When Max Elliott steps onto the field before a national television audience Thursday night, he will be a recognizable face to many Catholics in Front Royal.
Elliott, who just turned 12, is an altar server at St. John the Baptist Church, and the starting shortstop for the Front Royal All-Stars who won the state 12U Little League championship with a dramatic 6-5 win over the SYA team from Centreville-Clifton July 23. Front Royal will play against the Alabama state champions in the Southeast Regional Tournament July 31 at 7 p.m. in Warner Robins, Ga. The game will be televised live on ESPN+.
“It has been a whirlwind, exciting, insane,” said mom Kristi Elliott, who is with Max and his younger brother in Georgia. “We’re over-the-moon proud of Max.”
The state championship heroics sparked a raucous celebration in baseball-crazy Front Royal, where black and white photos of the last state championship team from 1962 are on display at the Downtown Comfort Bakery on Main St.
“It’s a super great accomplishment, and we are filled with hometown pride,” said bakery owner Keith Menefee, who serves as the unofficial town historian. “We don’t have the funding that a lot of other cities in Virginia have, and this has really brought us all together to support our boys.”
“I’m just amazed at the community fundraising effort and the attention this has gotten,” said Max’s father, Jeff Elliott. “One of our neighbors knocked on the door yesterday and wanted to congratulate Max and he was almost in tears. I mean, this is a big thing.”
Well-wishers packed the Brick House Bar and Grill in Front Royal July 27 to raise money for the team’s travel expenses and a big crowd is expected at Brick House for Thursday night’s watch party.
Max takes a .406 batting average into the tournament and will likely be called on to pitch after posting an earned run average of 2.63 during the regular season with 58 strikeouts.
“He has a special dedication to baseball and has always understood the game,” said Kristi. “He’s just always been a hard worker.”
“Spring training would start for him on January 1 in the snow,” said Jeff. “He would play on the lawn every day with his big brother Nicholas.”
Unlike many young baseball stars, Max doesn’t participate in a travel baseball league outside of Little League. He’s one of five homeschooled children and his duties to family and church make travel ball impossible.
“We have to make sure we get to Mass on Sunday,” said Kristi. “There are lifestyle choices that have to be made.”
“There are other things that take precedence over it because baseball is just fun,” said Jeff. “Most of these boys aren’t going to have a major league baseball career.”
But Max and the Front Royal All-Stars have already made the history books, and their story isn’t finished. “The boys understand that they’re not just playing for themselves,” said Kristi. “They’re playing for our community.”
Other teams in the double elimination tournament include Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
“I’m proud of our team and proud to be representing Front Royal,” said Max, during a quick lunch break in Georgia. “I hope we go all the way.”
