>> JOHN MILLEDGE ACADEMY
John Milledge had a three-game week and swept the competition in dominant fashion. The Trojans beat Tiftarea 9-1 in the first game of the week on Monday before coming back home to face First Prep Christian Academy on Senior Day last Tuesday.
It was a quick first two innings with no runs for either team and just two FPCA hits. In the bottom of the third, JMA broke through with their first hit of the game coming on a Cooper Wilburn solo homer to left field to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead. A walk and an error set JMA up for another run with Bud Veal grounding out to score Tanner Greene before a Briggs Eady single scored Cayden Avant to give the Trojans a 3-0 lead.
The Trojans took complete control when senior Jackson Thomas pounded a three-run homer to center field to give the Trojans a 6-0 lead.
The Highlanders scored their first run in the fourth inning on a passed ball before a ground out ended the inning. JMA scored twice more in the bottom of the fourth on a Banks Eady double to center field scoring B. Harrison and Bud Veal.
The Highlanders answered with a homer of their own to score their second run of the game before a single put their third run of the game across the plate from second base to bring the score to an 8-3 JMA lead.
The Trojans would go scoreless in the fifth inning before an FPCA runner scored on an error in the sixth inning to make the score 8-4 JMA leading.
JMA then answered with a Bud Veal single scoring Cayden Avant and another single from Banks Eady scoring Briggs Eady to extend the Trojans lead to 10-4. A Cohen Brooks sacrifice fly ball scored Banks Eady and a Blake Bellflower double sent Bryce McDonel home to reach a final 12-4 Trojans win.
Jackson Thomas pitched 5.1 innings on the mound giving up six hits, four runs, and striking out six batters. Cohen Brooks pitched 1.2 innings of relief for the Trojans allowing two hits, no runs, and striking out two batters. Banks Eady had two hits, two runs, and two RBIs, as well as a double, while Cooper Wilburn and Jackson Thomas both had home runs to help power the Trojans win on Senior Day.
JMA won its regular- season finale on Wednesday, 13-0 over Briarwood Academy to finish the regular season 15-6 overall and 4-4 in region. The Trojans enter the GIAA AA playoffs with a bye in the first round and will face the winner of the Tiftarea vs Heritage series.
The Trojans’ first-round playoff series will begin May 5, with games one and two. Game three will be played on Saturday, if necessary. The series will be played at the JMA campus in Milledgeville.