RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
Matt Abernathy had a major decision to make in the summer of 2019 regarding his Tennessee Mojo 2024 team.
He had a core group of local players for his program based out of Jackson, Tennessee in West Tennessee—close to halfway between Memphis and Nashville—that he had coached for years, practicing one-to-two times per week and who were great friends and competed relatively well.
Except, the team leader came to realize, in big tournaments.
Coach Abernathy made what he knew would be a difficult choice that summer which would change the course of his team.
“I was tired of watching us not compete under pressure and I was prepared to risk having the team break up to help create the right culture. I knew it was my fault—I had not created enough competition on our team and the kids were too comfortable.”
The head coach, who himself played baseball at Ole Miss and later played in the Padres’ organization, issued an ultimatum.
“I told them that they would either meet my expectations or I would bring in more competition in the fall… and, eventually, I brought in five new players!”
Abernathy says that the shakeup worked as he hoped it would.
It took a couple of tournaments for us to see the kids react positively to the challenge, but we saw the benefit start to take place from the competition. We finished the last three tournaments beating several Top 100 teams and earning respect from our peers.”
Unfortunately, the risk taken did cause a major breakup as the team lost six of its original core players.
Coach Abernathy looks back on the seismic change to the team’s lineup and believes he knows what was behind it.
“I don’t hold anything against the kids and wish them the best, but some parents have a unique way of not allowing their kids to grow through adversity by making excuses for them and blaming everyone else. They go somewhere else to play when their kid has to compete and the player is robbed of an important life lesson.”
However, what came from the risk of losing players was the reward of developing the right culture with core seven that remained: Aubrey Jones, Kendall Trimm, Josie Sanders, Bailey Shepard, Madison Pruitt, Mia Brauss, and MJ Abernathy
“They all agreed to set a high standard of play led by Coach Greg Jones and me,” the head coach continues. “The girls committed to play for each other and be held accountable by each other.”
The nucleus of the team was enhanced by adding centerfielder Chloe Lackey, third baseman Addison Lund, pitcher Mara Everton, pitcher Izzy Wilson and second baseman Lex Shepherd to complete the team for this past Summer’s new beginning.
The Mojo 2024 team finished the season going 23-16-2 highlighted by beating No. 1-ranked Mojo Ross at the JO Cup and several Extra Inning Softball Top 50-ranked teams.
Most of the losses were to Top 50 teams and several were one run games. The Mojo ensemble also showed it was a team to watch by placing highly in several top events:
- a Top 10 finish at PGF Show Me the Money in Florida
- a 3rd place finish at the JO Cup in Georgia
- a Top 30 finish at Colorado Sparkler
- a 1st place 14U division finish at ProSwings in Tennessee
- a Top 25 finish at PGF Nationals in California
Coach Abernathy feels that, painful as it may have been to lose players, the change has resulted in a promising future for the program.
It’s also gone “national” now in that six players live outside Tennessee’s borders including four from Michigan in Cam Craig, Emma Herremans, Lex Shepherd and Aubrey Jones while Kendall Trimm is from Alabama and Addie Lund from Wisconsin.
“It is great to have coaches, players, and parents committed to playing the best competition every single tournament and the reward has been way more than I could have ever imagined! To see the growth, energy, and competitiveness displayed each tournament we played is very rewarding.”
“Multiple coaches from opposing teams complimented our kids for the way they competed, but the ultimate confirmation is the interest from college coaches I am getting calls and texts almost daily from Power 5 coaches asking about our kids. I give Coach Jones and Coach Brian Brauss a ton of credit for providing great leadership and encouragement to our kids; they were awesome all summer, too.”
The head coach concludes by stating he’s excited for the future of his young squad.
“What is so cool is to see our kids create an environment where other top players want to come and join them in pursuit of greatness. We have added some really good players to an already talented group and we certainly feel this is a team on the rise and one that expects to compete for championships in the most competitive tournaments in the country. We believe there are big things ahead as this Mojo team follows the path of many of the successful Mojo teams before them.”
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*** Scroll down for a look at each of the players for the Mojo 24 team with comments from Coach Abernathy…