State Championships: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006
Top 5 National Rankings: 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2014 - National Champions: 2007, 2020, 2021



Americus Travelers Baseball Club
2000 Roster (Alphabetical Order):
PLAYER SCHOOL
Brent CarterSouthland Academy
Rick CochranAmericus High
Caleb CripeSouthland Academy
Brad DriggersSouthland Academy
Chris HowellTiftArea Academy
Gabe JacobsSumter County High
Cedric JohnsonAmericus High
Tee ReddishTaylor County
John RedmondSouthland Academy
Travis RushAmericus High
Micah John SmithTaylor County
Chad SpannSouthland Academy
Bob StubbsTri County High
Dylan TracyAmericus High
Daniel WarrenSouthland Academy
Seth WelchMacon County
John WilliamsonMacon County
Brandon WolcottAmericus High

Americus Travelers Baseball Club
2000 Coaches Roster
COACH
Director of Baseball Operations: Tim Estes
Head Coach: Billy Nicholson
Assistant Coach: Bobo Short
Assistant Coach: Joe Lamb
Assistant Coach: William Rooks
Scorekeeper: Jeremy Law

2000 Schedule
Date Opponent Time Location
Saturday, May 27 Old Timers Game 1:00 p.m. (1 seven inning) Bell Stadium - Americus
Saturday, June 3 Dothan Post 12 12:00 p.m. (DH - 2 seven innings) Bell Stadium - Americus
Sunday, June 4 Quincy, Florida 1:00 p.m. (DH) Bell Stadium - Americus
Tuesday, June 6 Tifton Post 21 5:30 p.m. (1 nine inning) Bell Stadium - Americus
Friday, June 9 to Sunday, June 11 Circle City Classic ** TBA (4 seven inning games) Dothan, Alabama
Thursday, June 15 to Sunday, June 18 USSSA State Tournament Bell Stadium - Americus
Tuesday, June 20 Hardaway High School 4:00 p.m. (DH - 2 seven innings) Columbus, Georgia
Friday, June 23 Dooly County Post 202 6:00 p.m. (1 nine inning) Bell Stadium - Americus
Saturday, June 24 Tallahassee Post 13 1:00 p.m. (DH - 2 seven innings) Tallahassee, Florida
Monday, June 26 Charleston, South Carolina *** 7:00 p.m. (Central Standard Time - 7 innings) Plainsman Park - Auburn, Alabama
Tuesday, June 27 East Cobb 17's *** 9:00 a.m. (Central Standard Time - 7 innings) Plainsman Park - Auburn, Alabama
Tuesday, June 27 East Cobb 16's *** 4:30 p.m. (Central Standard Time - 7 innings) Plainsman Park - Auburn, Alabama
Wednesday, June 28 East Cobb Astros *** 9:00 a.m. (Central Standard Time - 7 innings) Plainsman Park - Auburn, Alabama
Friday, June 30 to Sunday, July 2 Albany Post 30 Tournament TBA - 4 seven innings Albany, Georgia
Saturday, July 8 Godby High School 12:00 p.m. Bell Stadium - Americus
Saturday, July 8 Bainbridge Post 121 6:00 p.m. Bell Stadium - Americus
Sunday, July 9 Godby High School 1:00 p.m. (DH - 2 seven innings) Bell Stadium - Americus
Tuesday, July 11 Tifton Post 21 5:30 p.m. (1 nine inning) Sylvester, Georgia
Sunday, July 16 Tallahassee Post 13 12:00 p.m. (DH - 2 seven innings) Bell Stadium - Americus
Wednesday, July 19 Fitzgerald Post 99 6:00 p.m. Fitzgerald, Georgia
Thursday, July 20 Macon Post 3 6:00 p.m. (1 nine inning) Macon, Georgia
Sunday, July 23 to Saturday, July 29 USSSA World Series Lakeland, Florida

Recaps Section


May 27 - Old Timers Game

The 2000 Travelers squad defeated a team comprised of former members from 1995-1999 by a score of 6-1. Caleb Cripe posted a double in the second inning, scoring later via a pair of wild pitches. Later in the fifth, Brad Driggers' hit produced a score and Bob Stubbs' grounder. Outstanding defesnive plays by Cedric Johnson and Seth Welch were also highlights.

Comprising the Old Timers Team were Stephen Beck, Will Bishop, Hamp Butler, Jonathan Crumbliss, Greg Dominy, Brad Hagerson, Michael Horne, Joe Lamb, Ernest Polk, William Rooks, Eric Rutherford, Todd Sellars, Chan Short, Edgar Smith, Chip Spann, Ted Turner, Glen Usry, and Nick Williams.


