East Coast Sox is the fifth Founders’ Club organization featured in this blog series that showcases Marucci’s premier amateur baseball and softball teams.

Founded by Joe Caruso and Greg Sykes and later joined by Eric Dubose, East Coast Baseball fields 37 teams ranging from 7-18U. Stationed in Columbus, Mississippi, the prestigious group joined the Founders’ Club in 2016.

“Our relationship with Marucci and being in the Founders Club is more than just being a vendor for us," Sykes said.  "We have a special bond with everyone at Marucci and other Founders Club programs that goes further than just products, it is about family. It is a true partnership that we feel has helped us grow into the organization we are today.”

East Coast Sox made a splash in each of the last two Marucci World Series, winning the 17U championship in 2018 and 16U title game in 2017. The 17U group placed third in the 2018 WWBA National Championship while its 15U team claimed the 2017 Perfect Game WWBA National Championship.

“The East Coast Sox have exploded on the baseball scene over the last few years,” said Kyle Achord, Marucci VP of Team Sales. “Having won multiple Perfect Game Championships since 2015, this organization has quickly become one of the premier programs in the country. Their Christ centered approach is impacting the lives of the coaches and players in their organization as well as the teams they compete against as they share Christ on the field with them. They truly look to develop their players’ baseball skillset as well as their spiritual skillset. We enjoy having the Sox in the Marucci Founders’ Club and look forward to furthering this relationship in the years to come.”

East Coast Sox was once the home of current big leaguer and derby champion Peter Alonso along with pitcher Lucas Sims. The club saw first-round draft picks Bobby Witt, Jr., JT Ginn, Brent Rooker, Blake Anderson, Michael Papi and Lucas Sims come through its pipeline. Witt, Jr. and Sims - along with former Sox standouts Hayden Dunhurst, Rece Hinds, Maurice Hampton, Bryce Bush, Jeremiah Jackson, CJ Willis and John Magliozzi - were deemed Perfect Game All-Americans. The organization had six players represented on the USA Baseball Team, including Witt Jr., who was the second-overall draft pick in 2019.

About the Marucci Founders’ Club
The founders of Marucci built the company on a dedication to superior quality and a relentless pursuit of excellence that extended beyond the game of baseball. That pursuit of excellence has allowed Marucci to forge partnerships with some of the nation’s premier amateur baseball and softball organizations. With core values that align with those of the Marucci Founders, these programs were selected for their dedication to excellence on and off the field, reputation as a positive influence in their community, and commitment to growing their organization and, in turn, the Marucci mission. We call this elite alliance the Founders’ Club.