The Coffee Trojan hitters had the opportunity – if you want to call it that – to face one of the best high school pitchers in the country in the first game of a doubleheader against different schools today at Lakepoint in Kennesaw. Coffee faced Lincoln-Way East of Frankfort, Illinois, in game one. The Trojans played the Calvary Christian Knights from Columbus, Georgia, in the second game. Coffee won both games – 1-0 then 7-2.
In game one, Lincoln-Way’s Jack Bauer, a Virginia commit, threw the first 2 1/3 innings. Bauer, a senior lefty, has reached triple digits this season – a rarity for a high school pitcher. Tuesday afternoon, the Trojans got an up close and personal look at what 100+ mph looks like.
And one Trojan managed to get a hit off Bauer.
In the first, Jimmy Timothy drew a walk. In the second, Taven Harden, who has had an excellent three games going back to Friday, doubled on the first pitch he saw. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to go any farther on the basepaths. In the third inning, Ben Fussell walked. So did Timothy. After that, Bauer left the game. Michael Strickland grounded out but scored Fussell in the process. That would be all the offense either team would generate.
Strickland, Harden, and Gavin McElroy had one hit. Strickland’s was a triple. McElroy started and went the distance, throwing a 70-pitch, one-hit, complete-game shutout. He struck out two and walked one.
Lincoln-Way sent three pitchers against Coffee. Bauer, who at one time threw a 102 mph fastball to Fussell, gave up one earned run on one hit. He struck out five and walked three. He was the pitcher of record and took the loss.
The Trojans defeated the Knights 7-2 in game two. Coffee scored two in the second and five in the fifth. Calvary managed just a single run in the second and fifth. Timothy and Brax Carson each had two hits. Carson and Strickland homered as well. Carson scored twice and drove in three. Strickland also drove in three.
Weston Brown, one of three Coffee pitchers who took the mound, went three innings and gave up one unearned run on two hits. He struck out two and walked two. He earned the win for the Trojans. Brody Hare and Eli Woold also pitched for Coffee.
The wins move the Trojans to 12-10 on the season. Wednesday, Coffee plays another Illinois school at Lakepoint: Homewood-Flossmoor from Flossmoor, Illinois. They have a rematch immediately afterwards against Lincoln-Way East. Coffee won’t play again until Tuesday, April 8, 2025, when they host Veterans at Charles Wilson Field in the last home region game of the year. Friday, April 11, 2025, they will travel to Warner Robins to play Veterans in a doubleheader.