SAVANNAH, Ga. — The St. James middle school baseball team did it again.
St. James middle school baseball celebrates its SPAL championship after winning SPAL Title Back-to-Back.
Front row, from left: Thomas Bruce, Logan Ford, Louis Pascual, Henry Meyers, Charlie Stappenbeck, Kenny Cail, Jackson Gulle and James McBride. Back row, from left: coach Jackson Walker, Jack Walker, Will Wallace, Tripp Gill, Colton Goka, Grayson Bruce, Ben Parsons, Sam Thorpe, Wyatt Harvey, coach Randy Gill and coach Stephen Bruce. (Photo courtesy St. James Catholic School)
How it happened
The Chargers capped a perfect season Tuesday with a 7-6 win over Calvary Day to claim the Savannah Parachol Athletic League (SPAL) championship, finishing back-to-back undefeated seasons and extending their winning streak to 21.
“So, going back to back’s huge, 21-0 over the last two years,” head coach Stephen Bruce said. “We started the baseball program at St. James three years ago. These eighth graders got a lot of experience early on, and they just kept developing.”
Bruce pointed to growth and mindset as the difference.
“They’ve gotten bigger and stronger, and they bought into the program,” Bruce said. “Taking care of the baseball, having good approaches at the plate, and having that winning mentality. They know what it takes to do the little things right.”
The title game tested them. Calvary Day pushed the pace all night and tied the game at six in the fifth inning. St. James answered in the bottom half when Sam Thorpe put the ball in play and drove in the go-ahead run.
St. James trailed 5-3 after three innings before making its move.
“We were behind, and the game went back and forth,” Bruce said. “We made a pitching change and brought Tripp Gill in, and he locked it down for us.”
Gill delivered in relief, allowing one hit and one run while striking out six over the final innings.
At the plate, the Chargers broke through in the fourth inning with a string of key hits to take control.
“Jack Walker got a single, Will Wallace got a single, Grayson Bruce had a double, and then Tripp Gill singled,” Bruce said. “We were able to string some hits together and score three runs.”
St. James got production up and down the lineup. Grayson Bruce, Will Wallace, and Jack Walker each had two hits. Gill and Wallace each drove in two runs.
Calvary Day School (7-3) stayed within striking distance all game. Tate and John Luke each drove in two runs, and the Cavaliers tied the game late before St. James responded.
The Chargers showed balance all season with timely hitting and steady pitching. That approach carried them through another unbeaten run.
The roster includes Wyatt Harvey, Will Wallace, Jackson Gulle, Charlie Stappenbeck, Jack Walker, Henry Meyers, Kenny Cail, Ben Parsons, Grayson Bruce, James McBride, Thomas Bruce, Sam Thorpe, Tripp Gill, Colton Goka, Logan Ford, and Louis Pascual.
Bruce said the group’s experience and chemistry stood out.
“The communication and the chemistry I had with these eighth graders was just unmatched,” Bruce said.
Head coach Stephen Bruce and assistant Randy Gill led the program to back-to-back perfect seasons and another championship.
St. James finished 10-0, perfect again.
Photo credit: Courtesy of St. James Catholic School Athletic Department
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