By Michael Butler
Two Tallassee baseball teams competed at the USSSA World Series in Baton Rouge, La. Both won championships.
The 10u and 12u all-star teams were presented championship rings on Sunday with each winning the White Division in their respective age groups.
“Having not one but two teams from Tallassee go to Baton Rouge and bring World Series Championships is a huge accomplishment,” Tallassee Youth Baseball League president Coy Thomas said. “This shows the caliber of talent and coaching that we have here in Tallassee. They went and represented Tallassee well and we all should be proud.”
Thomas watched the 12u Tigers dominate Cherokee from Boaz, Ala. 13-1 to claim the crown. Then he was able to get over and watch the 10u team finish off Northport, Ala. 11-0 for another championship.
The 12u team went undefeated in bracket play beating all Alabama teams; East Tuscaloosa (9-1), Gulf Shores (10-7) and Glencoe (12-2) before the win over Cherokee in the final. They beat Gulf Shores in pool play 6-4 but had a 7-7 tie with Sumiton of Boaz and an 11-3 loss to Bloomfield of Macon, Ga.
“It’s not about how you start. It’s how you finish,” said 12u head coach Adam Bruner. “Through pride, perseverance and smart strategy, we turned adversity into momentum. This championship isn’t just a win on the field – it’s a win for every parent, coach and supporter who stood with us. Together, we didn’t just chase greatness… we caught it.”
Kneeling (left to right): Logan Bruner, Brycen Thomas (bat boy). Middle row: Easton Thomas, Zayne Bush, Barrett Ingram, Jacob Morris, Keelan Jeffery, Ben Speake, Bo Clark, Kaiden Heard, Coach Tee Williams. Back row: Coach Clark Burton, Coach Adam Bruner, Coach Troy Bush, Jax Luster, Ryan Smith, Coach Mike Ingram, Landyn Woodall.
In the championship game, Cherokee grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The lead was short lived. Tallassee scored five in the first and eight more in the second. They totaled eight hits.
Landyn Woodall went 2-for-2 with 2 RBIs. All 12 batters in the lineup reached base. Ryan Smith picked up the win on the mound going all three innings with five strikeouts and one walk.
The 10u Tigers beat Madisonville, La. 17-7 in their opening game of pool play. The lost to Gulf Shores (12-10), then beat Pointe Coupee, La. (14-9) and Erwinville, La. (12-2). In bracket play, they lost their first game to Northport (6-5) and reeled off five straight wins for the championship.
The streak of wins on championship day came against St. Charles Parish, La. (17-5), Crossett, Ark. (5-3), and Tuscaloosa (7-6) before having to beat Northport twice. They did just that with 14-4 and 11-0 wins.
Front (left to right): Sebastian Alvarez, Tucker Sanders, Cole Hughes, Mason Taylor, Tillman Scarborough, Everett Elliott, Cam Hill, Tripp Lynn, Zeke Rigsby. Middle row: Easton Rodgers, Christian Waver, Jett Golden. Back row: Coach Brandon Rigsby, Coach Mike Mann, Coach Jon Rodgers, Coach Ben Elliott, Coach Dylan Hughes.
“These boys showed what heart, grit and teamwork truly mean,” 10u head coach Jon Rodgers said. “After a tough loss in our second bracket game, we were pushed to the losers’ bracket but didn’t quit. They rallied together and battled through four straight back-to-back games on championship day to bring home the title.”
Three pitchers combined to get the shutout in the title clincher: Easton Rodgers, Everett Elliott and Cam Hill. Tallassee belted out 12 hits. Rodgers, Elliott, Jett Golden, Tillman Scarborough and Tripp Lynn had two hits each.
“Every single player contributed to this incredible win,” said Rodgers, whose team also won a state championship a few weeks back in Oxford. “It was a true team effort, and we’re beyond proud of them.”
Tallassee Times 
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