Habersham 10U All-Stars Capture District Championship, Advance to State Tournament

Assistant Coach Casey Lizama, Head Coach Chris Menius, Assistant Coach Zack Ford, Assistant Coach Casey Martin. Middle row left to right: Jacob Borrow, CJ Menius, Keelan Welch, Daxton Holt, Lenox Armour, Adler Banks, Easton Lizama Bottom row left to right: Nolan Kempey, Kain Arriaga, Krew Trusty, Luke Fulmer, Cyrus Martin, Bat Girl- Abigail Ford (Photo Submitted)

A remarkable run of determination, resilience, and teamwork has earned the Habersham County Parks & Recreation 10U All-Stars a trip to the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association State Championship.

After battling through five hard-fought games in the District 7 Tournament in Winder-Barrow, the Habersham squad claimed the district title and will now represent Northeast Georgia on the state stage in Statesboro.

The road to the championship was anything but easy.

Kain Arriaga and CJ Menius

Habersham opened tournament play on Wednesday, June 10, against Jackson County and found itself trailing 4-1 in the third inning before mounting an impressive comeback to secure a 12-4 victory.

The following day brought another test as the All-Stars squared off against the City of Jefferson. Once again, the team refused to quit, rallying from behind to edge Jefferson 10-9.

Friday's matchup against Hall County proved to be another thriller. Habersham trailed in every inning but battled back time and time again before claiming a 14-12 victory and entering championship Saturday as the tournament's only undefeated team.

After falling 9-3 to Hall County in the opening game of the championship round, the young All-Stars faced a winner-take-all rematch. They responded with one of their most complete performances of the tournament, defeating Hall County 13-2 to secure the District 7 Championship trophy.

Offensively, several players delivered outstanding performances throughout the tournament.

Kain Arriaga led the team with an incredible .917 batting average, collecting 11 hits in 12 at-bats. Easton Lizama finished 10-for-11 at the plate for a .909 average, while Jacob Borrow batted .818, going 9-for-11. Lenox Armour added another strong performance, recording 10 hits in 15 at-bats for a .667 average.

Head Coach Chris Menius with Adler Banks, Kain Arriaga, Nolan Kempey, and CJ Menius

The coaching staff's pitching strategy also played a key role in the championship run.

With each pitcher limited to 120 pitches for the entire tournament, Head Coach Chris Menius carefully managed his staff, ensuring Habersham entered championship day with all nine pitchers available while many opposing teams had exhausted their top arms.

CJ Menius faced 31 batters during the tournament, throwing 109 pitches with 65 strikes while allowing just three runs. Keelan Welch struck out 10 batters over 108 pitches, and Nolan Kempey provided valuable innings throughout the tournament as the pitching staff combined to keep the team in contention.

"I'm incredibly proud of this group of boys," Head Coach Chris Menius said. "Every game in this tournament tested us, and every time they answered the challenge with heart, toughness, and belief in each other."

Menius said the team's success goes beyond talent.

"You can teach baseball, but you can't teach the kind of heart these boys showed," he said. "We faced adversity, battled back when things got tough, and never quit."

Now, the District 7 champions will travel to Statesboro, where they will begin play in the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association State Championship Tournament with their first game scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23.

The Habersham 10U All-Star roster is made up of players selected from recreation department teams across the county after competing against some of the area's top young athletes.

While the opportunity to compete for a state championship is a dream come true, it also brings significant travel expenses for families. The weeklong tournament requires parents and coaches to take time away from work while covering hotel stays, meals, transportation, and other costs. In some cases, work obligations may prevent parents from attending, with other families stepping in to care for players during the tournament.

Organizers say approximately $1,000 has been raised so far, but additional community support is needed to help offset expenses for the families.

Every donation will be divided among the families of the 12 players to help make the trip possible.

Those wishing to support the team may donate through Venmo at @Habersham10U.

The account is administered through the Easton Foundation, which is assisting with collecting and distributing funds. Donations may also be made by check payable to the Easton Foundation for the benefit of the Habersham 10U All-Stars.

Plans are also underway for a community send-off before the team departs for Statesboro, with additional details expected to be announced in the coming days.

As these young athletes prepare to represent Habersham County on the state stage, one thing has already become clear: they have captured more than a district championship—they have captured the pride of an entire community.