Twelve players from the Radford Bobcats U13AA USSSA baseball team travelled to Johnson City, Tennessee to participate in the USSSA World Series July 13-18.  The World Series culminated a successful season for the Bobcats who played a total of 66 games in 18 sanctioned tournaments.

The World Series started on a very positive note for the Bobcats on opening day.  Following a parade and opening ceremony, Radford athletes competed in 6 skill competitions with more than 160 athletes from each of the other teams participating in the tournament.  Two Radford players won championships in those 6 events.  Landon Armentrout placed first in the Catcher throw down, and Trey Bess took first place in the outfield accuracy throw.  Radford’s relay team (consisting of Justin Aker, Jacob Hobbs, Ryan Davis and Eli Facemire) took third among 17 teams in the Diamond Run.  Radford players also finished among the top four teams in the Home Run Derby, Pitch speed, and Pitching accuracy.

Radford competed in eight games during the World Series tournament, advancing to the 4th round of bracket play and finishing among the top seven teams.  The tournament included the some of the best 13 year old teams from Virginia, Iowa, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Ohio.  Radford competed with some of the best teams in the country, capitalizing on strong defensive play in each game and outstanding efforts by our pitching and catching staff.  Pitchers included Paul Stanley, Grayson Howard, Eli Facemire, Jacob Hobbs, Justin Aker, Charlie Morris, Landon Armentrout, Eli Straw and Trey Bess.  Catching duties were shared by Grayson Howard, Jacob Hobbs, and Landon Armentrout.

In addition to outstanding performance on the fields, Radford players jelled as a team and as friends at the hotel pool, team cookout and pizza party as well as other recreational activities during our five day stay in Johnson City.

The Radford Bobcats finished its U13AA season ranked 2nd of 120 U13 teams in Virginia and among the top 4% of more than 2230 teams nationally. 

World Series Players for the Bobcats included Taylor Ayers, Ryan Davis, Luke Wheeler, Jacob Hobbs, Landon Armentrout, Grayson Howard, Justin Aker, Eli Facemire, Paul Stanley, Trey Bess, Charlie Morris, and Eli Straw. The Bobcats are coached by Rick Slavings, Kevin Ayers, and Matthew McCue.  The Bobcats will return to action later this month as a U14 team. 

Coach Slavings and the entire team, coaching staff and parents would like to say thank you for the generous support from the community and business owners throughout Radford and the surround areas.  The overwhelming monetary support from the community made this trip possible and manageable.

For more information about the Radford Bobcats, contact team manager Rick Slavings, 540-633-1835.

Photos: (Top) Trey Bess on left (winner of outfield accuracy throw)  and Landon Armentrout on right (winner of catchers throw down). (Right) The Radford Bobcats U-13 team. (Photos submitted by Mark Armentrout)