The Blazers won their first SLABA 18U championship since 2018 after beating the Granite City Tribe at Lindenwood University in St. Charles on July 22. After the Tribe shut out JC 1-0 in game one of the best-of-3 series, JC beat the Tribe 4-3 in game two and 4-2 in the deciding game. The league’s Pitcher of the Year, French pitched a complete game in game two, striking out 10. When he wasn’t pitching, French, a 2026 Lutheran South graduate who lives in Jefferson County, played superb defense at shortstop, and batting leadoff in the three games, he had six hits (one double), two stolen bases, an RBI and a run.
SLABA Pitcher of the Year Kannon French