Photo Credits: Jackson Cole (@sixxraw on IG)
STONE MOUNTAIN, GA. — The Stephenson High School Jaguars continue to build momentum, winning six of their last seven games following a hard-fought 10–7 victory over Forest Park High School on Saturday at the Marvin Pruitt-David Jackson 2026 Baseball Classic, hosted at Redan High School.
Despite the final score, the Jaguars were forced to rally after a rocky start. Forest Park jumped out to an early 5–1 lead in the second inning, capitalizing on control issues from Stephenson senior starting pitcher Miles Allen, who battled through multiple walks and hit batters. A costly error by senior Alfonzo Osborne Jr. allowed two runs to score, and junior Andy Barredo added a two-RBI double to extend the Panthers’ advantage.
Stephenson had an opportunity to respond in the bottom of the second with runners in scoring position, but Barredo shut the door, striking out Osborne to preserve Forest Park’s four-run lead.
The game shifted dramatically in the fourth inning.
Trailing by multiple runs, the Jaguars erupted for seven runs in a decisive frame. The rally was sparked by a bunt from Mark Brown and a bloop single from Osborne that dropped into shallow center field between three defenders. The sequence ignited a surge of momentum that Forest Park could not contain.
Even with a brief miscue on the basepaths — when Allen misjudged a fly ball on a sacrifice attempt and drew a sharp reaction from the coaching staff — the senior quickly redeemed himself. Known as one of the top base stealers in the state, Allen executed a perfectly timed double steal, racing home from third and narrowly beating the tag to add to Stephenson’s lead.
From there, the Jaguars leaned into their identity.
Stephenson consistently applied pressure with small ball tactics, using bunts, aggressive baserunning, and situational awareness to keep the Panthers on their heels. The approach ultimately fueled the comeback and secured the 10–7 win.
Allen also recovered on the mound after his early struggles, finishing with eight strikeouts while allowing just three hits. Osborne closed out the game over the final two innings, recording five strikeouts and continuing an impressive season that has him among the national leaders in strikeouts, according to MaxPreps.
Head coach Harrison Moore credits the team’s speed as its defining strength. Rather than relying solely on power hitting or dominant pitching, the Jaguars focus on creating pressure.
“Our goal is to put pressure on the defense and cause disruption,” Moore said. “At this level, the bunt is one of the toughest plays to defend — especially for the third baseman.”
With momentum on their side, Stephenson now turns its attention to a pivotal two-game series against the Luella High School Lions — a familiar rival that claimed last year’s region championship over the Jaguars.
Stephenson will need at least a split in the series to remain in contention for the region title, with one final regular-season matchup against Frederick Douglass High School looming.