Friday, the CCA Patriots capped a historic 2024-2025 school/athletic year with an unprecedented third state championship. The Patriots defeated the Vidalia Heritage Academy Eagles 8-0 in Columbus to capture the GIAA Class A state baseball title.
The Lady Patriots won a softball state championship – also in Columbus – in the fall. A few weeks ago, sophomore Arabelle Roberts took home a state title in the high jump at the state track meet. And now the baseball team has added a third championship to the CCA trophy case.
The baseball championship was, thankfully, free from much drama or doubt. The Patriots and Eagles are region foes and had played each other three times during the regular season. CCA had won all three meetings. The Eagles, meanwhile, beat a #2 and #3 seed on the road to advance to the title series.
Thursday’s game was a pretty quiet one – at least for CCA fans. The Patriots won 13-0 in five innings behind a superb pitching performance from junior starter Blake Bryant. Friday, Thomas Gentry took the mound and was nearly as efficient. He went five scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and striking out six while walking four. Senior Jonathan Rutland threw two in relief. He allowed two hits and struck out five without walking anyone.
Overall, the Patriots outscored the Eagles 21-0 and gave up five hits in the championship series.
CCA jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second. They added a run in the third. They scored three more in the fifth and two more in the sixth to pad their lead. The Eagles made the Patriots’ job a little easier by committing six errors. The CCA defense did not make an error in either game.
Gentry helped his own cause with a 3-5 day at the plate. He also drove in a run. Luke Russ was 2-4 with an RBI while Rutland went 2-3 with an RBI. Gray McLean scored twice. Bryant and Skyler Woods each drove in a pair.
The Patriots finish the season with a 23-7-2 record and the third state baseball title in school history. They also won in 2010 (GISA) and 2019 (GAPPS). To go with the previously mentioned state titles this year, the men’s basketball team also finished runner-up in the winter.
The team and fans are expected to arrive at the CCA campus around 6:30 p.m. on Friday, where a championship celebration will take place.