JMU AT VIRGINIA TECH BASEBALL SERIES CREATES UNIQUE BONDING MOMENTS

James Madison's baseball series over the weekend at Virginia Tech will be remembered by some for moments that took place beyond wins and losses.

Justin Brown, JMU's honorary team member through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, and Virginia Tech's adopted player, Levi Mayo, shared the pitching mound on Sunday to each throw ceremonial first pitches. They also joined the head coaches to exchange lineups prior to the game.

The catching targets for Justin and Levi were brothers Bradley Shaban (Midlothian, Va./Cosby) and Ronnie Shaban. Bradley is a sophomore and JMU's starting second baseman. Ronnie is a junior at Virginia Tech and started at first base. Companions in baseball for most of their lives, they were pitted against each other on the diamond for the first time since T-ball. Darryl Slater of the Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote a feature story on the brothers squaring off over the weekend. It was a Mother's Day that Janet Shaban will likely remember for a long time.

View the photo gallery above for some pictures of the weekend for Justin Brown and the Shaban brothers. All photos are courtesy of Dave Knachel/Virginia Tech.