The Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets weren’t very gracious hosts Tuesday night. They handed the Coffee Trojans their third region loss of the season, defeating Coffee 7-4 in Thomasville.
Both teams came out scoring. The Yellow Jackets scored a run in each of the first five innings and two in the sixth. The Trojans scored one in the first, two in the second, and one in the fourth. That, however, was all Coffee would get.
Trailing 2-1 in the third, the Trojans tied the game on a single by Jimmy Timothy that scored Ben Fussell. Connor Stewart then reached first base on a dropped third strike. Designated hitter Michael Strickland followed and doubled to center to score Stewart. That gave the Trojans a 3-2 lead.
After the Yellow Jackets tied the game at three in the bottom of the third, Coffee pulled ahead in the fourth. Brax Carson led off with a walk, stole second, then advanced to third on a bunt by Will Walker. Fussell followed with a double that scored Carson. The run gave the Trojans a 4-3 lead – the final advantage Coffee would have.
TCC tied the game in the bottom of the inning then re-established their lead with three runs over the final two innings while holding the Trojans scoreless.
Fussell was 2-3 with a walk, a RBI, and two runs scored. Gavin McElroy was 2-4 and also started for Coffee. He scattered five hits across four innings, giving up four runs (all earned) while striking out four and walking three. Weston Brown took the loss in a two-inning outing. He surrendered three runs (two earned) on two hits. He struck out three and didn’t walk anyone.
The Trojans return to the field on Friday afternoon in Douglas with a double-header against the Yellow Jackets to finish off their season series. Coffee is 4-8 overall and 1-3 in region play.