>> JOHN MILLEDGE ACADEMY
The John Milledge Academy (JMA) Trojans (13-6, 4-4) wrapped up their 2023 region play last week with two games against Stratford Academy and one against non-region opponent Brentwood Academy. The Trojans went 2-1 after suffering a 12-8 loss last Tuesday at home against Stratford, followed by a 12-1 home win over Brentwood on Thursday, then traveling to play Stratford again Friday night in Macon, where JMA scored an 8-5 payback victory.
The Eagles did their damage early on Tuesday, leading 9-2 by the end of the third inning. JMA responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Stratford scored twice more in the fifth and again in the seventh-and-final inning, while the Trojans managed just one run apiece in their last three at-bats to reach the final score.
On Thursday, it was JMA’s turn to take the early lead. After Brentwood opened the scoring with its lone run in the top of the first inning, the Trojans put eight runs on the board with their first round at the plate. One more run followed in the second for JMA and three more in the third before a scoreless fourth inning. When the War Eagles failed to score in the top of the fifth it triggered a run-rule mercy finish.
In Friday’s away game, the Trojans started their day with a pair of singles from leadoff hitters Bud Veal and Briggs Eady. Brady Rollins would walk before out number two was recorded, but Veal would score on a wild pitch before a strikeout ended the inning with JMA leading 1-0. The Trojans would hold the Eagles scoreless through the first inning with Jackson Thomas starting on the mound, but Stratford scored on a Trojan error in the second inning to tie the game at one apiece.
JMA reclaimed the lead in the fourth after a Tyler Greene ground out that scored Blake Bellflower from third base. JMA extended its lead by two on a Banks Eady double to center field that scored his brother, Briggs Eady. A Brady Rollins single then scored Banks before Jackson Thomas hit a two-run homer that also sent Bryce McDonel and Thomas home to give JMA a five-run lead.
Stratford responded with a lone run in the bottom of the fifth, but in the sixth inning Briggs Eady hit a sacrifice fly to score Cayden Avant for a 7-2 JMA lead.
Stratford made its strongest push in the sixth inning with a three-run push to set the score at 7-5, but a single from Avant in the top of the seventh sent Bellflower home with the Trojans’ eighth run of the game. JMA then held Stratford scoreless for the game’s final inning to gain the 8-5 win over the Eagles and end region play.
Jackson Thomas pitched 5.2 innings against Stratford while striking out nine batters, allowing three runs, and six hits along the way. Veal struck out one batter in relief in the sixth inning and Cooper Wilburn pitched the seventh inning, striking out three batters and allowing zero hits.
At the plate, Wilburn batted .667 with two hits in three at-bats and Jackson Thomas had one hit with two RBIs.
JMA played Tiftarea Academy in Chula on Monday and left with a 9-1 win before returning home for a Tuesday-night tilt against First Prep Christian Academy, followed by a game against Briarwood Academy in Warrenton on Wednesday, and Pinewood Christian Academy the next night in Bellville to finish out the regular season.
The GIAA state playoffs bracket will be released later this week.