2015 15 and Under - Coaching Staff
 #01, Head Coach - Tim Estes
|
Coach Tim Estes has built the Americus Travelers from the ground up! He started the program in 1995 as a recreational level team and has led the program into one of the nations' elite. Under his leadership, the Travelers have won seven Georgia State Championships; finished in the top five nationally on four occasions; finished the 2013 season as the USSSA National Runners-Up; and in 2007, won the USSSA National Championship. He has seen 37 former players sign college baseball scholarships and six former Travelers have inked professional baseball contracts. Estes' coaching career dates back to the early 1990s, when he won the league, district and state Dixie Youth championships at the Southern League in Montgomery, Alabama. He also spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Sidney Lanier High School, where the team set school records for the most wins in a season. Coach Estes also spent two seasons as a "Bird Dog" scout in the San Frnacisco Giants organization. In 1995, after returning to Americus as the assistant Parks and Recreation Director, he started the Americus Travelers Baseball Club. He was either the head coach or the director of baseball operations for 13 consecutive seasons. After a five year hiatus, Estes returned in 2013 to lead his team to the USSSA National Championship game. As a player, Estes was an All-State catcher at Americus High School. He played on scholarhip at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama for legendary Hall of Fame coach, Tom Fletcher. He holds a degree in Business Administration and works as the Executive Director of the Sumter County Parks and Recreation Department. Coach Estes has been married to his wife Tammie since 1993. They have two daughters, Lexie and Ashleigh. Their family attends the Oasis Church of Christ in Ellaville, where Estes alternates the preaching duties. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling to the North Georgia mountains and fishing. |
 #31, Assistant Coach - Jeff Fussell
|
Jeff Fussell enters his second season as the Americus Travelers assistant coach, working mainly with the hitters. He graduated from Americus High School, where he played baseball with the Panthers from 1976-1978. Fussell also holds degrees in advanced electronics from South Georgia Technical College and in applied science from Georgia Southwestern State University. Coach Fussell is a Certified Youth Sports Administrator and is A.F.O certified to manage aquatic facilities. He is the Recreation Manager for the Sumter County Parks and Recreation Department. Fussell has been a successful baseball coach for many years. His knowledge of the game and his ability to motivate young men makes him a valuable member of the Travelers staff. Coach Fussell and his wife, Susie, have two children: Kate, a registered nurse in Columbus, and Adam, a student at Georgia Southern University. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf. He and his family are members of St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Plains. |
| #09, Assistant Coach - Adam Fussell |
Adam Fussell is the son of Jeff & Susie Fussell of Americus, GA. He has one sister, Kate. Adam graduated from Southland Academy in 2008, where he was very involved in the baseball program. He was named to the All-Region Baseball Team in both his Junior and Senior years and was named to the All-State Baseball Team his Senior year as well. He spent the summers of 2005, 2006, & 2007 playing with the Americus Travelers. The Travelers won the 2006 AAU State Championship, where Adam was named as an AAU All-American. The team also won the 2007 USSSA National Championship and Adam was named as a USSSA All-American and to the All-Tournament team. In the fall of 2007, he played for the 5-Tool Baseball Organization and in the summer of 2008 won a state championship with the American Legion Post 182 of Leesburg, GA. Adam signed a scholarship with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and played a successful season in the spring of 2009. He now attends Georgia Southern University, where he is pursuing a degree in Recreation & Tourism with a minor in Coaching. "I am absolutely ecstatic about being a coach for the 2013 summer season. It is an honor to be asked to coach such a fine group of young men, especially for the club that I used to be a part of as a player. It is my hope to pass down the knowledge I have gained to these young men during this season. I hope to be a role model for them in the physical and mental aspects of the game. I hope I can make an impact on them because I know they will have a huge impact on me." |
