The historic Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach is set to host high-stakes collegiate baseball action this weekend as the 18th annual Andre Dawson Classic comes to town. The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Rattlers are traveling to the Treasure Coast, looking to turn their momentum around after a challenging midweek performance.
Andre Dawson Classic Schedule
The tournament, hosted by Major League Baseball, brings top-tier talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to Vero Beach. The games will be played at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex, a site synonymous with baseball history.
Local baseball enthusiasts can look forward to the following matchups featuring the Rattlers:
While these games will feature Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opponents, they will not count toward the official SWAC standings. However, the intensity is expected to be high, particularly for Saturday’s prime-time game. The matchup against Bethune-Cookman serves as a rematch of the SWAC Championship and will be broadcast nationally on the MLB Network. All games throughout the weekend will also be streamed live on MLB.com.
Rattlers Seeking Redemption in Vero Beach
FAMU enters the Vero Beach tournament with a 1-3 record, fresh off a tough 15-4 loss to North Florida on Wednesday in Tallahassee. The team is eager to reset their “attitude and pitching performance” upon arriving on the Treasure Coast.
According to reporting by the Tallahassee Democrat, FAMU Head Coach Jamey Shouppe was candid about the team’s need for improvement before heading south.
“It was a bad day. It was absolutely a disgrace to the game of baseball. The attitude was not good. You have to have the right attitude, or things like that happen that happened tonight. We were lucky it wasn’t 30-0.”
The Rattlers struggled on the mound earlier this week, with pitchers walking 12 batters and surrendering 10 runs across the second and third innings alone. Coach Shouppe emphasized that the team must throw strikes to be competitive this weekend in Vero Beach.
Despite the pitching struggles, there were bright spots in the lineup. Justen Crews led the Rattlers with three hits and two runs scored. Crews noted that while the bats started hot, the team’s energy faded as the game progressed—a trend they intend to reverse during the Andre Dawson Classic.
About the Event
The tournament is named in honor of FAMU alumnus and National Baseball Hall of Famer Andre Dawson. It serves as a premier showcase for HBCU baseball programs, providing players exposure to MLB scouts and fans in the rich baseball environment of Indian River County.
Residents are encouraged to head out to the Jackie Robinson Training Complex to support these collegiate athletes and enjoy a weekend of competitive baseball right in our backyard.
