THOMASVILLE – Thomasville and Thomas County Central met on the diamond for the first time since 2017 to open the 2025 season on Monday. The Yellow Jackets came out on top in this first meeting of the season in an 8-0 shut out.

“It was good to get the season started off on a good note, that’s for sure,” said Central head coach Sy Jones. “One of our goals is to win the opener so we can check that one off. The boys are really excited; it was a great atmosphere for opening night, and I thought that we corrected some mistakes we made in our scrimmage and that was good to see.”

The scoring began quickly, with Central putting up three runs in the top of the opening frame on a fielder’s choice and a Landon Walsh RBI double. However, after the Yellow Jackets’ quick start, the game came to a standstill, with neither team able to get their bats going. 

Dallas Pitts got the start on the bump for Thomas County Central and went five full innings, allowing two hits and recording eight K’s. Reid Gainous would come in relief in the sixth, finishing the game with four K’s in two innings of work. Pitts and Gainous combined for 12 K’s and two hits allowed in seven innings of work.

“We were very pleased with Dallas. We kind of got a taste of that from Dallas against Chiles. He was on a pitch count that night, but he was equally as sharp,” Jones said. “And then Reid the same thing. 12 K’s to one walk, that’s going to win you a lot of games, and we’re proud of those guys and the work that coach Fonder and coach Hopper have been doing with those guys.”

Thomasville’s Jay Harrison got the start for the Bulldogs and went five innings, allowing two hits, three runs, and recording five K’s. Jasper Davis came in relief but didn’t last long. The Thomas University signee allowed two runs and was pulled quickly, replaced by Ben McDougald, who finished the game with two hits, three runs allowed, and two K’s.

That sixth inning was pivotal for the Central victory, starting with a Thomasville error that scored Noah Popiel. A sac-fly for out number two by Hudson Williams scored Jordan Ross to make it 5-0. Central wasn’t done, however, as a Brayden Payne’s single scored Isaac Henson, and a Zach Williams double scored Landon Walsh and Cooper Chastain. Payne was thrown out at home to end the inning.

Thomasville looked to have some momentum in the bottom of the ninth after a one-out walk. But in the very next at-bat, Thomasville hit into a double play to end the game and give the Yellow Jackets a rivalry win to open the season.

Central’s next contest will be a second rivalry game against Bainbridge on Saturday before facing the Bulldogs again on February 18.