After defeating a tough Pinewood team yesterday in Douglas in the penultimate regular season game of the 2025 season, the CCA Patriots are sitting at #1 in the state and in good position to hold home field advantage up until the state title game should they advance that far. Pinewood was the #1 team in 3A.
The Patriots won the region as well. However, because GIAA uses power rankings instead of a traditional playoff structure, a region title does not necessarily translate into home field. CCA saw that last year when, though they were region champions, had to travel in the second round and ultimately lost on the road.
Headed into yesterday’s game against Pinewood, CCA had a top-four seed locked up. Regardless of what happened, they would get a first-round bye. It was likely they could still finish in the top two even if they lost to Pinewood and again tomorrow to Deerfield-Windsor. However, the best way to shore up a top two ranking and home field would be to win at least one of those games.
Mission accomplished.
The Patriots avenged a 10-0 loss to Pinewood two weeks ago with a 2-1 victory at home. Starting pitcher Jonathan Rutland threw a masterful six innings, giving up one unearned run on six hits. He struck out five and didn’t walk anyone. Blake Bryant, pitching for the first time since suffering a hand injury several weeks ago, threw the seventh inning.
CCA scored one run in the second and third innings. Skyler Woods led off the second with a single. He stole second then advanced to third on a groundout by Jett Hart. He scored when Rutland grounded out to second. In the third, Gray McLean singled with one out then stole second and third. Bryant hit a fly ball to right that was misplayed, allowing McLean to score. Pinewood scored its lone run in the top of the sixth.
Yesterday’s win capped an undefeated week thus far for CCA. The Patriots won two big road games – a 15-0 win over Trinity Christian Monday and a 9-2 win against Brookwood on Tuesday. CCA will travel to Deerfield-Windsor Friday for the final game of the season. The Patriots are 16-7-2 overall. They finished the region schedule with an 8-1 mark.