The John Milledge Academy (JMA) varsity baseball team scored a 5-4 victory over Tatnall Square Academy (TSA) in Milledgeville on April 17, then beat Vidalia Heritage Academy 7-2 on Monday as it nears the end of its 2025 regular season.
The wins brought the Trojans to a 16-6 overall record and ranked them 3rd in GIAA 3A/4A with a 3-3 in-region record. Four region matchups remain on JMA’s regular- season schedule.
The Trojans’ path to victory over TSA began with a slow start as they were held scoreless in the first inning, trailing the visitors by two runs.
JMA got on the board with one run in the second inning before taking over the lead with a two-run homer in the third inning. After adding another two-run shot over the wall in the fourth, the game went scoreless until TSA scored twice in the top of the seventh to reach the final result.
According to Trojans head coach Justin Mills, the home runs by senior Asa Wall and freshman Ayden Whidby were massive moments in their baseball careers. Whidby made the first home run “in his life,” Mills said, while Wall scored the first of his high school career.
Significantly, JMA’s one-run victory also offered payback after the Trojans suffered a 10-0 loss to Tatnall Square in Macon just two days earlier.
Afterward, Mills spoke on the team’s progress in the game and throughout the 2025 season.
“A lot of big things happened [during the game,]” Mills said. “I was really proud of the team effort for sure.”
Mills added that he believes his players learned some good lessons from their loss earlier in the week.
“Baseball is a weird game, you know? It has a lot to do with who’s on that bump,” Mills said. “I was proud to see our guys come out and compete. They know how baseball is and that just because you had a rough time last game against Tattnall, it doesn’t mean it will happen again.”
In addition to Wall and Whidby, several other team members contributed to Thursday’s victory, Mills said, including senior pitcher Kolt McMichael, who helped lead the team with one run, two hits, and seven strikeouts.
“Kolt McMichael was a bulldog on the mound, and I was proud to see that,” Mills said. “He’s had a good year.”
With tight competition throughout the game, Mills said he believes his team reached a significant turning point in the bottom of the second inning. He credited both double homers for the team’s success.
“I really thought [Wall’s] home run to left center and Whidby’s home run to take the lead were huge,” Mills said. “But then with Asa following up with his home run, you know, that’s good to see for our team.”
Overall, Mills said he’s enjoyed watching the team progress throughout the season and appreciates the hard work his players have done. He believes, too, that they are beginning to see the fruits of their labor this season.
“They come to work, put in the work, and you can see them getting the improvement,” Mills said. “I’m just super happy for these guys because of their hard work.”
In the second night of a home-and-home schedule, the Trojans will host their senior night beginning at 4:30 p.m. on April 24 against region rival Mount De Sales Academy. Their final regular-season game also will come as the second of a home-and-home series against First Presbyterian Day School, at 4 p.m. April 30, with playoff matchups to be determined soon.