The John Milledge Academy (JMA) Trojans and new head coach Tucker Bradley began their 2026 baseball season on the right foot by defeating rival Brentwood 6-1 in Milledgeville last Wednesday afternoon.
Before the home game, longtime former Trojans head baseball coach Walter Prestwood threw out the ceremonial first pitch to open the Trojans’ season. Prestwood’s perfect toss was perhaps a foreshadowing of what was to come for the Trojans, who found success early with a six-run performance in the first inning, a six-hit game on offense, and a combined winning effort from their bullpen.
Starting pitcher Lewis Cheney pitched the first two innings and allowed one hit and one run while striking out three batters, but the senior walked five others.
Junior Bryce Miller then relieved Cheney and allowed one hit while striking out one batter. Next, Grayson Paradise threw the final four innings and allowed just three hits while striking out four batters and holding the Eagles to zero runs to seal the Trojans’ victory.
After the game, Bradley acknowledged he was happy the team started the season with a win; however, he also believed his team could have played better after the first inning.
“It’s always nice to get that first one out under your belt, no matter the situation, so it’s a relief for sure,” Bradley said. “But I felt we came out hot and ready to play and then got satisfied.
“We’ve just gotta’ stay hungry and keep playing, no matter what. That’s what the best teams do; they keep playing, no matter what.”
Some new faces made an immediate impact for the Trojans, including eighth grader and second baseman Xay Cheney. Bradley said Cheney made a “top-10 play” in the first inning with a leaping catch above his head on a line drive to record the first out of the game.
At the plate, the Trojans were led by sophomores Asa Wall and Nathan Snow, who both had two hits. Wall hit a two-RBI double to score the Trojans’ first two runs in the opening inning, followed by a Paradise hitting an RBI single to score Wall and extend JMA’s lead.
Paradise then scored on a wild pitch, followed by Gus Cummings getting a base hit that scored Lane Rhodes and Eli Merril to give the Trojans all six of their runs in the opening inning.
Despite the win, Bradley said he sees room for improvement from the Trojans’ offense, especially on the base pads.
“I felt mentally we weren’t as locked in on the bases as I want us to be. It goes back to being satisfied and finding a way to get 90 feet, no matter what it takes,” he said.
JMA continued its season Tuesday at Bethlehem Christian, where the team posted a 2-1 win over the Knights. The two teams played in a scoreless tie for five innings before Wall finally put the Trojans on the scoreboard in the fifth inning.
The Knights answered with one run in the seventh, but Xay Cheney scored for JMA in the eighth inning, which held up for the 2-1 Trojans win.
JMA visits Locust Grove to take on Strong Rock Christian on Thursday (past press time), then returns home to host Vidalia Heritage at 4 p.m. on Friday.