Chargers must beat Hawks twice for GCAA crown

May 6, 2026

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

The Georgia Highlands Chargers couldn't hold onto an early lead against South Georgia State in a GCAA second-round game in Tifton on Wednesday afternoon, but bounced back in an elimination game against Gordon State to reach the conference championship round on Thursday.

South Georgia State beat Georgia Highlands 9-5, and the Chargers defeated Gordon State for a second time in the tournament, 12-2.

Georgia Highlands led South Georgia State 5-0 through five innings, but the Hawks scored two runs in the sixth and erupted for seven runs in the seventh to advance to the championship round unbeaten in the double-elimination tournament.

Facing elimination, the Chargers scored four runs in the first inning against Gordon State and added seven more in the fourth, winning in just five innings.

Matthew Perkins (5 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 3 K) pitched a five-inning complete game in the GHC victory. The Chargers used six pitchers in Wednesday’s loss. Noah McMahon (6 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K) started on the mound. Reed Thursby (0.0 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB), Heath Whitlock (0.2 IP, 4 R, 0 ER, 3 H), Ian Mihalopolous (0.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 BB), Evan Doss (0.1 IP), and Jack Burns (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 4 K) also pitched.

Kenton Collier (double, solo home run) and Aidan Larkin (double, two RBI) each had two hits for the Chargers in the loss to South Georgia State.

Hayden Miller (home run, double, five RBI) led the Chargers’ offense in Wednesday’s win over the Highlanders. Mason Moore (three RBI), Andrew Bishop (two RBI), Larkin (RBI), Collier (double), Carson Page (double), Joe Johnson, and Caden Marcos each added one hit.

Georgia Highlands (45-13) and South Georgia State (34-24) will face off in the championship round on Thursday at noon. The Chargers need two wins to claim the tournament title, while the Hawks only need one.

The tournament winner will host the Tennessee JUCO champion in a best-of-three series for a shot at playing in the JUCO World Series.