June 3 - Dothan American Legion Post 12

The Travelers split a double header with Post 12 of Dothan, Alabama, losing 5-0 and winning 11-4.

Brandon Wolcott was the starting pitcher in game #1. Dylan Tracy was reliever. The Dothan seventh showcased good Traveler defensive play by Chad Spann and Cedric Johnson, who combined efforts for a double play. Hitting: Brad Driggers, Gabe Jacobs, and Bob Stubbs each had singles, and Spann had a double.

In game #2, Brent Carter was the winning pitcher, striking out 11 Dothan batters, and allowing a trio of walks and a solo hit. The second inning saw eight runs scored by the orange and blue crew; Spann's hit helped ducks reach the pond. One scored via a grounder by Tee Reddish. John Williamson hit a double which brought in deuce scores, and Micah John Smith doubled to bring in two more. Jacobs' then hit, which brought in one more, and Walcott singled two to home plate. Later, Chris Howell would post a deuce out single that brought in two more runs.


June 4 - Quincy, Florida Independents

The Travelers defeated Quincy, Florida in a double header at Americus, 8-1 and 10-3.

John Redmond pitched a complete game win in game #1; he allowed quad hits and a solo walk and benefited from great defensive work that resulted in a trio of double plays (two of those coming from John Williamson and Chad Spann). The Travelers hitting commenced in the fourth as Brandon Wolcott and Spann doubled. Brent Carter reached on a hit, then Williamson's sac fly brought runners to scoring position. Caleb Cripe then hit a sac fly; that and an error brought the score to 3-0 at that point. Travis Rush then posted a dinger. With deuce outs posted in the fifth, Spann reached via an error, then Carter's hit brought him to home plate. In the sixth, Brad Driggers hit a dinger, and Gabe Jacobs posted a double to bring in three more.

Chris Howell pitched the second game completely and posted eight strikeouts and allowed seven hits. The Travelers had a 4-0 lead in their initial at-bat inning as Rush, Spann, and Carter posted RBI hits. Wolcott and Bob Stubbs hits brought in two more with deuce outs already posted. In the fourth, Cedric Johnson led off with a triple. Micah John Smith's hit brought Johnson home; Smith reached home plate via a pair of errors. Stubbs then hit a deuce scoring dinger.


June 6 - Tifton American Legion Post 21

The Travelers defeated Post 21 of Tifton by a score of 4-2.

Gabe Jacobs was starting pitcher; he had five shutout innings, allowing quad hits, quad walks, and sending five back to the dugout. Dylan Tracy won as reliever; he gave up deuce scores on a solo hit and deuce errors, then shut out Tifton the last three innings with deuce hits, no walks, and a pair of strike outs. Travis Rush was also noted for great work as catcher. Brandon Wolcott made great defensive plays in the second and third innings, and Chris Howell's efforts led to a great double play in the fourth.

The hitting started for the orange and blue crew in the third with Caleb Cripe hitting a dinger. In the sixth, Rush singled, as did Jacobs and Tracy's bunt advanced both runners. Chad Spann's hit brought one in with a solo out already posted. With a solo out in the eighth, Tracy posted a hit as did Spann. Howell then added an insurance sac fly.


June 9-11 - Circle City Classic @ Dothan, Alabama

The following are score and recap results of the Circle City Classic.

  • The Travelers defeated Tallahassee Post 13, 11-4. Brent Carter was the winning pitcher, fanning six and allowing only a solo walk. Micah John Smith and Travis Rush had a trio of hits and Gabe Jacobs had a triple scoring blast.

  • The Travelers defeated Dothan Tigers, 18-6. Gabe Jacobs and Micah John Smith went 3-for-3, and Chad Spann, Brad Driggers, and Chris Howell posted a pair of hits each. Winning pitcher was Rick Cochran.

  • The Travelers defeated Bainbridge Post 62, 10-0. Gabe Jacobs was the winning pitcher. Micah John Smith posted a trio of doubles, and Brad Driggers, Travis Rush, and Chris Howell had a pair of hits each.

  • The Travelers defeated Panama City, 12-0. Dylan Tracy allowed only a pair of hits as the winning pitcher. Chad Spann and Brad Driggers both recorded dingers in this game, as did Caleb Cripe.

  • The Travelers defeated Chattahoochee Valley, 13-1. John Redmond fanned seven and allowed only a pair of walks. The orange and blue wound up with 21 hits total in this game.

  • The Travelers lost to Dothan Post 12, 6-2. Combining on the mound were Brandon Wolcott, John Redmond, and Dylan Tracy.

