John Milledge Academy (JMA) bounced back on the diamond this past week after losses to Flint River Academy and Heritage put the Trojans at 1-2 on the young season.
The Trojans were set to play a two-game series this past weekend but due to inclement weather, JMA played only one game versus Tiftarea Academy in Chula, where they won 14-2 over the Panthers.
The Trojans had a slow start against Tiftarea, who jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after a three-up, three-down start at the plate.
Starting pitcher Remington Weaver walked the first batter of the game and a passed ball advanced that runner to second. An error play would advance the runner to third with two on base before another passed ball would score the Panthers’ first run of the game.
Weaver would bounce back, getting a ground out and a strikeout to end the inning. After a scoreless second JMA would have a breakout inning earning a single from Bud Veal who advanced to third on a Blake Bellflower double to right field. Cooper Wilburn would hit a sacrifice fly ball to center field to score Bud Veal and advance Blake Bellflower to third.
Will Adams would earn a walk to put runners in the corners before pinch runner Bryce McDonel would steal second. David Todd would ground out on a fielder’s choice play, scoring Bellflower and advancing McDonel to third.
Weaver would come up big at the plate as well, plating two runs on a long hit to right field for a triple to extend JMA’s lead to 4-1. Weaver would struggle again on the mound, however, walking a batter and giving up a hit on an error.
A pair of fielder’s choice plays forced the first two outs, but a run scored cut the Trojans’ lead to 4-2. Weaver would get a ground out to end the third inning, finishing with five innings, two hits and two runs allowed, and three strikeouts.
After a pair of scoreless innings, JMA would extend its lead in the sixth. Bud Veal would reach first on his second hit of the night and Bellflower would reach on a walk. Cooper Wilburn would follow up with a bases-clearing RBI single to center field scoring Veal and Bellflower to extend JMA’s lead to 6-2.
Wilburn would advance to third on an error throw before stealing home plate on a 3-2 count to batter Will Adams. Adams would walk on the next pitch before a double play would end the top half of the sixth.
David Todd would come in relief duty on the mound in the seventh walking the first batter. Todd would bounce back striking out three straight batters to end the sixth.
Weaver remained in the game coming up to hit but lining out to right field. Bryce McDonel, Grayson Paradise, and Bradyn Harrison would all walk to load the bases with the Trojans leading 7-2.
Bud Veal would get his third hit and his first RBI on a ground ball up the middle scoring McDonel. Blake Bellflower would earn his second walk to score the Trojans’ ninth run and Cooper Wilburn would hit his second sac fly of the game, advancing JMA’s lead to 10-2.
JMA would go on to win 14-2 with Will Adams, David Todd and Grayson Paradise all earning RBI base hits in the seventh. Todd would finish off the Panthers in the seventh, striking out three batters to end the game and improving the Trojans record to 2-2 on the young season.
John Milledge (2-2) began region play this Tuesday (past press time) when it hosted First Presbyterian Day (9-0) in Milledgeville. This Friday, the Trojans will travel to FPD in Macon to wrap up the series.