The Jackson 96ers Red 18U squad capped a flawless 7‑0 run at the NABF High School World Series in Knoxville, Tennessee, with three of its players earning all‑tournament honors, highlighted by Thomas Antwine’s selection as Most Valuable Player.
Antwine’s MVP campaign
Antwine, a rising senior at Porter’s Chapel Academy, batted .500 over seven games, drove in three runs and scored seven times, while also winning all three of his starts on the mound, including a 7‑2 victory over Bama Ballers Baseball in the championship game.
On the mound he tossed a four‑inning no‑hitter in the tournament opener and limited the opposition to just two runs while striking out seven in the final, underscoring his dual threat as both pitcher and hitter.
Brooks Broome, a junior infielder and pitcher from Warren Central, contributed a .500 tournament average as well, going 6‑for‑12 with four RBIs and four runs scored, earning him a spot on the all‑tournament team alongside four other Jackson 96ers.
The recognition extended beyond the Red squad, as Cohen Coomes, a sophomore from St. Aloysius, was also named to the all‑tournament team after helping the Jackson 96ers Blue team post a 3‑0 pool‑play record before falling 8‑7 to Bama Ballers in the semifinals.
Clinton’s road to the Southwest Regional
Meanwhile, the Clinton Baseball Association captured the Mississippi Little League state championship in Hattiesburg, a victory that sends the team to the Southwest Regional in Waco, Texas, where they will open against New Mexico on August 6. The regional games will be streamed live on ESPN+, and the winner will advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, scheduled for August 19.