The Rocket City Trash Pandas made history on Wednesday night by winning their first ever Southern League Championship, outlasting the Biloxi Shuckers in a winner take all third game of a best-of-three series to decide the title.

HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE 🏆 pic.twitter.com/XjRa0dEVSi

— Rocket City Trash Pandas (@trashpandas) September 24, 2026

KINGS OF THE SOUTH 👑 pic.twitter.com/dTWc9XH3ZK

— Rocket City Trash Pandas (@trashpandas) September 24, 2026

FINISHED WHAT WE STARTED 👏@TwiceDailyFresh pic.twitter.com/qlf9YSu2tg

— Rocket City Trash Pandas (@trashpandas) September 24, 2026

After winning the first game on Sunday in a 5-4 thriller, Biloxi took Game 2 on Tuesday night by a score of 7-0 to force a decisive third game. Though it was once again a nail biter, Rocket City was able to prevail to complete their remarkable turnaround from worst record in minor league baseball to champions.

Austin Gordon had 10 strikeouts to match a career high, while a solo home run from Arjun Nimmala in the seventh inning pushed the Trash Pandas’ lead to two runs to put them on the brink of glory.

IN ARJUN WE TRUST 💣

A solo home run by Arjun Nimmala puts us up 3-1 in the 7th! pic.twitter.com/W5svWwBwWb

— Rocket City Trash Pandas (@trashpandas) September 24, 2026

First-year manager Joe Kruzel took Rocket City from a dreadful 45-92 season last year to 72-65 during the regular season followed by a first playoff series victory, first North Division championship and now, their first Southern League title.

Gordon’s performance on Wednesday night was just the latest in a long line of success this postseason, going 2-0 with a 0.79 ERA, 14 strikeouts and two walks over 11.1 innings pitched.

Rocket City becomes the 24th different team to win the Southern League and the league’s first new champion since the 2017 season.

Clearly, this is an organization which is here to win after such a special season, and perhaps it is the start of a long run of success in North Alabama.