Chargers open '26 baseball campaign in Florida

February 1, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

Georgia Highlands College baseball kicked off its 2026 season last Thursday and Friday with a series of four games in Panama City, Florida. The Chargers had mixed results, winning against Gulf Coast State 2-0 and Tallahassee State 6-3, but falling to State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota 22-2 and Wabash Valley College (IL) 6-3.

Carson Page and Cartersville High alumnus Aidan Larkin each recorded four hits during the Chargers' four-game series. Larkin, who transferred to GHC from the University of Kentucky, included a double and two RBIs among his hits. Wyatt Gatlin added two doubles and a two-run home run. Andrew Bishop (double) and Caden Marcos (double, RBI) each had three hits on the trip. Ian Fullerton contributed two hits, featuring a double and an RBI with a sac fly.

Noah McMahon and Reed Thursby combined to shut out Gulf Coast State in the opener. McMahon went five innings and struck out four to earn the pitching win. Thursby tossed two shutout innings for a save. 

David McKechnie recorded seven strikeouts in a four-inning start to collect the Chargers’ pitching win over Tallahassee State. Jack Burns fanned two of the three Tallahassee State batters he faced to pick up a save.

Georgia Highlands (2-2) hosts Cleveland State CC (TN) for a doubleheader on Tuesday. The Chargers will then welcome USC Lancaster for a four-game series on Friday and Saturday.