Cougars’ Historic Three-Peat: GCA Baseball’s Unmatched Region Dominance
Published 10:06 am Thursday, May 1, 2025
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The Grace Christian Academy Cougars made history, clinching their third consecutive region championship—a feat never before accomplished in Grace Christian Academy’s baseball program. For Coach Nathan Nuñez, the journey to this milestone has been nothing short of remarkable, and he knows that going undefeated in year one only adds to the accomplishment.
With their District 3 Region title secured, they will host at least one game in the GIAA Class A state playoffs. Adding to the excitement, this season marks a historic achievement—GCA baseball’s undefeated finish in region play. Their success is the program’s best showing since the 2022-23 campaign, when they finished with a 15-9 record, going 6-0 in the region, and made a deep run to the Sweet 16 as the No. 5 seed.
But for Nuñez, this victory is just another step toward the ultimate goal. “Winning is just a stepping stone, and the real goal is—I’ve been saying it all year—I want to get that state title,” he emphasized.
Talent alone hasn’t built the Cougars’ baseball program; “Not only from the players, but also from the staff, myself, and Coach Snipes,” Nuñez reflected. “It shows that when you dedicate yourself to something and put in the work, the results follow.”
The GCA Cougars roared back to form, unleashing a dominant offensive display against region rival Crisp Academy. With a resounding 13-3 victory in five innings—capped by a seven-run surge—they walked it off in style. After battling inconsistently over a tough and competitive two-week non-region stretch, the Cougars (12-6, 9-0) entered the game hitting just .188 but found their rhythm at the perfect time, igniting a timely resurgence.
Senior No. 5 Cade Wells started on the mound, pitching two innings with two strikeouts and one run allowed. He threw 29 pitches, 16 for strikes. Taking the mound in relief, senior Hines Roberts (#13) was electric from the start, tossing two perfect innings and fanning three Wildcat hitters, throwing 24 pitches and 17 strikes.
Fueled by momentum in the middle of the innings, the Cougars kept their lead growing as Nunez watched from third base, playing with confidence and unity. “When Hines (Roberts) closed it out on the mound at the top of the inning, the energy was there. When you have positive energy and a positive aura, they come out here, have fun, and then that’s what happens. They get up there, bat, relax, and start hitting away.”
For the seven Cougar seniors, it was a chance to savor the moment, taking one final lap around the bases before celebrating with their families—fully grasping the significance of their achievement as region champions.
In the bottom of the second, No. 12 junior Oathen Atkinson drove a double to center field, allowing No. 24 senior Dylan Johnson to cross home plate and level the game at 1-1. The Cougars’ offense then surged in the third, fueled by Columbus State commit No. 8 third baseman Aiden Whittaker’s timely triple that led to a five-run inning. Johnson would hit a hard ground ball single through the shortstop gap that scored Whittaker to even the game at three apiece.
Facing a full count, No. 9 designated hitter Landon Temples, who had four runs batted in, smacked a line drive single to bring home No. 2 Jacob Elkins and Johnson. The Thomas University commit, Noah Smith (#99) kept the momentum going, launching a triple to deep center that plated Temples, widening the Cougars’ lead to 6-3.
Disciplined plate appearances and aggressive base running, highlighted by 14 total steals—powered the Cougars’ dominant third and fifth innings, where they combined to score 12 of their 13 runs. Atkinson swiped second in the bottom of the fifth, Temples capitalized on a passed ball, and Atkinson surged to third. A well-timed double steal put Smith on second while Atkinson crossed home. Smith later stole home with ease, pushing the Cougars to a 9-3 lead.
The Milligan Buffaloes commit, Eidson cracked a solid line drive to center, and a series of walks loaded the bases, setting up runs for Eidson and Roberts (11-3). In the final play, Temples’ bunt forced a wild throw to first, allowing Johnson and Whittaker to race home for the walk-off win.
The Cougars tore through District 3 Region competition, with a commanding 94-13 run differential. The No. 3 GCA Cougars will host their first-round matchup of the GIAA Class A State playoffs on May 16th or 17th, facing off against either Robert Toombs or First Preparatory Christian. Higher seeds will retain home-field advantage throughout Class A competition until championship weekend, which takes place May 29-31 at Synovus Park in Columbus.
