Mooreshots LLC

NCAA DIII Week: Piedmont Baseball Partners with Team IMPACT to Sign Newest Team Member James

By Danielle Percival: Assistant A.D. of Communications

4/8/2025 11:00:00 AM

DEMOREST, Ga. - Piedmont baseball's newest member might stand out in the crowd compared to his counterparts, but thanks to Team IMPACT, Habersham local James Charles Gipson, age 6, is a Piedmont Lion.

James was paired with Piedmont through Team IMPACT, an organization that matches children facing serious illness with college sports teams, creating a long-term, life-changing experience for everyone involved.

James was born with congenital heart defects and had his first heart surgery at 13 days old. At age 2, he was diagnosed with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

James has been involved throughout the academic year with the Lions, attending practices and even making a stop at media day.

On February 6, 2025, Piedmont held a signing day ceremony for James to make him an official member of the team.

It's a special day for us when we are thinking about adding new players to our team. We do a lot of homework and research. Having James here, certainly a special member of our team and we're excited to welcome him.

Justin Scali, Head Baseball Coach

James, we've loved having you and welcoming you to our family. We love having you around and all the guys appreciate getting to spend time with you and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Zeke Swartz, senior pitcher

While James may be undersized for what you expect out of a Division III baseball team member, it's the amount of heart and passion he exudes that makes him a perfect fit for Piedmont.

Read More