| DATE | TOURNAMENT | LOCATION | AFFILIATION |
| May 23, 2015 | Champs Wear The Rings Tournament May 23 @ 12:30 PM - Home Plate Burford (Field 5) May 23 @ 4:00 PM - Hawks (Field 5) May 23 @ 5:45 PM - Platinum Baseball (Field 5) |
George Harris Sports Complex LaGrange, Georgia |
USSSA |
| May 29-31, 2015 | Troy Post 70 Tournament May 29 @ 5:00 PM (CST) - Dothan Post 12 (Game @ Charles Henderson High School) May 30 @ 9:30 AM (CST) - Troy Post 70 (Game @ Charles Henderson High School) May 30 @ 5:00 PM (CST) - Central Alabama/Navy (Game @ Troy University) May 31 @ 12:00 PM (CST) - Tuscaloosa Post 34 (Game @ Troy University) |
Troy, Alabama | |
| June 6-7, 2015 | Game On Showcase June 6 @ 9:00 AM - Game On Abney (ABAC/Tifton) June 6 @ 1:30 PM - Game On Ferringer (ABAC/Tifton) June 7 @ 9:00 AM - Game On Mimbs (GSW/Americus) June 7 @ 2:00 PM - Game On Abney (GSW/Americus) |
ABAC & GSW - Tifton, Georgia/Americus, Georgia | |
| June 11-13, 2015 | Parkview Shootout Showcase
June 12 @ 4:30 PM - Brookstone (Parkview High) June 12 @ 6:45 PM - Game On Abney (Parkview High) June 13 @ 4:30 PM - Red Stitches Baseball Academy (Shiloh High) June 13 @ 6:45 PM - North Gwinnett (Shiloh High) |
Gwinnett County, Georgia | |
| June 27-28, 2015 | Comebacker Classic June 27 @ 1:20 PM - Georgia Force June 27 @ 5:40 PM - Americus Travelers 14U June 28 @ 11:40 AM - Platinum Baseball June 28 @ 3:30 PM - South Georgia Prospects |
Georgia Southwestern Americus, Georgia |
USSSA |
| July 11-12, 2015 | Open Class/Open Roster Tournament July 11 @ 10:40 AM - Hardknox Orioles (Field 5 Strong Rock) July 11 @ 5:10 PM - Game On Longhorns (Field 5 Strong Rock) July 12 @ 10:40 AM - Home Plate Kenty (Field 5 Strong Rock) July 12 @ 3:00 PM - Bombsquad (Field 5 Strong Rock) |
Strong Rock Christian School Locust Grove, Georgia |
USSSA |
| July 20-25, 2015 | Grand Slam World Series Of Baseball July 20 @ 8:00 AM - Louisiana War Hawks (South Walton High School) July 20 @ 12:10 PM - East Coast Expos 15U (South Walton High School) July 22 @ 8:00 AM - Game On Chain Baseball Brown 15U (South Walton High School) July 23 @ 2:15 PM - JPRD Bulldogs 15U (Gulf Coast State College) July 24 @ 10:05 AM - Birmingham Baseball (Gulf Coast State College) July 24 @ 6:00 PM - Brick City Blast (Rutherford High School) July 25 @ 8:00 AM - Louisiana Warhawks (South Walton High School) July 25 - JPRD Bulldogs (South Walton High School) July 25 - JPRD Bulldogs (South Walton High School) |
Panama City Beach, Florida | Grand Slam Tournaments |
2015 15 and Under - Spring/Summer Season Log
Season: Won 22 - Lost 8 - Tied 2
| May 23, 2015 - Homeplate Burford |
|
The Travelers 15U opened their season with a 7-0 shutout against Homeplate Burford. Americus would plate all seven scores in their second. Scoring came via walk by Jarrett Kemp, walk by Camron Vanlerberghe, deuce scoring hit from Chance Hollomon, a deuce scoring hit from Reid Ragsdale, and a passed ball. Pitching: Hollomon worked three innings. He allowed no hits, no earned, no walks, and sent a pair back to the dugout. |
| May 23, 2015 - Phenix City Hawks |
|
The Travelers 15U tied with the Phenix City Hawks, 2-2. |
| May 23, 2015 - Platinum Baseball |
|
The Travelers 15U defeated Platinum Baseball, 6-1, in five frames. Will Lanneau went 2-for-3 at bat with hits in innings three and four. Americus would plate a pair in their initial at-batter on a deuce run error. Later they plated three in the fourth. A hit into a fielder's choice scored Chance Hollomon, then came Lanneau's single which brought Jarrett Kemp home. With this win, the Travelers ended up the winners of the Champs Wear The Rings Tournament in LaGrange. |
| May 29, 2015 - Dothan Post 12 14U |
|
The 15U Travelers won against Dothan Post 12 14U, 8-5. Gavin Paul posted a pair of extra base hits, doubling in both the initial at-batter and the second frame. |
| May 30, 2015 - Troy Post 70 |
|
The Travelers 15U defeated Troy Post 70, 11-1. Americus would plate six in the first three frames; the initial at-batter saw a sac fly by Jarrod Wall, a groundout by Will Lanneau, a score-batted-in hit by Camron Vanlerberghe and a deuce-scoring hit by Chance Hollomon. Jarrett Kemp went 3-for-3 with hits in the first, second and fourth innings. Americus would later add five more in their fourth - Kemp's hit plated Cameron Belcher, then Gavin Paul's hit brought Josh Harrell to home. |
| May 30, 2015 - Central Prospects Navy |
|
