A question newlywed couples often hear is, what do they do together in their free time?

For Whitt and Jamie Jones, who got married in March, that answer is simple — softball.

Last year, Whitt and Jamie joined Jamie’s sister, Shannon Vining, a former Starr’s Mill softball player, on a slow-pitch softball team called the Cheese Puffs in a co-ed recreational league in Peachtree City. Whitt wanted to receive more playing time — the Cheese Puffs were loaded with players — so he and Jamie came up with what they thought would be an exciting idea: starting a team of their own this year.

“Basically, we thought it would be something fun to do,” Jamie said. “We knew a lot of family and friends who would want to play softball.”

Whitt, a history teacher and girls basketball coach at Starr’s Mill High School, and Jamie, a real estate agent for the Home Source in Fayetteville, put together a team that consists of their family members and friends, including Starr’s Mill head softball coach Mark Williamson; his wife, Calie; Starr’s Mill assistant softball coach Todd Little; Starr’s Mill freshman volleyball coach Silas Brown; Jamie’s parents, Donna and Bill Vining; Jamie’s sister, Kelly Bailey; and Kelly’s husband, Burt.

Krista Wilson, one of Jamie’s best friends, also plays on the Joneses’ team. Jamie cherishes the opportunity to play softball again with her dear friend.

“We had played softball together since were were 7 years old,” Jamie said. “We went to different colleges [Wilson went to Valdosta State on a softball scholarship], and we really missed playing softball together. This is the first time since college that we are on the same team again. I love playing with her; we’re just living it up.”

The Joneses’ team plays games every Thursday night for 10 weeks at Meade Field in Peachtree City.

Playing softball was a natural decision for the Joneses, both of whom come from athletic backgrounds.

Jamie played basketball at Starr’s Mill, but her best sport was softball. She was Starr’s Mill's starting shortstop for all four years in the late 1990s and 2000. Her stellar play earned her a softball scholarship to Presbyterian College.

Whitt was a multiple-sport standout at Sardis High School in Alabama; he played guard for the team’s basketball team and was the starting quarterback on the football team.

Jamie says Whitt doesn’t stray too far from his primary passion when playing softball — coaching.

“I will say that, because he’s a coach at heart, he tries to take over the team sometimes,” Jamie said. “He’s basically the coach. He’s got it altogether.”

Whitt’s comments about sharing the same field with Jamie reinforce Jamie’s notion.

“Every time one of us makes an error, I tell her we have to do better the next time and that we might have to start practicing in our backyard,” Whitt said. “It’s a lot of fun playing with her.”

Besides assuming the role of player-coach, Whitt even is responsible for the Joneses’ team nickname, the Biscuits.

“A lot of the girls on the team thought it was a dumb name, but Whitt loved it,” Jamie said. “He got it from going to a Montgomery Biscuits minor league baseball game in Alabama. He loves the fact that the Montgomery Biscuits sell butter biscuits at their games. He even bought a Biscuits visor at one of their games.”

Whitt has many roles on and off the softball field, but the one he enjoys most is being a husband.

“When I spend time with her, no matter what, she makes me laugh all the time,” Whitt said. “I’m constantly amazed I get to be with her. I’m so thankful. I can’t imagine being with anyone else.”

And as any good husband would say, Whitt is pleased to see his wife doing something she truly enjoys in her free time.

“All I heard about was how awesome she was in college,” Whitt said. “She has seen me in my element, playing and coaching basketball. It’s good to see her playing a sport she likes.”

One of the things Jamie loves most about Whitt is that he’s a self-entertainer.

“He makes me laugh all the time,” Jamie said. “He’s an only child, so he’s used to constantly entertaining himself, which entertains me. He’s a ball of energy. He’s so much fun to be around.”

Keeping up with the Joneses isn’t difficult. They can be found furthering their special bond on the softball field.

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