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Jesse Elam kept it blunt when discussing the upcoming GSL High School Grand Slam Tournament.
“This was a weekend we needed a tournament,” the Awesome Chevy 16U coach said.
Timing works in wondrous ways.
Starting on Friday and continuing through Sunday, Fort Borst Park in Centralia will host a cavalcade of summer baseball teams in a wood bat tournament. Awesome Chevy is one of 16 teams in the 16U division.
Pool play is on Friday and Saturday, then bracket play runs on Sunday.
“It is super important for these guys get to play our brand of baseball,” Elam said. “Get a real opportunity to play (and see) how we do things.”
Compromised mainly W.F. West kids, Awesome Chevy enters the tournament with a pristine 17-0 record. It is coming off a pair of one-run wins against JBD-Brady, one of the better summer teams out of Longview.
Much like the success of the Bearcats in the spring that vaulted them to a regular season league title and a top-four seed in the Class 2A state tournament, pitching has been a strength.
Emmett Goodman and Cody Schwarz each are 4-0 with an earned run average under one. Five others have toed the rubber and opposing hitters are registering a batting average under .200.
“Our pitchers continue to throw strikes. They’re doing a really good job,” Elam said.
Elam called each game for his group “an audition for them everyday.”
When the 2026 spring season rolls around, there will be some holes to be filled. Seventy-five percent of the infield, catcher and a couple depth outfielders will need to be replaced.
Reece Marquez is hitting .651 and leads the team with 28 hits plus is top-three in RBIs and runs scored.
“Got a lot of talent, comes down to performing,” Elam added. “There’s some opportunity to fill in somewhere where they’re not used to.”
Awesome Chevy will be in Pool C for the tourney alongside WBA 15U Teal, Driveline Academy 16U Tecktiel and New Level Patrick. Each team is guaranteed at least four games for the three days.
The same principles Elam wants to see from his varsity group in crucial league games are similar to what he expects from his 16U squad.
“Have some resilience and battle through some things,” he said.
“I hope to see some really good pitching. We’re playing some well-known travel ball organizations.”