June 15-18 - USSSA State Tournament
  • The Travelers defeated the Ellaville Hornets in the opening game of the USSSA Tournament, 16-1, in three innings. Travis Rush and Brad Driggers both hit dingers. Micah John Smith, Gabe Jacobs and Chris Howell contributed a pair of hits each. Rick Cochran won as pitcher, allowing only a solo hit and sending five back to the dugout. The Travelers scored 10 runs in their initial at-bat inning, and six in the second.

  • The Travelers defeated Tifton, 8-0. Winning pitcher was John Redmond, who allowed a pair of walks and struck out five. Both Caleb Cripe and Gabe Jacobs posted dingers in this game (Cripe's a trio scoring homerun and Jacobs a solo shot), and John Williamson had a triple scoring double.

  • The Travelers shutout Middle Georgia, 10-0. Brandon Wolcott took the win on the mound, allowing a solo walk and a solo hit, plus fanning 10. Chris Howell posted a dinger with ducks on the pond. Caleb Cripe and Travis Rush each contributed a deuce scoring dinger, and Seth Welch added a hit that brought in a score.

  • The Travelers defeated Rome, 8-2. Dylan Tracy took the win on the mound, allowing a deuce scoring dinger, eight hits and sending five back to the dugout. Brandon Wolcott contributed a pair of doubles, one of which brought in a score. Travis Rush smacked another deuce scoring dinger. Bob Stubbs contributed a double, Brent Carter a grounder that drove in a score, and Chad Spann and Gabe Jacobs each a hit that brought a runner to home plate. Outstanding defensive plays in this game were made by John Williamson and Caleb Cripe.

  • The Travelers defeated West Cobb, 6-0. Brent Carter went the distance as pitcher, allowing a trio of hits while sending six back to the dugout. Travis Rush contributed a deuce scoring triple. Chad Spann had a deuce base hit that brought two scores in and Gabe Jacobs contributed a double with a run scored.

  • The Travelers were defeated by the South Georgia Thunder, 3-1. Americus made their only score in the sixth inning on a pair of hits and an error.

  • CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: In a game that spanned eight innings and even had a rain delay, the Travelers lost the championship game to the South Georgia Thunder, 8-6. John Redmond started on the mound and allowed quad hits, a pair of walks. John Williamson led off the Travelers third inning with a dinger. In the fifth, the orange and blue had a temporary lead as Williamson walked, and Travis Rush hit with deuce outs already posted. Gabe Jacobs walked to put ducks on the pond, then Brandon Wolcott's triple brought in the trio. The Travelers would tie the game again in the seventh as Williamson had a solo-out hit and Rush hit a game-tying double.

June 23 - Vienna Post 202

The Travelers were defeated by Post 202, 12-10. Americus had a 3-0 lead on a trio of RBI from Brandon Wolcott; his double in the initial at-bat inning scored both Travis Rush and Chris Howell. In the third, Chad Spann posted a hit with deuce outs already recorded, then Wolcott's double brought Spann home. John Redmond was starting pitcher, retiring the first nine Post 202 batters. Howell relieved Redmond in the sixth and allowed only a pair of hits.

In the sixth inning, Brad Driggers reached second via a pair of errors, then Rick Cochran reached on a third error. Driggers ended up scoring via a wild pitch. In the seventh, Cedric Johnson and Cochran combined for an excellent double play, then with Americus up at bat, Spann posted a deuce scoring dinger. In the eighth, Rush's double scored Caleb Cripe, and Spann's double allowed Howell to score. Driggers led off the 9th with a triple, and Cochran's double brought him home.


June 26-28 - East Cobb Team Showcase @ Auburn University

The Travelers won three games and lost one in this tournament. The following are by game-by-game results:

  • The Travelers defeated the East Cobb Astros, 4-3. Brent Carter took the win on pitchers mound, sending 13 batters back to the dugout. Travis Rush and Gabe Jacobs each had a trio of hits.

  • The Travelers defeated the East Cobb Yankees, 8-4. Dylan Tracy was the winning pitcher. Chad Spann and Chris Howell each contributed a trio of hits.

  • The Travelers lost to the East Cobb Mariners, 10-1. Chris Howell took the loss on pitchers mound. Contributing a trio of hits each were Chad Spann, Travis Rush, and Gabe Jacobs.

  • The Travelers defeated the East Cobb Astros, 1-0. John Redmond was the winning pitcher; he scattered 10 hits.


