During the summer of 2021, coach James Garner and Jeremy Newman met with a small group of guys with an idea to form a travel baseball team made up of talented young athletes who shared a love for baseball. That idea came to fruition in September 2021, and the first GATA Academy 8U baseball team was formed.
The team consisted of 12 players ages five to eight from Botetourt, Roanoke, and Salem. The team had its first practice in August 2021, and it didn’t take long to figure out that this team was special. Every player shared a passion and enthusiasm to be the best player they could be. The group started practicing and learning, and it wasn’t long after that they were ready to put their skills to the test.
GATA 8U entered the USSSA tournament baseball series during the fall of 2021 and quickly became noticed for their talent and success on the baseball diamond. Their continued growth led to even more success as they entered the spring season in 2022. The young team moved through the spring season and posted a 52-13 record, which included 6 tournament championships and four runner-up awards. GATA 8U also finished 2nd in a World Series Event in Kingsport, Tennessee, in late June 2022.
As the season concluded, Garner received a call from the state director of USSSA, letting him know just how amazing his team had represented the Roanoke Valley at both the state and national levels. The message delivered by the director congratulated Garner and the GATA 8U team as the number one ranked team in USSSA in points for the state of Virginia.