27 unanswered reasons the Grace Christian Cougars are a force to be reckoned with
Published 11:43 am Thursday, March 27, 2025
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In a commanding display of skill and precision hitting, the Grace Christian Cougars (6-3, 3-0) secured a 15-0 non-region win over Sherwood Christian in just three innings.
The Cougs totaled eight hits and scored 12 runs in the bottom of the first inning. It was capped off by No. 99 catcher Noah Smith hitting an inside the park home run in the bottom of the second inning that also scored No. 9 designated hitter Landon Temples and No. 6 shortstop Keith Eidson. GCA baseball coach Nathan Nuñez reflected on the team’s overall growth and ability to build on early leads consistently through March.
“It says a lot about this group, especially compared to last year,” Nuñez explained. “From stories I’ve heard, they’ve come a long way. As long as we keep it up, I think we’ll do all right.” The team’s ability to take batting practice (BP) and turn it into consistent results on the field showcases their dedication to improvement.”
The Cougars came out swinging with a strong start at the plate. Center fielder No. 24 Daniel Johnson hit a fly ball single on an 0-1 count, driving in Smith and third baseman No. 8 Aiden Whittaker, who had earlier stolen second base. GCA capitalized on three fielding errors, scoring three more times to extend their lead to 10-0 after batting through the order.
On a 1-0 count, first baseman No. 13 Hines Roberts watched as No. 12 pitcher Oathen Atkinson boldly stole home, pushing GCA’s lead to 5-0. Later in the same at-bat, Roberts drew a walk on a full count, putting runners on first and second. Eidson followed with a hard-hit single to right field, driving in second baseman No. 2 Jacob Elkins and Roberts, while Temples advanced to third on the play, bringing the score to 7-0.
After benefiting from fielding miscues, Elkins delivered again, smashing a line drive single to right field. This play brought home Johnson and left fielder No. 5 Cade Wells, sealing an explosive 12-run inning for GCA in the bottom of the first. During the evening, GCA racked up 10 RBIs, drew four walks, and tallied 15 runs across their 18 at-bats.
Defensively, Eidson has been a standout at shortstop, bringing an almost magnetic presence to his position. Time and again, the baseball has found him, and his natural ability to make accurate throws has been on full display. Despite not being tested with many difficult plays, Eidson has risen to the occasion when challenged.
“He’s definitely had a couple of tough plays that required real talent to make—and he’s done very well,” Nuñez said, praising his consistent, errorless performance.
Oathen Atkinson took on nine batters, delivering 28 pitches with 19 landing as strikes on the mound. He recorded five strikeouts and didn’t give up a single hit during his first and only trip through the lineup.
On the mound, Atkinson has shown continued growth with a standout fastball anchoring his game. His confidence has been steadily building, fueling his development with each outing. “He’s getting better and better by the season,” Nuñez shared. “As long as he steps on the mound with a chip on his shoulder and keeps grinding, he’ll keep evolving.”
This game for the Cougars highlighted a team firing on all cylinders—strong starts, airtight defense, and confident pitching. The cohesive effort leaves little doubt that this group is on a path to sustained success this season.
GCA showcased its dominance once again, delivering a commanding 12-0 victory over the Crisp Academy Wildcats. This emphatic win not only underscores their continued offensive surge but also solidifies their unblemished record in GIAA A District 3 Region play. GCA continues to set the standard for excellence, proving they are a force to be reckoned with.
The three-headed monster on the mound of Eidson, Johnson, and Whittaker combined for 6.0 innings of shutout baseball, allowing one hit, and punching out 15 Wildcat batters.
The trio’s impact extended beyond their pitching performance. Together, they tallied four hits and scored five runs across eight at-bat appearances. Eidson shined with four RBIs, while Johnson delivered a clutch triple to right field in the top of the fourth inning, driving in Whittaker and Smith. That inning marked a turning point for the Cougars, as they erupted for six runs to seize complete control of the game.
Wells got the scoring rally started for GCA with a sacrifice fly on a 1-0 count in the top of the second inning, which Atkinson tagged up on. In the top of the third inning, after designated hitter Temples advanced to third base on a throwing error while stealing second, Eidson drove him in with a ground ball to the shortstop, making it 2-0 Cougars.
Eidson was just getting started, as he laced a double to center field that scored three Cougars—Temples, Wells, and left fielder Kale Daugherty—to extend the Cougars’ lead to five in the top of the fourth inning.
Smith drew a walk on a 3-1 count, bringing Eidson home to score. Later, in the top of the sixth inning, with Grace Christian leading 8-0, Smith delivered a double to center field, driving in Eidson and Whittaker to push the team past the double-digit mark. This marks the third time in the last five games that GCA has achieved double-digit runs; the other two contests featured nine runs each.
Atkinson, serving as the shortstop against Crisp, contributed to the sizable lead with a sharply hit ground ball single to right field, driving in two runs that would extend Grace Christian’s lead to 12.
GCA will host Crisp Academy at the Grace Christian Athletic Complex on April 8th at 4:00 p.m.
