Tennessee Team Wins State Title on 24-Game Win Streak

When the final out landed in his glove, senior pitcher Weston Willeford braced himself for the sweetest dogpile of his life.

Christ Presbyterian Academy claimed the Tennessee Division II-AA state baseball championship on May 21, defeating Brentwood Academy 6-0 at MTSU's Reese Smith Jr. Baseball Field. The victory crowned an extraordinary 24-game winning streak that defined the Lions' season.

"Winning the state championship is great," Willeford said after throwing seven dominant innings. "But being able to dogpile with my friends, having Eli tackle me. That's what I'll remember."

The championship erased painful memories from 2025, when CPA needed just one win for the title and lost twice to Lipscomb Academy. After dropping a game to Father Ryan on March 30 this year, something clicked for the Lions. They simply decided not to lose again.

And they didn't.

Willeford struck out six batters while allowing just three hits. Sophomore Wright Martin went a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. The Lions scored in five of their six innings at bat, dominating from start to finish.

Why This Inspires

What makes this story special isn't just the wins. It's how a group of teenagers responded to heartbreak with determination instead of defeat.

Coach Larry Nesbitt sensed something unique about this team before their first game, though he couldn't predict if it meant a state title or a national ranking. After their championship run, he thinks they deserve both.

The team got stronger in the offseason when left-hander Bo Holloway transferred from Nolensville. The Vanderbilt signee went 10-0 this season, driven to overcome what he called a subpar 2025. His new teammates carried their own motivation from last year's bitter loss.

"This is the first time I've shed a tear in a long time," Holloway said after the game. "Getting to do this with my brothers and the coaches I love, it's just such a blessing."

Standing in the same dugout where they cried tears of disappointment a year earlier, the Lions celebrated with tears of joy instead. Martin captured the transformation perfectly: "Last year it was tears shed. This year it was just tons of joy."

Sometimes the best victories are the ones earned through resilience, and CPA's 24-game answer to heartbreak proves that second chances can be sweeter than the first.