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The Troup 12u Nationals will henceforth be known as Team Georgia. Next month, the Nationals will represent Troup and the entire Peach State at the Major Dixie Youth Baseball World Series in Louisiana.

“It’s not just the kids that are super excited, but the parents and myself too,” said Russell Yeatman, the head coach of team Georgia. “I never got there when I played for the parks and rec, so it definitely is giving everybody a rush to get this opportunity.”

Troup finished as runner-up to Dublin at the Dixie Youth Baseball state championship, narrowly losing the championship game 2-0.

“It was just a two-run ball game and it really sucks because we felt like we could win that game, but that is how it goes sometimes,” Yeatman said. “The players did not know that we would represent the state if we finished second too, but I felt like we were the better team in the game.”

Practice has already commenced for the World Series. The boys are locked in with eyes on making a deep run.

“We know to expect the very best because they know they’re gonna go up against the best teams from every state in the southeast,” Yeatman said. “Every team we play will be a high-quality team. I mean, we got Alabama in our first game, and we know nothing about them. It’s just gonna be one of those games, as we’ll find out when we get there.”

The consists of players Ezra Cook, Carson Atkinson, Carter Harrill, Colton Shelnutt, AJ Griffith, Ben Lupien, Ben Sells, Chipper Yeatman, Peyton Spears, Wilson Stroud, Grady Smallwood and Kaleb Favors as well as three coaches (Rusty Cook, Justin Shelnutt and Yeatman).

The players are no strangers with most of them being teammates in some other form or fashion previously.

“It’s just a tight-knit group. I mean, most of them either played together, whether it’s been Middle School, travel ball, or rec ball, they’ve grown up with each other for no telling how many years now.,” Yeatman said. “It’s definitely something. It’s definitely nice having that continuity, I can promise you that.”

Three players as well as one coach (Cook) were a part of a Troup County Parks and Rec team that traveled to Louisiana for the World Series last year. But for the most part, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the majority of players, coaches and parents.

“That’s all they talked about the last couple of weeks,” Yeatman said. “ they are super excited. And the longer we play, the longer they’ll be out of school. So you know, that’s kind of an incentive for them there. most of them, it’s only once in a lifetime opportunity. I mean, there’s only three of these kids that can play rec ball again next year because most of them will age out.”

The team is in the midst of raising money to help pay for the trip. To find out more information about fundraising opportunities you can reach out to at 706-957-3066 or rustycook15@gmail.com. Any donations can be sent to the team’s Venmo at TroupNational12u.

Team Georgia will head to Louisiana on Aug. 1.