Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
For Wiley Barfield, August of 2025 will be a month he will remember, possibly for the rest of his days. He is part of the Tallahassee/Leon 14U Babe Ruth All-Stars team playing in the Babe Ruth 14U World Series, being held in Hot Springs, Ark. Barfield is a rising 10th grade student at Aucilla Christian Academy (ACA), where he has played baseball for the ACA Warriors. This summer, he has played for the Tallahassee Babe Ruth team and was selected to play on their All-Star team. The Tallahassee Babe Ruth Team recently won their regional tournament, held in Tallahassee, punching their ticket to the World Series. Barfield primarily plays shortstop and third base, but can occasionally be seen in action on the pitcher’s mound. This summer, he has had an impressive postseason batting average of .522.
There are 15 teams from across the U.S. and as far away as New Zealand, Mexico and Nigeria vying for the title in Hot Springs. As of press time, the Tallahassee team had started the World Series tournament with a 2-0 mark, defeating the Mickey Owen Baseball School, from Branson, Mo., with a score of 3-0, on Saturday, Aug. 9. The Tallahassee team shut out the Nigerian team, 15-0 on Sunday, Aug. 10. The 2025 Babe Ruth 14U World Series Champion will be crowned on Saturday, Aug. 16.
Barfield is entering his 10th grade year at Aucilla Christian Academy. He is the son of Zane and Kristen Barfield.