Inspiration Academy varsity begins their season 3-0 after wins vs Braden River (12-1) Winter Haven (10-3) and FSBE Academy (12-4). IA outscored their opponents 34 to 8 in this first week. Pitching wise the brother duo of Jackson and Max Bradely held Braden River to 1 hit and 1 run while combining for 12 strikeouts in the 5-inning opening game. Jackson Hungle and Kolten Harris held Winter Haven to 3 runs on 8 scattered hits while striking out 8 combined. Grady Conroy, Gio Cruz, and Alex Smith held FSBE to just 5 hits on Friday. 

Offensively, Max Prejda went 5 for 10 with two doubles and 6 RBIs to lead the Lions offense in hits. Zak Hungle led the week in RBIs with a total of 7 while Ty Harvey walked a staggering 7 times in the 3 games.  

But the wins on the field are not the talk of the town, as tons of professional scouts have been attending practices and games all week looking at our top players and causing an amazing feel and experience for the boys. On opening night alone there were 20 MLB teams represented in pregame BP and at the game that night. This not only presents a very cool atmosphere at the games but also gives those who are ready a real shot at their dream to play professionally.  

When asked about the MLB presence, senior catcher Ty Harvey said "It feels good to get people to see our school and give exposure to what's going on at IA. My teammates and coaches work really hard, so I think it's great that we are all getting this opportunity." 

Ty Harvey is a highly coveted prospect and is turning heads as one of the top catchers in the country. When asked about what this opportunity means personally, he said, "I am excited for the future and my family and it's amazing to see hard work pay off. These are fun steps to take, and I just want to enjoy this with my boys and family. I don't necessarily feel pressure while I'm out there because I know I have an amazing option for college baseball, and I am dedicated to the process. But yes, it's pretty fun to experience this!" 

Jackson Bradley, IA's senior Ace on the mound, said "while I was out there pitching on Monday, I tried not to think about all the teams out there watching and just to focus on the moment. But thinking about it now (afterward), it was pretty cool that we are getting to play in front of such important people in the MLB. Not everyone gets that chance, and I am glad that we get these opportunities going through this year." 

"Playing in front of rows of scouts is crazy" says senior short stop Anthony Mejias, "but it's a challenge as well. You know they're there, but if you start thinking about it too much, you're already losing focus. I just trust my hard work, stay locked in, and play my game. If I do that, everything else takes care of itself. It's all about competing every day, playing hard, and being a good teammate. Scouts see more than just stats, they're watching how you carry yourself. If you stay locked in, handle business the right way, and control what you can control. This also provides a valuable look for the team and program which can help the future of IA Baseball." 

This has been a unique beginning to the 2025 baseball season and is building to a year that will open the eyes to many about IA baseball and the strong future it has in the program and its athletes.