The John Milledge Academy (JMA) Trojans baseball team successfully defended its state title last year but now faces an even bigger challenge in 2024 with their eyes set on a “three-peat.”
JMA swept the Pinewood Patriots two games to none in the 2023 state championship series.
“The feeling for my guys and this team is unmatched,” JMA head coach Chad Starley declared. “The last few weeks of practice, scrimmages, and preparation have been exciting to be a part of. This team is hungry to prove it belongs, just like the past championship teams.”
However, the Trojans have several new faces on the field after graduating seven seniors from last year’s squad.
Helping to offset those departures, though, are three major pieces returning to this year’s team in seniors Cooper Wilburn, Bud Veal, and GCSU commit Blake Bellflower. Starley insisted he would put those three players up against any other three players from any team in the GIAA.
“We are going to be led by three of the top players in the state,” the coach said of his top trio. “I fully expect those three players to carry us to a three-peat. I also expect them to make all-region and all-state.”
Starley also spoke to how important it is that all of this year’s upperclassmen have so much playoff experience.
“Our big-game experience will help us early in the season and will for sure help us when we enter the playoffs,” he predicted.
Wilburn is the Trojans’ top returning hitter after finishing last season with a .411 batting average and 18 RBIs in 56 at-bats. Meanwhile, Veal is the Trojans’ top returning baserunner after swiping 21 bags last season and finishing with a .381 average at the plate and an impressive 32 hits with 19 RBIs.
Bellflower will be the most talked about player returning to this year’s JMA squad. Bellflower committed to the Georgia College Bobcats last September after being named MVP of the 18U Perfect Game East World Series last July while playing for the Georgia Liberty baseball team.
Other returning players include right-handed pitcher (RHP) and outfielder Remington Weaver, RHP and infielder David Todd, and RHP and third basemen Kolt McMichael.
According to Starley, among others expected to step up into starting roles this season are junior catcher Will Adams, sophomore pitcher and first basemen Grayson Paradise, sophomore outfielder Bradyn Harrison, sophomore pitcher Brooks Latimer, sophomore pitcher and outfielder Bryce McDonel, and freshman pitcher and outfielder Parker Soltay.
Undoubtedly, the Trojans will undergo a transition phase early this season, but having on-field leaders like Veal, Wilburn, and Bellflower available will help tremendously with guiding some of the younger players along. Plus, though still young themselves, contributors like McDonel, Brooks, Harrison, and Paradise can draw on their experience from last season’s championship run, too.
Also, other older players who haven’t started much for the Trojans but are expected to get more opportunities this year include Will Adams, Kolt McMichael, David Todd, and Remington Weaver. All four are juniors this season and though all three played in 2023, none had a starting role.
The Trojans officially begin their season on Feb. 26 when they host Brentwood at John Kurtz Field on the Georgia College & State University campus in Milledgeville.