Of all the times Jacob Wilson has stepped into the batter's box, none were quite like his experience Friday night at Kelly Automotive Park.

Instead of preparing for a fastball or a slider, the East Brady native and former Karns City High School baseball star was stepping up to marry the love of his life, Holly Bly of Chicora.

“This is definitely the most memorable time,” he said about being on a baseball diamond. “It's great.”

The newlyweds, now of Butler Township, took their vows at home plate of the historic ballpark in front of more than 250 friends and family members in the stands.

The setting for the wedding was a natural fit for the couple, who have been dating for 11 years since graduating from high school.

“Both of us are big sports fans,” Bly said. “We're both still very active in sports.”

Both Wilson and Bly come from baseball families.

Bly's father, Jeff Bly, coached at Karns City and the Chicora American Legion team.

“I was a bat boy here (at the park) in the late 1970s,” Jeff Bly said. “Now I get to give the bride away here.”

Wilson played at the former Pullman Park while still in school.

“It looks a little different from I remember,” he said, referencing that he played at the park before it was renovated in 2007.

Wilson's mother, Pat Ray of East Brady, said baseball has always been a big part of her son's life.

“There's been a lot of summers sitting at different tournaments,” she said. “He's had game-winning home runs and no-hitters.”

Holly Bly said the couple are big fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates and have been to their share of Butler BlueSox baseball games.

The wedding offered the traditional baseball experience, including a custom wedding logo, ballgame programs and a first pitch by the bride's grandmother, Shirley Kepple of Chicora.

“That started out as a joke and turned out real,” Kepple said, laughing. “It was great. And I've never seen Holly so happy.”

The bride said the baseball-themed wedding was a unique idea that fit the family.

“We wanted something laid back and fun — not so formal,” Bly said. “We really thought about a couple of places and were trying to think outside the box.”

Wedding guests filled the stands as the bride and groom took their vows at home plate, offering a round of cheers as the couple officially tied the knot.

After the ceremony, fans helped themselves to concessions from the stadium.

“It's normal ballpark food,” Bly said.

Peanuts, a traditional ballgame snack, lined the bottom of the glass jars that served as centerpieces at the tables.

Bly worked with the city Parks, Recreation Grounds and Facilities Authority to arrange the wedding.

The Nonprofit Development Corporation of Butler handled most of the work involved in coordinating between the authority and the couple.

“It's the first wedding ever at the park to my knowledge,” said Mike Robb, executive director of the nonprofit. “It's a very special occasion.”

Robb said it was pretty easy to plan.

“The biggest logistical concern was weather,” he said. “We needed to have contingencies if it rained.”

Thankfully for the couple, cloudy skies overhead produced no rain for the ceremony.

The wedding is something the facilities authority has been seeking in an attempt to raise money to support the ballpark.

Robb said his group, which manages the field, hopes to use it as a framework of how to organize future events.

The stadium will host another wedding in September.