The Travelers 15U defeated Central Prospects Navy in a 7-0 shutout. Reid Ragsdale posted a pair of hits in both the initial at-batter and the third inning; both Ragsdale and Gavin Paul would team up for three hits, three scores-batted-in. Americus would score five in the first three frames. Jarrod Wall's groundout in the Travelers' first started the offense early. The team later added four more in their third as Ragsdale's hit plated Josh Harrell, then Paul's triple brought both Jarrett Kemp and Ragsdale to home. Americus then plated another pair in their fifth as a groundout scored Ragsdale. Pitching: Ragsdale worked 1 2/3 innings; he allowed no hits, no earned, a pair of walks and sent one back to the dugout. |
| May 31, 2015 - Tuscaloosa Post 34 |
|
The Travelers 15U defeated Tuscaloosa Post 34 in an 11-0 shutout. They emerged as the winners of the Troy Post 70 Tournament. Tyler Ross reached base three times, scoring a pair of runs and had one score-batted-in; he posted a hit in the third, a triple in the fifth. The Orange and Navy scored three in the third by way of a score-batted-in double by Reid Ragsdale, a sac fly by Gavin Paul and a run-batted-in hit by Jarrett Kemp. Two more runs were posted in the sixth as Will Lang's hit plated Will Lanneau. Americus would plate five in the seventh inning via a passed ball, a walk by Lang, walk by Camron Vanlerberghe and deuce-scoring hit by Cameron Belcher. Pitching: Belcher worked four innings, allowing no earned, a pair of walks, a pair of hits and sent three back to the dugout. |
| June 6, 2015 - Game On Ferringer |
|
The Travelers 15U lost to Game On Ferringer, 11-7, in Tifton. Cameron Belcher went 1-for-1, driving in one and scoring one; he doubled in the fifth. Americus would take an early 1-0 lead in their initial at-batter; their offense rally started with a hit from Reid Ragsdale. Three more runs came in the fifth via a steal of home from Belcher and a two-run error. |
| June 6, 2015 - Game On Abney |
|
The 15U Travelers defeated Game On Abney, 12-7, in Tifton in a game that saw the lead change five times. Americus took an early 2-0 lead in their initial at-batter. Jarrett Kemp singled, then Gavin Paul's triple plated Kemp. Paul scored via a run-batted-in hit by Chance Hollomon. The team scored onc in their second, then one more in the third; an error brought Tyler Ross to home plate in the second. The fourth inning proved key - a walk by Josh Harrell plated Camron Vanlerberghe, a score-batted-in double by Will Lanneau, a fielder's choice, and three hits. Paul had a pair of scores-batted-in on a pair of hits, tripling in the first and a hit in the fourth. |
| June 7, 2015 - Game On Dodgers |
|
The Travelers 15U won against Game On Dodgers, 9-3, in Americus. The team jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in their initial inning; Jarrett Kemp singled, then an error moved him to second. Gavin Paul's hit plated Kemp, then both Reid Ragsdale and Paul scored via Will Lanneau's deuce-scoring hit. Americus plated one in their third with Paul's sacrifice fly. Four made it home in the fourth thanks to score-batted-in hits by Camron Vanlerberghe and Cameron Belcher, a wild pitch and a passed ball. Paul would have three scores-batted-in on two hits, singling in the first and doubling in the fifth. Pitching: Paul worked four innings; he allowed one hit, no earned, no walks and sent four back to the dugout. |
| June 7, 2015 - Game On Abney |
|
The 15U Travelers defeated Game On Abney, 7-4, in Americus. Will Lang went 2-for-2, singling in the fourth and doubling in the fifth. Americus plated three in their second on an error, a groundout by Camron Vanlerberghe and a score-batted-in hit by Cameron Belcher. Four more scores came in the fourth via two errors, a fielder's choice and a bases loaded walk by Reid Ragsdale. With this win, the Travelers emerged as the winners of the Game On Showcase. |
| June 12, 2015 - Brookstone |
|
The Travelers 15U defeated Brookstone in a 9-0 shutout. Americus plated five in the sixth inning via a walk by Will Lang, a three-scoring-double by Chance Hollomon and a passed ball. Josh Harrell also singled to reach base, then stole second. Hollomon wound up with four scores-batted-in on three hits, doubling in the sixth and singling in both the second and seventh. Lang would contribute a pair of runs-batted-in on a pair of hits. Americus plated four more in their seventh. An error scored Cameron Belcher to get the Orange and Navy on the board. Pitching: Hollomon worked four innings; he gave up one hit, allowed no earned and no walks and sent two back to the dugout. |
| June 12, 2015 - Game On Abney |
|
