The John Milledge Academy (JMA) Trojans baseball team lost a pair of games to top-ranked First Presbyterian Day (FPD) last week, dropping the Trojans’ record to 15-10.
JMA kept game one against the Vikings close after two innings, but FPD began to take control with three runs scored in the third inning. Six batters reached base as the Vikings extended their lead to 4-0. By afternoon’s end, FPD won 12-1 to keep a 23-game winning streak intact.
Game two in Macon was a closer matchup, with JMA leading by two runs after two-and-a-half innings. However, the Vikings eventually took control with five runs in the fifth to claim their first lead of the afternoon and eventually won 10-5.
Still, JMA had several players perform well in the losses, including Xay Cheney with two hits in each game against FPD. Lane Rhodes and Asa Wall also had two hits apiece, with Wall driving in three of the Trojans’ five runs in game two. Kellen Eady had two RBIs against the Vikings in game two, with one hit and one run.
The Trojans have now concluded their regular season and are facing the GIAA AAA state playoffs. Still in his first season with JMA, head coach Tucker Bradley said he and his players are looking forward to entering postseason play.
“We’re excited,” Bradley stated. “Postseason baseball is what you work for all year so we’re looking forward to it.”
But Bradley added that his players need to stay grounded with where they are right now and should not be worrying about where they haven’t yet reached.
“Be where your feet are,” he suggested. “You can’t look ahead, can’t be thinking about previous at bats or pitches; just be in the moment.”
The Trojans are expected to play Lakeview Academy in the opening round of GIAA AAA state playoffs next week. As of press time, JMA’s game times and locations had not yet been announced.