Elizabethtown Trash Pandas Claim Tournament Title with Weekend Sweep in Lumberton

Austin Smith
Mar 24
2 min read

LUMBERTON, NC – March 15-16, 2025 - The Elizabethtown Trash Pandas 9U baseball team delivered a dominant showing this past weekend at Northeast Park in Lumberton, bringing home the Top Gun Sports Tournament Championship before weather forced an early end.

Game 1: Trash Pandas 10, Rattlers 2

In their opening game Saturday against the NSA Rattlers, the Trash Pandas got off to a fast start and never looked back, earning a decisive 10-2 victory.

The team plated two runs in the top of the first, added another in the third, and broke the game wide open with a five-run fourth inning. They tacked on two more in the fifth to seal the win.

Offensively, it was a total team effort. Jacari Rhodie led the charge with a pair of hits, scoring once and driving in a run.

Ty’son Powell reached base with a walk and came around to score, while Waylon Smith was nearly unstoppable at the plate, racking up three hits and crossing home twice.

Boyce Allen chipped in with a hit, a walk, and a run scored. Javie Jackson was productive at the top of the order with two hits, a walk, and a run scored, while Drake Washington reached base twice on walks and scored once.

Jackson Johnson had a solid showing with two hits, an RBI, and a run scored, and Ryder Butler added a hit, a run scored, and drove in one. TJ Smith and Eli Rutland also made key contributions, with TJ scoring a run and drawing a walk and Eli working a patient at-bat for a walk of his own.

On the mound, Eli Rutland was lights out.

He pitched a complete game, going five innings while allowing just one hit and zero earned runs. He walked only one batter and struck out six, completely shutting down the Rattlers' offense.

E-Town Trash Pandas Team Praying Pregame

Game 2: Trash Pandas 6, Eliminators 4

In Game 2 on Sunday, the Trash Pandas squared off against the Robeson Eliminators in what would become the tournament's final contest before rain forced a cancellation of the remaining games.

Elizabethtown jumped out early once again, putting up two runs in the first. They added a run in the fourth, two in the fifth, and one more insurance run in the sixth to stay just ahead of a late Robeson rally.

Waylon Smith continued his stellar weekend with two more hits, driving in two runs and scoring three times.

Ty’son Powell reached base twice and scored once, while Eli Rutland added a hit and a walk.

Kohen Smeigh had a big game with a run scored, a hit, and a walk. Drake Washington crossed home for another run, and TJ Smith added an RBI to help fuel the offense.

Ryder Butler took the mound and pitched a complete game gem, striking out eight over six innings. He allowed five hits and just three earned runs, keeping the Eliminators in check and helping the Trash Pandas secure the win.