LPJ Sports Report
RUSTON, La. — Ruston’s 7U Dixie Youth all-star team capped an unforgettable summer after beating Pearl, Mississippi, 8-4 Sunday to win the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series (District 4) in Laurel, Mississippi.
The championship punctuated a run that began when the roster was picked in mid-May. The team went 20-5 overall, working through district in mid-June and state in the first week of July before advancing to the World Series, where it went 5-2 — 2-2 through pool play before winning out in bracket play.
For Manager Jordan Nicholson, the title was the product of a summer spent building belief as much as building a roster.
“It’s something that will never forget, man. I’ve just loved being with the boys,” Nicholson said. “They’ve grown so much in such a short time, just becoming true teammates, true friends for each other, and just learning what it is to be a team.”
Nicholson said the turning point for the group came once the players started believing in themselves and each other.
“What I found is when you get a group of kids to really understand and really believe in each other and believe in themselves, then you become a dangerous team,” Nicholson said. “We tried to keep a positive atmosphere, a positive mindset, teaching them what it is to be a true competitor and what it takes to be a true champion.”
That message centered on effort, Nicholson said, with a simple standard repeated all summer: extra energy, extra focus and extra effort every day, from practices to scrimmages to district and state games.
“The game of baseball is hard. It’s one of the hardest games you’re ever going to play in your life, but it’s rewarding,” Nicholson said. “Every time you overcome a hard game or a tough opponent or a tough situation, it makes you grow that much closer together.”
Nicholson said the players also learned to shake off mistakes and lean on one another rather than dwell on individual failure.
“If you mess up, so what? You miss a ground ball, so what? Your teammate’s going to pick you up on the next play,” Nicholson said. “It’s not about — there’s no ‘I’ in any of this. Stop worrying about yourself and worry about being a good teammate. If you can be a good teammate, we’re going to be a good team.”
Nicholson told the players before Sunday’s championship game that the World Series run had turned a preseason dream into reality.
“This started out as a dream this summer, and now we’re standing right here living in it,” Nicholson said he told the team. “You’re living in the moment now. Go win it for Ruston.”
2026 Ruston 7U Dixie Youth World Series Champions Roster
Beaux Perritt
Townes Walker
Brandon George
Cade Clevland
Tripp Gatlin
Grae Nicholson
Rush Johnson
Knox Newsom
Patton Doss
Nolan DeVaux
Kash Joe
Messiah Clevland
Manager: Jordan Nicholson
Assistant Coaches: Dakota Doss, Colton Perritt, CJ Gatlin
