Checotah Wildcat Baseball 2024 may have come to a close, but these boys of baseball, three sets of brothers, will continue batting for each other long after the season is over. Yes, Dallas and Dalton Carter, Jonah and Bryce Marshall and Jim and Mason Rainbolt have all played together since they were four years old, whether at school or in Travel Ball. They’re not just good friends and great teammates, they are brothers in blood and spirit and they consider everyone on the team to be brothers as well.
19-year-old Jonah Marshall (#27) has played 1st base and designated hitter for his last game as a senior while his 16-year-old brother Bryce Marshall (#18) has played 1st base as a freshman.
17-year-old Dallas Carter (#12) has played shortstop, 2nd base and pitcher as a junior while his 15-year-old brother Dalton Carter (#17) has played shortstop, catcher and pitcher as a freshman.
17-year-old Jim Rainbolt (#4) has played outfield as a junior while his 15-year-old brother Mason Rainbolt (#13) has played catcher, pitcher, 2nd base and shortstop as a freshman.
“Looking back into Checotah yearbooks as far as 1969, we can’t find anytime that three sets of brothers have all played together and we’ve even asked alumni,” educator and mom Laura Rainbolt said. “So this made this season special for all of us. Though this sea-son has been filled with challenges and lessons learned, it’s definitely been a memorable one. I’m very competitive and always prefer to win, but win or lose; you will always find me in the stands cheering on my boys.
“As baseball season closed the book this year, another amazing story that most don’t even realize closed also. It’s the story of six boys, three sets of brothers, who have battled together on the baseball diamond and the football field since the first grade. These boys have shared victories and defeats, blood, sweat, laughter and tears but their bond has stood strong through all these years. Though this was the last time for Jonah to share the field with his other five brothers, it’s been a great journey for all of them and they know it.
“It’s also been a joy and a blessing for all of us parents and grandparents getting to watch these brothers play together for so many years.”
Linda Rainbolt, retired Checotah teacher and grandma to Jim and Mason, also stated that “the best thing about watching the younger brothers play well was seeing their older brothers be the first ones to congratulate and cheer them on.”
The Wildcats stats for the Checotah High School baseball team were seven wins and nine losses. On April 6 they won the Beggs Championship, a night they will all remember years down the road.
“Mason also threw an amazing game April 11 against Wagoner,” Laura said. “He pitched for six innings and threw 14 strikeouts. He also had four walks, hit one batter and gave up only six hits and had three earned runs. The team came away with a district win that night that none of us will ever forget.”
“These boys have been through everything together – school, sports, vacations – they even took a trip to Gulf Shores together and played as hard on the beach as they did on the diamond. So, it’s definitely been an unforgettable experience for not just the players, but the coaches and us parents too.”
The Checotah baseball coaches this year were: Head coach Levi Walker and assistants, Tom Butler and Chase Noah.
Jonah and Bryce’s parents are Kerry Herron and Guymon Marshall.
Dallas and Dalton’s parents are Michaela Carter and Anthony Carter.
Jim and Mason’s parents are Carman and Laura Rainbolt.
These boys of baseball and brothers behind the bat have proved that they will always be batting for each other on and off the field and for the rest of their lives.
