The comeback kids were hard at work in the Sunshine State last week! After losing the tournament opener, Trojan Baseball Academy 11U bounced back to take first place at the Grand Slam World Series at Publix Sports Park in Panama City Beach, Florida.
Tough Loss in Game 1
The Trojans began the tournament with a disappointing 12–9 loss to Mississippi Rays Luther 11U, despite jumping out to an 8-1 lead early in the game. A three-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the fourth ended it. The Trojans out-hit the Rays 9–8 and racked up 11 stolen bases, but a big inning by the Rays in the third turned the tide. Cameron Stevens led the team with two hits. Tyler H. and Kason Samples each delivered RBIs. The team stole 11 bases and played clean defensively.
TBA Rebounds in Game 2
Easton Harris threw five impressive innings in Game 2, only giving up one run with five strikeouts. Tyler Hughes batted in four runs, and Cameron Stevens and Kason Samples each tallied two hits. The Trojans stole another 11 bases and secured a 10–1 win. Dailan Evans got some great work in on defense, making seven plays to help secure the win.
Hughes Throws a Shutout in Game 3
To open bracket play, Tyler Hughes threw a complete-game shutout, striking out 10 and walking none in a 6–0 victory over GT Prime. The Trojans were patient in the batter’s box, being walked eight times as a team. AJ Brown and Easton Harris each stole multiple bases. Jaxon Sloan led the defense with 11 plays in the field, and the team turned two double plays.
Jaxon Sloan Gets the Win in the Quarterfinals
In a 5–2 win over Five Star Bremen Gold, Jaxon Sloan earned the win, allowing just one earned run over five innings and striking out three. Deacon Dodge gave the Trojans the lead with an RBI single, and Dailan Evans went two-for-two at the plate. The team stole 10 bases, including multiple steals from Layton Selph and AJ Brown.
Trojans Victorious in High-Scoring Semifinal Round
The Trojans won 14–11 in a shootout over 5 Star National Glisson of Tifton. The Trojans poured on eight runs in the third inning. Jaxon Sloan, Easton Harris, Blake Matthews, and AJ Brown each had two hits, and Sloan, Harris, Layton Selph, and AJ Brown all collected two RBIs. Trae Davis and Carson Reinhardt led the team with two walks each, and TBA had 14 stolen bases.
Championship Game: Harris Goes the Distance
In the final round, Easton Harris pitched a complete game, holding Tifton to just one run on five hits over six innings. Thanks to Jaxon Sloan, the Trojans were able to capitalize on a fourth-inning rally. Sloan brought home the go-ahead run on a groundout to make the score 4–1. Jace Rumpf went two-for-two. The Trojans were also walked 9 times, led by Dailan Evans, Blake Matthews, and Carson Reinhardt. Defensively, the Trojans turned a key double play to squash a late threat from the boys of Tifton.
The Hometown Champs
Trojan Baseball Academy 11U wrapped up their week in Panama City Beach as champions. After dropping their first game of the tournament, they stormed back with a display of resilience and grit from the plate, mound, field, and bases.
Grant Turner is the editor of the Barnesville Buzz and an educator, coach, and writer based in Barnesville, Georgia. He shares stories that bridge community, faith, and personal growth. In addition to teaching and coaching, Grant is Director of Musical Worship and a Sunday School teacher at New Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon, Georgia. He lives in Barnesville with his wife, Haley.
