TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – It’s a feeling that the Valwood baseball team hasn’t forgotten.
“Playing through the playoffs, it was sitting in the back of our mind,” remembered senior Chase Helfer of settling for state runners-up after playing for a state championship in 2024.
“There’s several of those guys with the feeling that hey man, we had the opportunity and we’re grateful to get it back,” said head coach Robert Shipman. “Not just grateful to be here. We want to play as hard as we can and we want to win it.”
Getting the job done. It’s been the focus all season, and now the Valiants are two wins away from sealing the deal.
“I think it’s kind of hard not to think about, but like I said, it speaks to our discipline just being ourselves and focusing on the right thing at the right time,” said senior Josh Skinner.
“Our kids were talking about it early on. If we can get the work done, play together, and overcome adversity, we’ll have a pretty good shot this year,” said Shipman.
Adding to an already special season, as they’ve won 20-plus games for the first time ever, and captured their first outright region title in Shipman’s 13 seasons at Valwood.
“I want it nothing more than to win the state championship for coach Shipman,” said Skinner. “He’s coached for 25 years. It’d be everything for me just to win it for him.”
“What would it be like to run out for the 7th inning of a state championship knowing that you’re three outs away,” said Helfer. “I think that’s what’s drove us this whole year, especially down the stretch here.”
Their opponent? Valwood’s already beat Deerfield-Windsor this season. It was a series win that clinched that region title.
“We know what we’re capable of,” said Skinner. “We just have to go an execute.”
“We just know who they are, what they’re capable of,” added Shipman. “Same way with us. We know it’s going to be an awesome, awesome battle.”
And hopefully an awesome, awesome win to bring home that very first state championship. Game one of the best of three series between Valwood and Deerfield-Windsor is Thursday at 4:00 at Georgia Southern.
To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Nextdoor and X (Twitter).
Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started.
Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.