For three consecutive years, Historic Golden Park has been the go-to 

destination for any baseball enthusiast seeking a taste of quality baseball. The Columbus Chat-a-Hoots, an expansion team in the Sun Belt 

Baseball League since 2021, have enjoyed remarkable success, reaching 

the SBL Championship Game in their debut year. In 2022, they secured 

the overall #2 seed, although they fell short in the SBL Semi-Finals 

against the Atlanta Crackers. Now, in their third year, the Hoots continue to shine, boasting an impressive 17-5 record and holding the second 

spot in the Sun Belt Baseball League standings. Their reputation as one 

of the top teams in the SBL remains unshaken.

Leading the charge at the plate is Connor O’Neal, back with the 

Hoots for his third season. O’Neal is a formidable hitter in the lineup, boasting a .412 Batting Average with 4 HR’s and 21 RBI’s. He has 

earned the Sun Belt League Hitter of the Week title twice this season, 

solidifying his role as a key player.

On the mound, Brian Trepanier takes the spotlight, a former Shaw 

Raider and Augusta University pitcher. Entering his final season with 

the Chat-a-Hoots, Trepanier has embraced a leadership role, delivering 

27 innings pitched, a 3.62 ERA, and 35 strikeouts. As the postseason 

approaches, the Hoots will rely on Trepanier, alongside starters William 

Turner and Joey Gill, to lead the way on the pitching front.

Guiding the Columbus Chat-a-Hoots is Steve Smith, the acclaimed 

Calvary Christian Baseball Coach, boasting an impressive record of 

five consecutive State Titles in Georgia. Coach Smith brings not only 

experience but also a passion for teaching the game and developing his 

players.

Enter the Chattahoochee Monsters, an organization in their second 

season, previously based in Oxford, AL. As the second baseball team 

under Ignite Sports and Entertainment ownership, they are managed 

by Johnnie Eaton, Assistant Coach of the Central Red Devils. The 

Monsters kicked off their season in style with a stellar 4-0 record on the 

road, but have since faced some setbacks, including four losses to their 

crosstown rivals, the Hoots. They currently hold a 10-12 record in the 

SBL, tied for fourth place. In the SBL, the top six teams will advance to 

the playoffs.

Jaxon Yoxtheimer, a former Central Red Devil and part of the 2022 

AHSAA State Title-winning team, stands out as one of the top players 

for the Monsters. He currently leads the team with an impressive .487 

Batting Average and 9 RBI’s.

Throughout their season, the Monsters have had some thrilling highlights, such as Shortstop Corey Berry’s impressive steal of home against 

the Alpharetta Aviators on June 18th, and Columbus State Pitcher Eric 

Moore’s masterful No-hitter performance against the Atlanta Crackers on June 25th