Above, the Biloxi Pearls team: Director/coach – Mackenzie Pitcher; second-year Pearls: Alyssa Galeos, Ashleigh Schubert, Ashley Atwell, Ezabelle Janssen, Gabrielle Sanders, Mackinzie Sonnier, Lulu Webb. Photo by HJ Photography.
When the Shuckers take the field on April 8 for the first home game of the season, the Biloxi Pearls will be hyping the crowd and ramping up excitement as their official cheerleaders.
The Pearls, composed of women ages 18 and up, use their talents to enhance the gameday experience, inspire young fans and increase community spirit. And the woman responsible for creating the team, Mackenzie Pitcher, once again will lead this “unique and vibrant” fixture of local baseball.
“The Biloxi Pearls aren’t just about performances,” explains Pitcher, the group’s founder and director. “It’s about building a legacy of empowerment and excellence on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”
Given her lifelong love of love of performing arts and a background in competitive dance, the Clermont, Fla., native directs the Pearls with skill and dedication. However, the role is just one of the many she plays — which include mom to three children she shares with her significant other, business support specialist at Bay Motor Winding and co-founder of Tanked Services, an RV repair, maintenance and customization business.
ADAPT AND CONQUER
Pitcher grew up in the competitive dance world, so she knows how profoundly an artistic outlet and team dynamics can affect personal development. As an eldest child, she naturally embraced the role of nurturer and leader, which shaped her personal and professional life.
She further honed these traits in the U.S. Army, where she learned the importance of discipline, resilience and teamwork in challenging environments. Life’s demands forced Pitcher to sideline her educational goals, but after deciding to fully commit, she completed her bachelor’s degree in information technology in just 15 months.
“The rollercoaster of life brought changes I didn’t expect; going straight from high school to the military set me on a different course than my peers,” Pitcher says. “Becoming a young mom at the age of 21 presented its own set of struggles but also rewarding times.”
Nonetheless, she never lost her love of the performing arts, whether it was teaching, choreographing or just dancing in her living room.
A SYMBOL OF COMMUNITY, RESILIENCE
Pitcher gets great satisfaction from solving problems and building things that serve and support others. From forging relationships through Tanked Services to IT troubleshooting at Bay Motor Winding, each day brings different obstacles and triumphs.
“Initially, I didn’t anticipate embarking on such a varied path, but each step has been instrumental in reaching where I am today,” Pitcher says. “Creating a business from scratch with my partner, who brought extensive RV knowledge, was both a massive challenge and a great reward.”
Creating the Biloxi Pearls marked a major evolution in Pitcher’s career, merging her passion for the performing arts with her entrepreneurial spirit. Seeing the team members transform and feeling the community’s support validates her efforts and motivates her to keep pushing boundaries.
“One of the greatest rewards has been seeing the team come together, grow, and thrive — not just as performers but as individuals who support and lift each other up,” Pitcher says. “The Biloxi Pearls have become a symbol of community and resilience, providing opportunities for young women on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to showcase their talents and develop leadership skills.”
CREATING A LEGACY
This season, she adds, fans can expect to see the Pearls more involved in community events throughout the Coast, and the team is excited to increase their presence and engagement both inside and outside of Keesler Federal Park. Pitcher aims to establish the team as a cornerstone of community spirit and a beacon of opportunity for even more women.
“My vision includes enhancing our training programs and securing partnerships that provide broader platforms for performance,” she says. “One of my biggest goals is to solidify the legacy of the Biloxi Pearls, ensuring that the team not only continues to excel during Biloxi Shucker games, but also becomes a recognized force for positive community engagement and development.”