The Travelers 15U lost 3-2 to Game On Abney. In their initial at-batter, Americus took an early 1-0 lead with a single from Reid Ragsdale. Gavin Paul's hit moved Ragsdale to second, then Will Lanneau's hit plated Ragsdale. The team plated another run in the fifth; Ragsdale had a run-batted-in double. |
| June 13, 2015 - Red Stitches |
|
The Travelers 15U defeated the Red Stitches, 11-5. Americus would take an early 1-0 lead in their initial at-batter. The game went back-and-forth going into the sixth; the lead changed five times. Americus plated nine in their sixth inning via run-batted-in hits from Will Lang and Chance Hollomon, a wild pitch, and three-scoring-doubles by Jarrod Wall and Jarrett Kemp. Kemp would have three runs-batted-in on a pair of hits in the contest. |
| June 13, 2015 - North Gwinnett |
|
The 15U Travelers ended up in a 5-5 tie with North Gwinnett. Reid Ragsdale went 2-for-3 in the game, scoring a pair of runs. He also doubled in the initial at-batter and had a hit in the third. Americus plated a pair in their first via run-batted-in hits from both Gavin Paul and Will Lang. Pitching: Cameron Belcher worked six innings. He sent seven back to the dugout, allowed one earned, four hits and a pair of walks. |
| June 27, 2015 - Georgia Force |
|
The Americus Travelers 15U defeated the Georgia Force, 5-1. Americus plated four in their fourth; Will Lanneau contributed a score-batted-in hit. They would score one more in the fifth via a wild pitch. Pitching: Tyler Ross worked three innings. He allowed a pair of hits, no earned, no walks and sent two back to the dugout. |
| June 27, 2015 - Americus Travelers 14U |
|
The Travelers 15U defeated the Travelers 14U, 7-3. Jarrett Kemp went 2-for-3 in the contest, with hits in both the third and seventh innings. 15U took an early 1-0 lead in their second with a hit by Camron Vanlerberghe plating Will Lanneau. Americus plated three more in the fourth on an error and a sacrifice fly by Cameron Belcher. Pitching: Lanneau worked four and 2/3 innings. He allowed a pair of hits, no earned, two walks and struck out six. |
| June 28, 2015 - Platinum Baseball |
|
The Travelers 15U defeated Platinum Baseball, 11-3, in five innings. The Orange and Navy plated one in its initial at-batter; the score came by way of a run-batted-in hit by Gavin Paul. Americus scored six in their second frame alone. Scoring came via a groundout by Cameron Belcher, a run-batted-in hit by Reid Ragsdale, a deuce-scoring hit by Paul, and a two-run hit by Chance Hollomon. Ragsdale went 3-for-3 in the contest. Three more scores came about in the third via a run-batted-in hit by Will Lang and two errors. Americus would late plate one more in the fifth. Paul singled, plating Jarrett Kemp to start the rally. |
| June 28, 2015 - South Georgia Prospects |
|
The Americus Travelers 15U were defeated by the South Georgia Prospects in an 8-0 shutout. With this game, The 15U team emerged as runner up in the Comebacker Classic in Americus. |
| July 11, 2015 - Hardknox Orioles |
|
The 15U Americus Travelers lost to the Hardknox Orioles, 5-1. Reid Ragsdale would reach base three times in the contest; he had a hit in the fourth frame. Americus' lone score came in their initial at-batter as Gavin Paul had a run-batted-in double. Pitching: Tyler Ross worked five and 2/3 innings. He allowed a pair of hits, no earned, three walks and sent five back to the dugout. |
| July 11, 2015 - Game On Longhorns |
|
The 15U Travelers defeated the Game On Longhorns in an 8-0 shutout. Americus scored their eight in the first three innings. In their initial at-batter, Gavin Paul contributed a run-batted-in hit, Chance Hollomon's hit scored a pair and Camron Vanlerberghe had a score-batted-in hit. In the second inning, a groundout by Jarrett Kemp, a fielder's choice, a walk by Paul and a run-batted-in double by Hollomon put more scores on the board. Hollomon would have three scores-batted-in on two hits in the contest. Pitching: Paul worked two innings. He allowed one hit, no earned, one walk and struck out four. |
| July 12, 2015 - Homeplate Kenty |
|
The 15U Travelers defeated Homeplate Kenty in a 6-0 shutout. Jarrett Kemp had three scores-batted-in on a hit, doubling in the fifth inning. Americus' scoring began in their initial at-batter; a groundout by Gavin Paul brought in one. In the second, a passed ball brought Camron Vanlerberghe to home plate. Pitching: Paul worked five innings. He allowed a pair of hits, no earned, one walk and sent two back to the dugout. |
| July 12, 2015 - Bombsquad |
|
The Travelers 15U lost to the Bombsquad, 6-5, in a game that went ten innings. |
| July 20, 2015 - Louisiana Warhawks |
|
The Americus Travelers 15U lost to the Louisiana Warhawks, 4-3.
