Coffee starting pitcher Gavin McElroy did everything he could to will his team to a win in the season opener against the Colquitt County Packers on Monday. Through six innings, he had faced 20 batters – two more than the minimum – and had a no hitter going. Hitting in the #2 spot, he was 3-3 with a third-inning RBI single that scored Will Walker (who led off the inning with a double) for the Trojans’ only run of the game.
For six innings, it looked like Coffee’s advantage would hold. But by the time the Packers had seen McElroy a few times, they had figured out a plan. Or at least Bowen DeRosso and Carter Summerlin had.
DeRosso led off the bottom of the seventh with a seeing-eye single to break up the no-hitter. A wild pitch moved DeRosso to second. Then Summerlin provided the Pack’s heroics. He hit a walk-off home run to left for a 2-1 win, unceremoniously bringing an end to a game the Trojans had otherwise dominated.
“Gavin pitched an unbelievable game. He had dominating stuff and great command,” said Coffee head coach Scott Grove.
Coffee, playing without a couple of its offensive weapons due to the flu, managed five hits. In addition to McElroy’s three, Carter McMillan and Walker also recorded one hit apiece.
McElroy struck out nine and walked two. He threw 76 pitches.
“The team has been hit with the flu bug and we’re trying to get everybody healthy. We’re excited to play such a tough schedule this year to get us battle-tested before we start region play. This Coffee Trojan baseball team is going to be special,” said Coach Grove.
The Trojans don’t have a lot of time to think about the Colquitt game. Coffee is back in action today against the Camden County Wildcats in the home opener. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
