- February 5, 2025
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The 12U Port Orange Panthers made history last week.
It was the first baseball team from Port Orange to participate in the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Tournament.
After a week of play, they team made the “Sweet 16” playoffs, making them the second team from Volusia County to reach that milestone.
The first was Daytona Beach Baseball in 2002, and they also got there with the help of current Panther’s assistant coach Jordan Johnson, who was a player on the team at the time.
The Panthers came in 9th place out of 104 teams from around the nation.
A team picture and their record will be displayed in the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame.
Each member also came home with an American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame ring, and a 7-2 record.
It was a sweet victory and a dream come true for the players after they’ve worked for years to improve their game.
Team mom Amy Deakin said it was an unforgettable event for all the boys, including her son, Matthew, who has been on the team for about five years.
They had fun site-seeing, spending time together off the field and Matthew also hit his first home run during the trip.
"There were so many good memories, and they made so many new friends," she said.
She said the recognition at home has been heart-warming.
At 5:30 on Sunday, the team and their coaches will receive a homecoming at the Daytona Tortugas home game. The players and Coaches will be brought out on the field at 5:30pm to be recognized for their achievements.
