Crusaders Elite Baseball

10/02/2026

🎟️⚾️ **RAFFLE WINNER!** ⚾️🎟️

A HUGE thank you to everyone who supported our boys and purchased raffle tickets! We truly appreciate everyone who helped support Crusaders Baseball!

And congratulations to our winner… **Bradley or Brandy**?! 🤣

Apparently, Jett can play baseball, but reading isn’t exactly his strong suit! 🤣

**CONGRATULATIONS, BRADLEY/BRANDY (Brandy)!**

Thank you again to everyone who bought tickets and helped our boys! We couldn’t do it without y’all!

10/01/2026

WHAT A WEEKEND IN APOPKA!

We came home CHAMPIONS, but the trophy wasn’t the only thing we took home this weekend!

We took home MEMORIES, the kind these boys will be talking about for years to come!

From hotel parties, pillow fights, wrestling adventures, watching Gator football by the pool, shopping cart shenanigans, hotel troubles, fishing the ponds, Walmart shopping trips, and all the chaos in between… there was never a dull moment with this crew!

Sure, we came to compete, and these boys did exactly that! They battled hard, played their hearts out, and brought home the championship trophy! But some of the best moments happened away from the field.

These are the moments that make baseball about so much more than baseball. The laughs, the friendships, the brotherhood, the late-night shenanigans, and the memories made along the way.

One day, the boys will forget the scores, the teams they played, and even some of the tournaments they won… but they'll remember these weekends, the laughs, and the friendships that grew along the way.

🏆 CHAMPIONS ON THE FIELD.
😂 PURE CHAOS OFF THE FIELD.
❤️ BROTHERS FOR LIFE.

Wouldn't trade these memories for anything!

09/22/2026

There comes a point in travel baseball where the conversation has to change.

For most, that starts around 13 and really kicks in at 14.

When they’re younger, our job is to develop them, teach them how to compete, let them fail, build confidence, and give them opportunities to grow.

But as they get older, we also have to prepare them for what comes next.

And what comes next is earned.

Your starting spot is earned.
Your innings are earned.
Your at bats are earned.
Your position in the lineup is earned.
And eventually, your spot on the team itself is earned.

I hear the word “loyalty” thrown around a lot in travel baseball, and loyalty absolutely matters. Relationships matter. Being committed to a program matters.

But being with a program for 5, 6, or 7 years cannot become a lifetime guarantee.

At some point, we would be doing these kids a disservice if we taught them that longevity automatically equals opportunity.

Because high school baseball won’t work that way.

College baseball dang sure won’t work that way.

The questions start becoming…

Are you putting in the work when nobody is making you?

Are you showing up for your teammates?

Are you coachable?

Are you competing?

Are you at every practice?

Are you taking care of your body and developing your game?

Are you doing the little things that give your coaches a reason to trust you when the game is on the line?

And this is where parents have to understand what we’re trying to teach, too.

Not starting isn’t always punishment.

Sitting isn’t always personal.

Having to compete for a position isn’t a coach giving up on your kid.

Sometimes that’s exactly the lesson they need before baseball gets a whole lot harder.

Our responsibility isn’t to make sure every 14 year old is comfortable.

It’s to prepare them for the next level of baseball and, more importantly, for life.

Because eventually nobody cares how long you’ve been there.

What matters is what you’re doing right now to earn what you want next.

08/05/2026

🌟 Sponsor Spotlight 🌟

A huge thank you to Keystone Plumbing Inc. for supporting Crusaders Baseball! ⚾️

Whether it’s plumbing, septic, or drain field services, Keystone Plumbing works hard to serve our community, and they are also choosing to invest in our kids.

We are so grateful for the local businesses that step up and support our players, our program, and their dreams.

Please support the businesses that support our kids! 🖤⚾️

08/05/2026

🚨 Sponsor Spotlight! 🚨

A huge thank you to Lake Area Heating and Air for being a valued supporter of Crusaders Baseball!

We're incredibly grateful for businesses that believe in giving back to our local community and helping provide opportunities for these young athletes to compete, grow, and make lasting memories.

Beyond being an outstanding sponsor, Lake Area Heating & Air has earned the trust of many of our baseball families. Their team is known for being dependable, responsive, and delivering quality work every time. Whether it's a quick repair or a complete system replacement, they're the ones to call.

