The JMA Trojan Baseball team is moving on in the state playoffs after a 2-0 series win against the Westminster Schools of Augusta. The two teams battled it out on Monday, April 25th.
Game One
JMA star pitcher, Keaton Prior, got the start for the Trojans and as he has done most of this season pitched nearly perfect. Prior pitched a complete game for the Trojans and allowed one hit while allowing zero runs. He also recorded 11 strikeouts and walked zero in his outing on the mound.
“Keaton was lights out and has been lights out all season,” said JMA Head Coach Chad Starley, “when he’s on the mound it’s pretty much a done deal.”
The Trojans got off to a fantastic start offensively, scoring six runs in both the first and second inning to take a 12-0 lead and putting the game seemingly out of reach.
Offensively the third inning did not go as well for the Trojans as they scored zero runs, but the team bounced back in the fourth to score another two runs to go up 4-0.
After the Trojans got out of the top of the fifth inning allowing no runs, the game was pronounced over by the mercy rule.
Top performers at the plate for JMA in game one included Bud Veal and Blake Bellflower. Veal recorded two hits through three at bats, while also batting in two RBIs. Bellflower batted twice and had one hit, while also recording two RBIs. Landon Byrd and Keaton Prior both had two RBI games as well.
Game Two
Jackson Thomas was the starting pitcher for the Trojans in game two of the series and pitched well in his four and one third innings on the mound. In his outing on the mound, Thomas recorded one hit and two earned runs, while also pitching seven strikeouts.
Offensively the bats did not get hot for the Trojans until late in the game, as they failed to score a run through five innings and trailed 1-0 after the top of the fifth.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Cooper Wilburn came in as the relief pitcher for JMA. He pitched the rest of the game for the Trojans and allowed two hits and zero earned runs.
Going into the sixth inning the Trojans trailed 0-3, but would soon find a much needed spark. This spark came from Jackson Thomas after he hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth. JMA went on to pile another four runs during the top of the sixth and another run in the seventh.
As the game went into the bottom of the seventh inning, the score was 6-3 in favor of the Trojans. After a scoreless inning defensively for JMA, the game was finished with a final score of 6-3.
Offensive standouts for the Trojans in game two included Jackson Thomas and Brady Rollins. Thomas had a home run and two RBIs in his four at bats, while Rollins recorded one hit and two RBIs in two plate appearances.
The Trojans will be playing Dominion Christian in the next round of the GISA AAA State Playoffs.