Trojans raring for another title shot

Published 10:49 am Saturday, February 22, 2025

The John Milledge Academy baseball team is taking an aggressive mindset into the 2025 season.

“They’re workhorses and they’re hungry,” Trojans head coach Chad Starley said. “They have the mentality like this is our state championship and you’re going to have to take it from us.”

The fourth-year skipper’s team has reason to enter the campaign with such a high hopes. Six seniors headline the roster, including All-Region second-year starting catcher Will Adams. He brings back a .275 batting average and 14 RBI. Adams is also tough to run on as shown by his 28 runners caught stealing last year.

He’s joined by infielder David Todd, a .330 hitter with 20 RBI as a junior, and Kolt McMichael, who sat out baseball season in 2024 after an injury sustained on the football field. The strike-thrower will add to the team’s pitching arsenal and play multiple infield positions.

The senior class is further bolstered by Piedmont University baseball signee Remington Weaver, an outfielder/pitcher who hit just over .300 in ‘24.

Take into account a new addition in Baldwin High senior transfer Ayden Whidby, and the Trojans should be very formidable on the diamond. An infielder/pitcher, Whidby hit .448 for the Braves as a junior and was a perfect 5-0 from the mound in region play. He’s toting a fastball in the mid-80s with what Starley called a deadly curveball that should send opposing hitters off balance.

“He brings a work ethic that’s unmatched,” the JMA head coach said of Whidby. “He’s never won before, so he’s hungry to win. He’s definitely going to start some games at pitcher, but he may be our closer.”

Starley believes pitching will be a strength of this year’s Trojan squad. There are a ton of viable arms in the ‘pen with many bringing something different to the plate. Right-handed junior Graysen Paradise is in that group. He gave the team 48 innings a season ago with an impressive 2.30 earned run average.

“We’re going to be solid on the mound,” Starley said.

As far as the bats go, this year’s Trojans certainly look intimidating with many in the starting lineup standing six feet or taller. Starley remembers having some pretty good hitters last year too, but coming up one round short of the ultimate prize.

“You’ve got to have timely hitting,” he said. “That’s why we lost in the Final Four last year. We could not get the big hit when we got the runner to second or third.”

The 2024 Trojans’ home semifinal series versus Valwood went the full three games. John Milledge outscored the Valiants 10-5 overall, but lost the two bookending contests by minuscule 1-0 margins.

Making it back into the 12-team GIAA Class AAA state playoff bracket shouldn’t be a problem for the Trojans. MaxPreps power ratings, a system that weighs the strength of wins and losses, determine the postseason field. Region standings have nothing to do with it, though John Milledge will do battle against the four Macon private schools and Monticello’s Piedmont Academy for top district honors. If JMA wants a repeat of Starley’s first two years at the helm that brought championships, they’ll have to put all three of baseball’s aspects – pitching, hitting, and fielding – together.

“We definitely have a shot to make a push to win it all with our seniors, our work ethic, and our mindset right now,” said Starley.

The goal is to make it to Columbus’ Synovus Park, new home of the Atlanta Braves’ AA affiliate. That’s where the GIAA baseball championships are being played this season at the end of May.

The hopeful march to that destination begins Monday with the season opener at Heritage in Newnan. John Milledge’s home debut is slated for Feb. 27 against Vidalia Heritage Academy.