The Coffee Trojans defeated the Vidalia Indians 8-6 in Vidalia Thursday night. The win was the 100th of Trojan head coach Sy Jones’s career at Coffee High.
The Trojans scored three runs in the third and five in the sixth to take an 8-0 lead. As it turned out, they would need every one of those runs to hang on for the win.
The Indians waited until the last minute to wake up – but wake up they did. Vidalia launched a furious comeback in the bottom of the seventh that fell just short. The Indians scored six runs on five hits, four of which came with two outs, to give Coffee a scare.
Michael Strickland started for the Trojans and went four innings. He gave up four hits but no runs. He struck out six and walked one. Carter McMillan replaced Strickland and lasted two innings. He surrendered one earned run in his outing. Connor Stewart and Zae Smith finished things out for the Trojans. Strickland was the pitcher of record for Coffee. He is 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA so far this season.
In the top of the third, Coffee scored one run on a Ben Roberts double and two more on a single by Strickland. The Trojans opened up the game in the sixth. McMillan led off with a walk. Mason Lott came in to run for McMillan and he stole second. Stewart singled on a bunt, moving Lott to third. Brax Carson also walked to load the bases. Gavin McElroy singled to score Lott and keep the bases loaded. A Cannon Jones walk plated Stewart. Roberts brought in Carson on a sacrifice fly. Strickland hit into a fielder’s choice with runners at first and second. The play forced Jones out at second but moved McElroy to third. Payton Bryant scored McElroy on a single then Smith drove in Strickland on another single. By the time the Indians recorded the third out, the Trojans were up 8-0.
The Indians decided to start hitting in the bottom of the seventh. The highlight of the inning came on a two-out, three-run home run that cut Coffee’s lead to two. Coach Jones made a pitching change and brought in Smith to stop the rally. He managed to force a grounder to third for the final out.
Strickland, Bryant, Stewart, Carson had two hits for Coffee. Roberts and Strickland each drove in two while Carson scored twice.
The Trojans are now 7-1 on the season and face Toombs County tonight for the second time this year. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Charles Wilson Field in Douglas. Coffee baseball will also honor Richard Spivey, the Trojans’ biggest fan, at tonight’s game. Spivey will throw out the first pitch at 5:45 and admission is free.
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