The Coffee Trojans opened the 2025 season against the Ware County Gators in Waycross on Tuesday night. The Gators were not gracious hosts; they defeated the Trojans 8-3 courtesy of a solid offensive performance that saw them score runs in four of their six innings.
The Trojans drew first blood and jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Gavin McElroy reached base after being hit by a pitch. Connor Stewart followed with a double that moved McElroy to third. Jimmy Timothy, a freshman, hit a grounder to short that scored McElroy for his first high school RBI.
Coffee’s bats were quiet until the sixth inning. The same cannot be said for Ware County’s offense. The Gators scored one in the bottom of the second to tie the game at one. They added runs in the fourth (3), fifth (2), and sixth (2). Trailing 6-1, the Trojans showed a little life in the sixth when Michael Strickland hit a one-out double that scored Ben Fussell and Brax Carson. The Gators answered in the bottom of the frame with two more runs to take an 8-3 lead that would hold through the top of the seventh.
Carter McMillan, Carson, Strickland, and Stewart each had one hit for the Trojans. Strickland drove in two while Fussell, Carson, and McElroy scored Coffee’s runs.
Strickland started for the Trojans and lasted three innings, surrendering one unearned run on three hits and striking out two. Brody Hare, who took the loss for Coffee, threw two innings. He allowed five runs (all earned) on four hits. He struck out one and walked two. Weston Brown finished things off for the Trojans with an inning of work.
Coffee takes the field Wednesday afternoon for the home opener against Toombs County. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. The game will take place at the South Georgia State College baseball field due to storm damage at Charles Wilson Field.