Crew Owens, which was led by Owens, who had 9 receptions for 122 yards for the Eagles of their 2004 Tremendous Bowl loss.
Crew Smith gained 16-6, after 8.5 innings.
Smith was up for a spot as MVP of the sport, going 4 for 4 on the plate and hitting two residence runs. Crew Smith’s greatest push got here within the backside of the seventh inning, because the staff scored six runs.
However one other Smith, DeVonta’s youthful brother, Christian, earned MVP honors. His shining second was a three-run homer within the backside of the seventh inning.
Many followers have been decked out within the Eagles No. 26 jersey that can be worn by Barkley, the previous Whitehall and Penn State star. Eagles Nation reported that Barkley’s jersey has been the highest selling this offseason, at the same time as Barkley hasn’t performed a snap but.
“It feels actually good,” one fan stated of Barkley becoming a member of the Eagles.
“The sky’s the restrict [for the Eagles this season], however in the end it comes all the way down to guys making performs,” Smith stated. “You’ve obtained to be in the proper spot on the proper time.”
However extra importantly Saturday, it was about Smith and mates giving again to the Lehigh Valley, whereas buying and selling soccer helmets for softball mitts.
“It’s an enormous precedence,” Smith stated of giving again to the neighborhood.
