Coach Stacy Strickland’s Bearcat Cubs baseball team is preparing to begin play in the 10-year-old and under World Series which begins Saturday, July 24 in Valdosta.

Coach Strickland, who is assisted by Hank Holt and All Kelley, says he couldn’t be prouder of his Bearcat Cubs who have won four tournaments and finished second in five and third in three,

“The players have really worked hard and gotten the job done,” Strickland said.

The team finished second in the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA) District 3 Tournament while representing the Bainbridge Leisure Services Department in Thomasville.

They dropped a tight 18-17 decision to the Moultrie Number 1 All-Stars Thursday, June 24 in the District 3 Tournament championship team..

The game went into an extra inning and was decided by a two out walk off grand slam home run in the bottom of the seventh.

The Bearcat Cubs opened District Tournament play Saturday, June 19 with a resounding 29-2 victory over the Sumter County All-Stars from Americus.

They were led by catcher Dustin Hodge who went three for three with a three run home run and a two run home run and right fielder Sam McRae, who was two for four with a three run home run.

They continued their strong District Tournament play with a 7-2 Wednesday, June 23 victory over the Moultrie Number 2 All-Stars. They were led by first baseman Conor Strickland. who went three for three and drove in four runs, and catcher Tyler Rentz, who went two for three and drove in two runs.

They dropped their first game in the double elimination tournament later Wednesday, bowing to the eventual champion Moultrie number 1 team 12-6. Catcher Dustin Hodge blasted two solo home runs and Griffin Long went two for three with a run batted in.

The Bearcat Cubs bounced back Thursday, June 24 to defeat the homestanding Thomasville All-Stars 17-4. Shortstop Will Kelley went one for three in the game with a three run home run. Dustin Hodge was three for three with a solo home run and left fielder T.J. Andrews had a two run home run, a double and four runs batted in.

Also contributing to the big win over Thomasville were catcher Hank Holt who went three for three with a two run home run and third baseman Walt Burrell who went two for two with a two run home run and a single.

The Bearcat Cubs then beat Moultrie’s Number 1 team 5-3 in the championship round opener forcing the second and deciding game. They blasted four home runs in the game. Will Kelley was two for two with a solo home run, Griffin Long was one for two with a solo home run and Hank Holt was two for two with a solo home run.