The Americus Travelers Baseball Club - A Brief History The Americus Travelers baseball program was founded in the summer of 1995 for young men 18 and under who reside or go to school full-time in Sumter County. Coach Tim Estes, the founder and first head coach of the Travelers, started the program as an alternative to American Legion baseball, feeling that players from Americus should not have to compete for playing time with kids from other counties. The program was also started as a key way to promote local baseball talent. The Travelers played their regular season schedule against teams from the Middle Georgia Boys Baseball League. The Travelers won the Middle Georgia league title and the GRPA District III Championship and competed in the GRPA State Tournament in Dublin. In 1996, Estes became the Director of Baseball Operations for the Travelers and Billy Nicholson was asked to assume the head coach position. Nicholson promptly took the Travelers to their second consecutive Middle Georgia and GRPA district titles and took things one step further to win the GRPA state title in Statesboro. In 1997, the Americus squad won their third GRPA district title and their second state championship in a row. Among other highlights for the Travelers in their third season were competing in the Bay City Tournament in Panama City, Florida. In 1998, Coaches Estes and Nicholson wanted to get involved in a national organization that would allow the team to have an opportunity to compete for a national title. The Travelers joined the United States Speciality Sports Association (USSSA). Americus promptly won the 1998 USSSA State Championship and went on to compete in the USSSA World Series in Lakeland, Florida. The team finished fifth in the nation, first in the 12-state Atlantic Coast Division. Also in '98, the Travelers competed in a Legion tournament in Montgomery, Alabama. They also won the GRPA District III Tournament in Tifton and competed in the GPRA State Tournament in Dublin. 1998 also marked the year that the team's website made its debut on the World Wide Web. For 1999, the Travelers had a successful 30-15 season. They competed in the Albany Post 30 (Legion) Tournament in Albany and in a tournament in Columbus. They competed in the GRPA State Tournament and finished up third place. The Travelers also played their second year of USSSA competition and once again won the USSSA State Championship. At the USSSA World Series in Cocoa Beach, Florida, the team finished fourth in the nation in the AAA division. Their record in the tournament was 6-2. To launch the sixth season in 2000, the current roster of the Travelers competed against a team made up of former players; the current team won 6-1. They also wound up runner-up in the Circle City Classic in Dothan, Alabama, and posted a 5-2 worksheet in the USSSA State Tournament, emerging as runner-up. Later they went 3-1 in the East Cobb Team Showcase held at Auburn University, then they clinched first place in the Independence Day Classic held in Albany. Competing in the USSSA World Series in Lakeland, Florida, the Travelers posted a 6-3 worksheet and wound up with a fourth place finish. In 2001, the Travelers had perhaps their most successful season yet, what with a runner-up spot in the USSSA National Invitational Tournament in Perry, followed by a 3-0 showing in the Circle City Classic in Dothan, Alabama. They won the first ever Travelers Round Robin Challenge, held in Americus, then came runner-up in the South Georgia Classic held in Douglas. For the USSSA AAA State Tournament, the team brought the first place trophy back home to Americus; later in the World Series in Winter Haven, Florida, the team posted a 3-2 worksheet and finished fifth place in the nation. Head Coach Billy Nicholson decided to leave at the end of the season. For the 2002 season, Danny Slaughter took the reins as Head Coach. The Travelers went undefeated in the Richard Calhoun Invitational Tournament in Albany. They also competed in the USSSA AAA State Tournament in Milledgeville and the Auburn University Showcase Tournament. The team went 2-3 in the USSSA AAA World Series, held at the Roger Dean Complex in Jupiter, Florida. They ended up ranked #15 in the nation. Major changes took place in the 2003 season. The Travelers were no longer sponsored in part by the Americus-Sumter County Parks and Recreation Authority; funding came via parents, families, fans, and other supporters. Also, for the first time, the players were now 15 and under as opposed to 18 and under. The team had a strong showing in the Memorial Day Tournament in Albany, going 3-1. They also competed in the First Pitch Festival in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The State Championship title returned to Americus as the Travelers defeated Warner