|
| July 20, 2015 - East Coast Expos |
|
The 15U Travelers defeated the East Coast Expos, 12-6. Eleven of those runs were scored in their initial three innings. Supplying the offense in the first two frames were a score-batted-in hit by Will Lang, a wild pitch, a passed ball and four errors - one of which produced two runs. Lang would have a pair of runs-batted-in on a pair of hits. Three Travelers reached home in the third, scoring on a three-run double by Reid Ragsdale. Pitching: Gavin Paul worked three innings. He allowed one hit, no earned, a pair of walks and sent six back to the dugout. |
| July 22, 2015 - Game On Brown Chain 15U |
|
The Travelers 15U defeated Game On Brown Chain 15U, 6-1. Reid Ragsdale would have three hits in the contest, singling in the initial at-batter and the fourth and doubling in the sixth. In Americus' third, two scored on a deuce-scoring hit by Will Lang. At least one Traveler reached home in innings four-six. A run-batted-in hit by Will Lanneau in the fourth plated Ragsdale. Pitching: Chance Hollomon worked three innings. He allowed one hit, no earned, no walks and struck out two. |
| July 23, 2015 - JPRD Bulldogs |
|
The Americus Travelers 15U lost to the JPRD Bulldogs, 15-0. |
| July 24, 2015 - Birmingham Baseball |
|
The Travelers 15U defeated Birmingham Baseball, 8-4. Reid Ragsdale would have four scores-batted-in on a pair of hits, tripling in the fourth and a hit in the fifth. Americus plated five in their fourth frame. |
| July 24, 2015 - Brick City Blast |
|
The 15U Travelers won against Brick City Blast, 3-2. Chance Hollomon posted two scores-batted-in on three hits with singles in innings one, three and six. Americus scored one in the third. |
| July 25, 2015 - Louisiana Warhawks |
|
The Americus Travelers 15U won against the Louisiana Warhawks, 7-2. Reid Ragsdale went 1-for-2 in the game, doubling in the fourth inning. Americus had a second inning rally that saw four plated via an error and a deuce-scoring hit by Will Lanneau. Later, two more scores came in the fourth. A hit into a fielder's choice started the inning, then Ragsdale's double plated Jarrod Wall. Pitching: Gavin Paul worked four innings. He allowed one hit, one earned, one walk and sent four back to the dugout. |
| July 25, 2015 - JPRD Bulldogs |
|
Americus Travelers 15U defeated the JPRD Bulldogs, 4-2, in a game that saw the lead change five times. Americus had a great seventh inning. Gavin Paul hit a deuce-scoring dinger that plated Will Lanneau. Paul would have three runs-batted-in on a pair of hits in the game. Pitching: Reid Ragsdale worked six innings. He allowed three hits, one earned, five walks and struck out four. |
| July 25, 2015 - JPRD Bulldogs |
|
The Americus Travelers 15U lost to the JPRD Bulldogs, 6-1. Tyler Ross went 2-for-2 in the contest. Chance Hollomon's run-batted-in hit plated the only Traveler in the sixth. With this game, the Travelers were runner up in the Grand Slam World Series of Baseball, and conclude their 2015 summer season. |
| NUMBER | NAME | POSITION | SCHOOL |
| 3 |  Josh Harrell |
LHP/Outfielder | Wilcox County |
| 5 | Chance Hollomon |
RHP/Outfielder | Schley County |
| 8 | Will Lang |
C/Utility Infielder/RHP | Lee County |
| 10 | Gavin Paul |
LHP/1B | Lee County |
| 15 | Camron Vanlerberghe |
2B | Schley County |
| 17 | Cameron Belcher |
RHP/3B/OF | Schley County |
| 22 | Reid Ragsdale |
OF/LHP | Schley County |
| 24 | Will Lanneau |
SS/RHP | Crisp County |
| 25 | Jarrett Kemp |
OF/RHP | Sherwood Christian |
| 28 | Tyler Ross |
RHP/OF | Lee County |
| 44 | Jarrod Wall |
C/1B | Schley County |