June 30-July 2 - Albany Independence Day Baseball Clinic

The following are results of the Independence Day Classic, held at Paul Eames Complex in Albany:

  • The Travelers defeated Macon Post 3, 5-0. Winning pitcher Dylan Tracy allowed quad hits, no walks and sent three back to the dugout. Great defense work by Chad Spann, Brad Driggers, Rick Cochran and Caleb Cripe. Hitting: Chris Howell's double sent Gabe Jacobs to home plate, then Cochran posted a key sac fly for 3-0. In inning #5, Driggers hit brought home Spann, and Seth Welch's double made for a 5-0 game. Spann also contributed a solo dinger.

  • The Travelers defeated Tallahassee Post 13, 4-2. Americus led 3-0 in the initial at-bat inning. Key defensive plays were made by Chad Spann, Caleb Cripe, Brad Driggers, and John Williamson. Chris Howell scored the last run as he beat a throw home on a double steal. Brandon Wolcott and Spann combined efforts on the mound.

  • The Travelers defeated Leesburg Post 182, 11-8. Americus took a 10-1 lead after four frames. Key defense plays were made by Chad Spann and Chris Howell. In their initial at-bat inning, Gabe Jacobs, Spann, and Brandon Wolcott posted hits. In the second, Americus scored six on five, including a triple scoring double by Howell and a deuce scoring hit by Spann. They scored one more in the fifth via a deuce out hit by Caleb Cripe. Relief pitcher Howell sent two back to the dugout in the final two frames and Seth Welch helped his team's cause with a great diving catch of a foul ball.

  • The Travelers lost to Albany Post 30, 2-1.

  • The Travelers defeated the Tallahassee Baseball Club and snared first place in the Independence Day Baseball Classic with a score of 11-4. Brent Carter took the win on pitcher's mound, allowing quad runs, five hits, a pair of walks and fanning six.
    In the Americus second, 10 batters went to the plate. Tee Reddish and Seth Welch walked. Carter reached after bunting as Reddish beat a throw to third. John Williamson's hit tied the score and Travis Rush contributed a hit for the lead. Chris Howell's deuce-scoring hit made for 5-2. In the third, Williamson hit a deuce scoring dinger. Howell walked, then advanced via an error. Brandon Wolcott's hit brought Howell to home plate and a wild pitch upped the score to 9-2. In the sixth, Gabe Jacobs doubled. Wolcott contributed a run scoring single.


July 8 - Tallahassee Baseball Club

The Travelers defeated the Tallahassee Baseball Club in a twin bill, 7-6 and 8-0. Rick Cochran picked up the win as pitcher in game #1, relieving John Redmond (who allowed no hits in the first four frames). The orange and blue scored first as Travis Rush posted a hit that brought in deuce, then Chris Howell had a run scoring double; Howell, himself, scored via an error. In the third, Rush singled, Howell walked, Gabe Jacobs' posted a double to send Rush to home plate, and Chad Spann's hit brought in two more. In the fifth, Brandon Wolcott hit, then advanced on a hit by Spann. Wolcott reached home via a passed ball. In the extra inning, Caleb Cripe tripled then Rush's hit brought Cripe home for the 7-6 win.

In the nightcap, Wolcott started as pitcher and allowed five hits while sending 10 back to the dugout. Spann relieved in the seventh frame. In the Travelers second frame, Brad Driggers and Cripe posted singles, Jacobs and Howell doubles. In the fourth, the score became 7-0 via a hit and a pair of errors. In the sixth, Cripe hit a solo dinger. Cripe and Driggers also contributed great defense plays for the cause.


July 16 - Tallahassee Post 13

The Travelers split a double header with Tallahassee Post 13 in the final games at Bell Stadium for 2000, losing 8-7 and winning 7-6.

Dylan Tracy started the first game as pitcher. Brad Driggers made a key catch in left field in the second inning. In the Americus second, Micah John Smith contributed a trio-scoring triple and the orange and blue took the lead at that point, 4-2, via an error. They scored again in the fifth via a wild pitch. By the seventh, Tallahassee had the lead, 8-5. Gabe Jacobs hit a dinger that posted two more scores.

In the nightcap, the orange and blue trailed 6-5 going into the seventh frame. With deuce outs recorded, Smith walked. Travis Rush singled, then with Chad Spann's hit, Smith tied and Rush scored for the win. Chris Howell took the win on pitchers' mound and also posted a key hit in the top of the seventh and scored via a double by Seth Welch. Brent Carter, as starting pitcher, allowed 11 hits and six runs.