Robins in a best-of-three series. Later, the team went 2-2 at the USSSA Class AAA World Series in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Travelers enjoyed an outstanding 2004 season, climaxing with a 39-11 worksheet. Coming away with a 2-2 split in the Post 30 Tournament, the team rebounded to win the USSSA 16 and Under State Championship in Macon, going 5-1 in the tournament. Later, they went 4-1 in the Parkview Shootout in Norcross. The team had qualified for World Series play in Louisiana, but the tournament was cancelled. Instead, the Travelers took part in the Competition Unlimited National Tournament in Pensacola, Florida - and walked away the NATIONAL CHAMPS, which was a first for the program in it's nine year history. The season ended with a good 3-1 showing at the Wood Bat Classic in Gastonia, North Carolina. For the first time ever, the Travelers fielded a fall team and a number of games were played from September to November. For the 2005 season, there were two Travelers teams - a 17 and under group and a 15 and under group. Tim Estes took the reins as Head Coach for the younger squad, and Danny Slaughter continued as Head Coach for the 17 and under team. The 17 and under took part in several tournaments - among them, the Post 30 Memorial Day Tournament in Albany, HARD Invitational in Perry, and the Pendleton Showcase in Statesboro. In June, the team hosted the Travelers Showcase at home in Americus. The 15 and under contingent went 23-10-2 for their season; the group also took part in several tournaments, the most successful being the Cocoa Expo International in Florida and the Gatorade/Hampton Inn National Classic in Greenville, South Carolina - the team took runner up titles in both tournaments. In 2006, the 16 and Under team became the lone squad, but accomplished plenty! They went 5-1 in the Memorial Day Tournament in Albany and also 4-1 in the Parkview Summer Shootout in Atlanta. The Travelers also aced the Weekend Challenge held at home in Americus, going a perfect 5-0, and later won the AAU Division Two 16 and Under State Championship. They also competed in the Gameday Open Tournament in Memphis, Tennessee, and the 4th of July Tournament in Albany. The season climaxed at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida. In the AAU 16 and Under Nationals, Americus wound up 5th in the nation. As a result of the top five placement, the team has an automatic berth into next year's tournament. Adam Fussell and Michael Swain also were named to the AAU All American Tournament Team. For their 2007 season, the Travelers competed in the G.C. Croft Memorial Day Tournament in Albany, the Faulkner University Showcase Tournament in Alabama, the Middle Georgia Showcase Tournament in Cochran, and the Upstate Carolina Baseball Independence Day Showcase. They once again hosted the Travelers Weekend Challenge in Americus, where they went a perfect 5-0. But that tournament didn't hold a candle to the one that would close the season; Americus wound up with a First Place finish in the nation in the USSSA 17 and Under World Series held in Charlotte, North Carolina. Will Raines was named the overall Tournament MVP, and Will Webb was named Defensive MVP. Raines, Webb, Adam Fussell, David Byrd, Michael Swain and Easton Glover were named to the USSSA All Tournament Team. The day of July 22, 2007 marked Tim Estes final day as Head Coach of the Travelers program. Many Travelers have signed baseball scholarships, and two former players even entered the professional ranks. The team has been ranked #1 in the nation on two separate occasions. Baseball America has even rated the team as one of the "best programs of its kind" in the United States. Through all of the numerous accolades, there has been a constant - Discipline. The players for the Americus Travelers are held to a higher standard than the average young athlete. All players are required to sign behavior contracts prior to the season and they understand the importance of carrying themselves well in the community. A majority of the team's expenses are covered by monies donated and raised by the players and their parents. A registration fee covers the cost of the uniforms and a liability waiver is signed by each parent. The Americus Travelers Baseball Club has built a solid reputation on the local, state, and even national levels. All coaches for the team are volunteers. What started as an alternative to recreation has grown into a nationally elite program with a standard of excellence that applies both on the diamond and off. The Travelers have hosted youth baseball camps in the past; the players are often seen at local youth league games cheering on the youngsters. These youngsters will grow up with the desire to be an Americus Traveler - thus, the standard will continue.