Grace Christian Cougars baseball 10-run rules Crisp Academy
Published 1:33 pm Wednesday, April 9, 2025
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Following the Grace Christian Cougars’ (8-3, 5-0) resounding 11-1 GIAA A District 3 Region victory and fourth straight win at the Grace Christian Athletic Complex. GCA head baseball coach Nathan Nunez provided insights on the team’s performance and his focus for the future.
Early Momentum in the Bottom 1st: The Cougars wasted no time establishing their presence. No. 9 designated hitter Landon Temples scored the team’s first run on a sacrifice fly from No. 24 center fielder, first baseman, and pitcher Dylan Johnson, tying the game after Crisp Academy struck early. This set the tone for the Cougars’ aggressive base running and consistent ability to get the barrel on the ball.
Nunez noted that while the team started strong in the first inning, they missed a golden chance to capitalize on a bases-loaded situation. The turning point came in the second inning, as the Cougs put up a five-run inning:
Explosive Second Inning: Grace Christian found their rhythm in the bottom of the second, with No. 6 shortstop Keith Eidson and No. 12 first baseman and catcher Hines Roberts delivering back-to-back doubles to push the score to 3-1. Catcher and center fielder No. 99 Smith added another run with a single to center field, driving No. 8 third baseman Aiden Whittaker home. Smith later capitalized on a passed ball, scoring to bring the tally to 6-1. GCA’s strong base running of 16 steals kept Crisp Academy on edge the entire game.
Smith led the Cougars with four stolen bases, Johnson was right behind with three stolen bags. Temples, Elkins, and Eidson each had two stolen bags. Cade Wells, Whittaker, Hines, and Roberts each had one stolen base.
Relentless in the Bottom 4th: The Cougars continued to build their lead. Eidson and Smith each stole multiple bases, showcasing their speed and awareness on the field. Both were aggressive on the bags, stealing second and third base. Whittaker and Johnson contributed with groundouts and pushed runs across the plate, extending the lead to 8-1 by taking advantage of defensive errors.
Fifth and Sixth Innings Domination: Crisp Academy struggled to contain the Cougars’ offensive surge. Wells singled on a hard ground ball to left field, driving in second baseman and pitcher No. 2 Jacob Elkins, who advanced to second on a wild pitch and positioned himself to maintain pressure on the Wildcats’ pitchers, forcing them to consistently throw from the stretch.
The stretch is a compact pitching position used with runners on base, as its quicker motion reduces stealing opportunities.
Whittaker’s hard ground ball single drove home two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it 10-1. An error in the sixth inning allowed Johnson to score yet again, after he stole second and third base with ease. No. 12 pitcher, second and first baseman Oathen Atkinson’s ground ball sealed the final run, cementing the 11-1 10-run rule victory in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Senior third baseman, Whittaker, delivered an electrifying performance at the plate, going two-for-three and driving in three runs to fuel his team’s dominant showing.
Nunez praised the pitching trio of Atkinson, Elkins, and Johnson. Atkinson delivered an exceptional start, allowing only one hit through 3.0 innings and demonstrating his usual dominant presence with five strikeouts. Atkinson stepped onto the mound with precision and control, dominating 12 batters as he fired 35 strikes out of his 49 pitches—a masterful display of efficiency and command.
Elkins, brought in to gain experience, faced early struggles but found his rhythm to help maintain the lead. Going 2.0 innings, walked just one batter, and struck out three. Johnson, the reliable closer, sealed the victory with precision, throwing nine strikes and ultimately striking out two in his three-out showing.
“I think that Oathen did a great job,” Nunez said. “He usually comes out as a starter and he’s usually lights out. I think he only gave up one hit today. “Jacob, I wanted him to get some reps as we took the lead. And he struggled a little bit, but he found the strike zone. “Then just at the end of the game, I wanted Daniel on the mound because I knew he would come in clutch by throwing a bunch of strikes and end the game for us.”
Looking ahead, Nunez emphasized the importance of staying humble and mentally sharp as the Cougars prepare for a challenging three-game series against Fullington Academy. He highlighted the significance of each game, urging his players to remain focused and grounded despite their recent success. The ultimate goal, he reiterated, is to win the state title, but first, they must continue dominating their regional games.
The Cougars will head to Pinehurst, Georgia, to kick off their three-game regular season series, which runs from April 10th to April 17th, 2025. Grace Christian will return to the Athletic Complex on April 15th at 4:00 p.m. to host the Trojans. Following the conclusion of their series against Fullington Academy, the Cougars will face the 3A Bainbridge Bearcats, a cross-town high school, for the first time in program history. This historic game is scheduled for April 18th at 5:30 p.m., under the lights of Bearcat Diamond.