Welch contributed a key RBI sac fly in the second, which scored Jacobs. Rick Cochran contributed a key defense scoop at first base in the fourth inning which resulted in a double play. Welch then posted a second RBI on a deuce out hit which scored Brandon Wolcott, whose hit led off the Americus fourth. In the fifth, Rush posted a sac fly and Spann a deuce out RBI hit.


June 19 - Fitzgerald Post 99

The Travelers defeated Fitzgerald Post 99 by a score of 15-0. Winning pitcher was John Redmond, who allowed quad hits, a solo walk, and fanned a trio. Chad Spann and Gabe Jacobs each contributed a trio of hits, one of Jacobs being a round tripper. Caleb Cripe and John Williamson both had triple-scoring dingers, and Chris Howell, Brent Carter, and Seth Welch each had one hit.


USSSA World Series @ Lakeland, Florida

The following are scores and recaps of games from the USSSA World Series in Lakeland.

  • The Travelers defeated the Brunswick Bearcats of Virginia, 6-1. Travis Rush led off as he reached via an error, then stole second. Micah John Smith singled, and Gabe Jacobs' hit sent Rush to home plate. Brandon Wolcott's single brought in Smith, then Jacobs reached home via an error. In the Americus second, Caleb Cripe doubled, then proceeded home via yet another error. The orange and blue wouldn't score again until the sixth, as both Chad Spann and Chris Howell posted hits, then scored thanks to a hit from Brad Driggers. Winning pitcher was Brent Carter, who allowed no walks, fanned nine, and didn't allow a Bearcat score until the sixth.

  • The Travelers defeated the Cincinnati Tigers, 11-2. John Redmond worked four innings on pitchers' mound, giving up the deuce runs on a pair of hits and fanning seven. Rick Cochran pitched inning #5. Outstanding hitters in this game were Gabe Jacobs (dinger, double), Brad Driggers (double, single), Travis Rush (double), Chris Howell, Brandon Wolcott, and Caleb Cripe.

  • The Travelers lost to the Harrison World of Baseball from California, 1-0. Taking the loss on the mound was Dylan Tracy, who allowed the solo run on nine hits, a pair of strikeouts and a solo walk as he went the distance for the orange and blue.

  • The Travelers lost to the Milton Builders of Louisiana, in the first round of the championship bracket by a score of 4-3. Chris Howell took the loss on the mound; he allowed six hits, a solo walk and fanned seven. In the Travelers second, Gabe Jacobs doubled. He advanced via Brad Driggers' sac fly, then reached home plate on a hit by Rick Cochran. Two more scores were added in the fifth as John Williamson reached home plate via a double by Brandon Wolcott, plus Travis Rush posted a RBI hit.

  • The Travelers defeated the Kalamazoo Maroons, 10-2. Brent Carter took the win on pitcher's mound, allowing no walks and fanning eight in a complete game. The orange and blue posted eight runs in their third. Seth Welch had a pair of hits. Chad Spann and Rick Cochran both hit doubles.

  • The Travelers defeated Patterson Park of Ohio, 7-1. Brad Driggers hit a grand salami and Micah John Smith contributed a deuce-scoring dinger. John Redmond was the winning pitcher, allowing no walks and striking out seven. Other notable hitters: Rick Cochran, Travis Rush.

  • The Travelers defeated the Chain Gang of Savannah, 6-3. Relief pitcher Chris Howell picked up the win with a pair of strikeouts in one and 1/3 innings. Starter Dylan Tracy went five and 2/3 innings and fanned three. The orange and blue broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth as Chad Spann hit a pop and reached second on a dropped ball. Howell was hit by a pitch, Rick Cochran walked and then the winning run scored by an error. The final was provided via a double by Seth Welch.

  • The Travelers defeated the Yankee Rebels of Baltimore, Maryland, 7-5. Rick Cochran picked up the win; Chris Howell was credited with the save. Americus took the lead in their fifth; Chad Spann singled, then Howell's ground ball was thrown in the outfield. Brad Driggers walked to put ducks on the pond, then Cochran brought in all three with a triple. An insurance run came when Gabe Jacobs walked, advanced on a hit from Spann, then scored via a grounder. Spann had four hits, while Travis Rush and Micah John Smith each contributed a pair.

  • The Travelers were defeated 7-6 by the Harrison World of Baseball from San Jose, California. John Williamson was the starting pitcher and John Redmond was reliever. In the Americus sixth and with deuce outs posted, Caleb Cripe posted a double to cut the lead to 6-5. In the seventh, Micah John Smith walked and Gabe Jacobs tripled him to home plate to tie the game. With this game, the Travelers ended up with a fourth place finish in the tournament. Our congrats to pitcher Rick Cochran, who was named to the All-Tournament First Team.