Senior Day Spotlight: Cougars Continue Their Winning Streak
Published 11:17 am Friday, April 18, 2025
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
Photo submitted by Kathy Summerford Brinkley.
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The Grace Christian Academy Cougars (11-3, 8-0) celebrated their Senior Day recognition this past Tuesday at the GCA Athletic Complex before their second game of the series against Fullington Academy, whom they shut out 10-0.
The Cougars girls’ and boys’ senior soccer players were recognized on the football field, to go along with the girls’ and boys’ tennis seniors: Madison Deese, Madelyn Ard, Ali Roberts, Chloe Brogdon, Alyssa Harrison, Angeline Doan, Preston Barnett, JJ Walker, Dawson Worsley, Grier Albritton, Sybil Lee, Kate Poitevint, Owen Earnest, and Preston Barnett.
Behind the pitching mound, a jubilant ceremony unfolded as the exceptional contributions of the GCA baseball seniors, along with the two distinguished senior athletes from the Cougars’ boys’ and girls’ golf programs, were celebrated in a heartfelt display of honor and pride, recognizing not only their athletic excellence and leadership but also their unwavering dedication and the lasting impact they have had on the school’s sporting legacy.
GCA athletes No. 8 Aiden Whittaker, No. 99 Noah Smith, No. 13 Hines Roberts, No. 5 Cade Wells, Trey Henderson, Kate Sigman, No. 9 Landon Temples, No. 6 Keith Eidson, and No. 24 Daniel Johnson were greeted by applause and standing ovations. Each received a commemorative framed photo.
The Cougars wasted no time establishing dominance. A patient walk set the stage at the bottom of the first inning. No. 99 first baseman Smith advanced with a daring steal of home, followed by a crafty base steal that allowed No. 24 center fielder Johnson to score on a ground out, energizing the team and sparking early momentum.
By the second inning, the offensive barrage continued as Smith hit a single that reached center field. This opened the door for Johnson’s explosive triple, which brought No. 6 shortstop Eidson and No. 8 third baseman Whittaker home to extend the lead. In the third inning, Grace Christian’s aggressive approach shone further when No. 5 right fielder Wells executed a smart steal, No. 13 catcher Roberts then delivered a decisive single that scored Wells, making it 8-0. Eidson’s single to right field scored Roberts, making the score 9-0.
Finally, in the fourth inning, a powerful double by Roberts, who went two-for-three on the evening, delivered two runs batted in, sealing the game within 3.5 innings.
Junior pitcher No. 12, Oathen Atkinson, delivered a stellar performance, pitching 5.0 innings, racking up eight strikeouts against Trojans hitters, and surrendering just two hits on 71 pitches.
GCA baseball coach Nathan Nunez, emphasized the significance of Senior Day, celebrating the team’s seniors and their contributions. He praised the players for their fired-up performance and their awareness of what the day meant, resulting in an impressive victory. This outing was described as a particularly meaningful win for the team and the program overall.
“It was great.” he said. “The guys were fired up, obviously they knew what it mean’t to them and to win that game, to come out on top in big fashion was great.”
In the series finale, the Cougars maintained their momentum, beating the Trojans 9-4 with a strong start, scoring three runs in the first two innings and three runs in the seventh.
Atkinson started the scoring for GCA with a triple to right field that would score Smith. Eidson reached base on an infield error, which made it 2-0. Smith would hit a ground ball single to left field that scored Temples, making it 3-0 Cougars.
Junior No. 11 Jacob Elkins earned the win, pitching 3.0 innings with one unearned run and one strikeout. At the plate, he drove in three runs—a groundout in the fifth for a 5-1 lead and a seventh-inning single that extended the Cougars’ lead to 8-2.
Johnson pitched 4.0 relief innings, facing 20 batters, throwing 56 pitches with 36 strikes, striking out four, and allowing two earned runs.
Smith, with two RBIs and four hits, was among four Cougars with multiple base hits, joined by Atkinson, Whittaker (2-for-4, two runs), and Roberts (2-for-4, one run).
Nunez summarized the week of play as solid across the board, commending the Cougars for delivering “good ball all the way around.”
GCA baseball will tackle a week of non-region games, beginning by hosting the 13-1 Southwest Georgia Academy and culminating in a road game against the 3A/4A District 3 Valwood Valiants (12-6, 4-2) in Valdosta this Friday at 5:30 p.m.