If you're looking for honest, reliable heating and air conditioning service, be sure to give Lake Area Heating & Air the opportunity to earn your business. We appreciate companies that invest in our kids and our community!

Thank you again for being part of the Crusaders family and helping make this season possible! 💚🖤

08/03/2026

Crusaders Baseball Needs Your Support!

Our Crusaders are hard at work preparing for another exciting travel ball season, and we're kicking off one of our favorite fundraisers!

We've partnered with **Rada Cutlery**, offering high-quality, American-made kitchen products that you'll actually use every day. Best of all, every purchase helps support our team! Rada's fundraising program returns a portion of each sale to the team, helping cover tournament fees, equipment, and other expenses.

🛒 Shop here:
https://radafundraising.com/?rfsn=9249746.f94caf

Whether you need a new kitchen knife, utensils, or you're looking for a gift, your purchase directly supports these hardworking young athletes.

We truly appreciate every order, every share, and every person who continues to support Crusaders Baseball. Thank you for helping these boys continue doing what they love!

**Go Crusaders!**

Rada Cutlery Fundraising features 100% Made in the USA kitchen products – kitchen knives, utensils, gift sets (also cookbooks, stoneware, and quick mixes).

07/26/2026

☀️ We hope everyone is having a great summer!

As we begin reaching out for our 2026-2027 season sponsorships, we want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to all of the individuals and businesses who have supported the Crusaders along the way.

The trips, tournaments, experiences, smiles, and memories these boys have made would not have been possible without your support of your hometown team.

While the kickoff to the 2026-2027 season may seem like it’s still a ways away, those who have sponsored us in the past know that we pride ourselves on recognizing our sponsors early.

We would greatly appreciate your help by sharing this post. If you or your business are interested in becoming a sponsor, please send us a message or reach out for more information.

As you can see, our sponsors have helped these boys play ball all over the southeast. From Jacksonville, Lake City, Sarasota, Space Coast, Plant City, and even Pigeon Forge TN.

As our boys have continued to develop, they have shown they are ready to take the next step by competing against stronger competition. To help further their growth both on and off the field, we plan to participate in several highly competitive tournaments this fall throughout the state of Florida.

We understand these are ambitious goals that require significant planning, fundraising, and support. However, we believe in continually challenging our players and providing them with opportunities to grow, rather than remaining in the same tournaments year after year. Our mission has always been to create memorable experiences while helping these young athletes develop both as baseball players and as young men.

With the support of our families, sponsors, and community, we look forward to seeing just how far these boys can go.

Thank you for supporting the Crusaders. More importantly, thank you for being a huge part of the smiles on these boys’ faces and the memories they will carry with them for years to come. ⚾️

07/18/2026

Congratulations to one of our own!

A huge shoutout to **Jett Crawford** for an outstanding performance at the USSSA MVP Games, finishing Runner-Up in the 13U Home Run Derby!

We're incredibly proud of the way Jett represented Crusaders Baseball on a big stage. His hard work, dedication, and power at the plate were on full display, and this accomplishment is well deserved.

Way to swing for the fences and represent the Crusaders with pride, Jett! We can't wait to see what's next.

Congratulations, Jett! Keep smashing!

07/17/2026

Some make excuses, others make results. Little impromptu 2 mile run to start getting ready for an exciting fall season.

06/14/2026

🚨 2U ELITE TRYOUTS 🚨

Looking for the next generation of superstars! Must be between 2-3 years old. Potty training is not required — occasional bag peeing is considered a sign of toughness. 💪⚾

💰 Monthly fees: Approximately the same as a small mortgage payment.

🛣️ Travel: Every weekend. If it’s less than 4 hours away, are you even committed?

🏨 Hotels: Required. Sleep is optional.

🍟 Diet: Goldfish crackers, chicken nuggets, and dugout dirt.

🧢 Coaches: 13-year-olds with extensive experience from MLB The Show and YouTube highlight reels.

🏆 Ranked #1 in the Nation* (*according to their moms and grandparents.)

⚾ Looking for pitchers, catchers, lefties, righties, and anyone who can run without falling over.

Come join the best 2U team in the nation and start your college recruiting journey before preschool!

(Joking)