And what happened next… is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.
Pearl River Community College wrapped up a phenomenal 2025 baseball season with heart, hustle, and a whole lot to be proud of. The Wildcats made it all the way to the National Championship, facing off against Pasco-Hernando State College in a true No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown. It was a heavyweight battle between the nation’s best, and while Pearl River fell short in an 11-7 final, the story of their season is anything but a loss.
This team wasn’t just good—they were dominant. Back-to-back MACCC champs. Region 23 champions. World Series contenders. They knocked off No. 10 Kellogg with authority, 11-3, and took down No. 6 East Central not once, but twice—first with a clutch 7-6 win, then a 10-0 statement shutout to punch their ticket to the title game.
Coach Michael Avalon, who leads with both fire and faith, said it best:
“It wasn’t meant to be. At this moment, I feel the good Lord prepared me for this. I never considered losing; I can’t think that way. These young men are remarkable individuals from wonderful families, and I am incredibly proud of them. I urged them to leave the field with pride. They are a special group with much to celebrate.”
And celebrate they should. With a 53-10 record, this team brought joy to their fans and fire to the field. They came out swinging in the championship, grabbing an early lead thanks to a long ball from a slugger out of Semmes, Alabama. Later, a Glenwood Academy alum from Phenix City and a Germantown grad from Madison sparked a sixth-inning rally that flipped the scoreboard to 4-3. By the seventh, they’d stretched the lead to 7-3 after more clutch hitting—sacrifice fly from a Brandon native and a two-run bomb from Jayess’s own Brookhaven Academy star.
Then came the bottom of the 7th.
And what happened next… is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.
Pasco-Hernando lit up the inning with two grand slams—in the same frame. One inning. Eight runs. Just in case you missed it…that is TWO grand slams in one inning! A thunderclap that turned a 7-3 Pearl River lead into an 11-7 Pasco-Hernando miracle. The Bobcats didn’t score again, and they didn’t need to. That one inning was enough to crown them NJCAA Division II World Series Champions.
Still, this Wildcat team didn’t lose—they simply ran out of outs.
Standouts from Brandon and Thompson earned All-Tournament honors. Milam was named Outstanding Defensive Player, and Clark took home Outstanding Pitcher of the series. Well deserved, every one of them.
Pearl River’s 2025 season may have ended one win short of the ultimate goal—but make no mistake: this was a championship team in every way that matters.
Here’s to the fight, the brotherhood, and the legacy they’ve built.
David Allen Memorial Ballpark is an incredible stadium and truly a miraculous place. I can’t help but think that Paul, Joan and their son David are in heaven enjoying the game with us. So grateful for their family and what they have done for Enid, it’s citizens and the rest of the country.
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