Every game is important. Ask any good coach, “What is the most important game of the season?” The answer: the next game.
However, there is something special about dominating your neighbor in a border rivalry. A great example of this is the series that some have called “The Battle of 36,” the baseball series between Lamar County and Jackson. The Trojans have beaten the Red Devils for the last seven rounds on the diamond. This includes the 2025 season, a home-away series that concluded this past weekend. The Trojans executed a successful sweep.
Game 1 – February 25, 2025
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| JACK | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
| LC | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | X | 13 | 14 | 5 |
In the first game against Jackson, the Trojans defeated the Red Devils 13-6 in a gutsy game at Aldora Field. Jackson gave up 14 hits in the game and had seven. Each team committed five errors.
Lamar County struck first on a Matthew Stone double to left field, bringing in Charlie Hutto and Logan Miller. Then, it was Aiden Maurice’s turn, singling to left to bring in Evan Banducci. The first inning ended with Lamar leading 3-0.
Jackson responded with six runs in the top of the second inning, pulling ahead 6-3. The Trojans regained the lead with a rally of their own. This started with a line drive to right field by Logan Miller, Caden Crawford and Nate Striplin scoring. A single by Matthew Stone tied the game at six runs, and Aiden Maurice put the Trojans ahead once again with a line drive to center field, scoring Charlie Hutto.
Lamar County extended its lead in the third inning after Nate Striplin brought in James Green on a fly single. Then Logan Miller ripped a line drive to left field, getting a triple and bringing in Striplin. Miller also scored on an error from a Jackson infielder.
The Trojans would score again in the bottom of the fifth inning after Caden Crawford was brought home by a sacrifice fly to right field by Charlie Hutto. Aiden Maurice batted in another run on a grounder to left field to make the score 12-6 in favor of Lamar County.
Lamar County added its final run of the game on a ground ball to left field by Nate Striplin, bringing James Green home.
Offensive leaders for the game were Nate Striplin who went 3-for-4 with a double, two singles, and two RBIs. Aiden Maurice had three hits and three RBIs. Logan Miller had a triple, scored three runs, and three RBIs. Matthew Stone and Caden Crawford had hits in key moments of the contest.
On the mound, Caden Crawford came in as a reliever after a tough second inning defensively for the Trojans. In 3.2 innings, Crawford struck out six batters and gave up only one hit and zero runs. Logan Miller closed the game out in 1.1 innings. Facing five batters, Miller struck out three.
Game 2 – March 1, 2025
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| LC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 1 |
| JACK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
On Saturday, the Trojans traveled northeastward to Jackson High School to battle with the Red Devils again. Lamar County would defeat them again, this time shutting out the Devils 10-0. The Trojans had ten hits; the Red Devils had four. Lamar County committed one error, but Jackson committed three.
Logan Miller earned the win after pitching five innings. He struck out seven of the 20 Red Devils he faced. Charlie Hutto got credit for the save. Both pitchers gave up only 2 hits each.
The Trojans were finally in the run column in the sixth inning. After James Green reached base on a Jackson error, Nate Striplin singled on a line drive to the third baseman. With runners on first and second, Caden Crawford walked to load the bases. James Green reached home after a wild pitch with Logan Miller at the plate. Caden Crawford also scored on an error. Lamar County scored its third run after an infield single by Aiden Maurice.
In the top of the seventh, Lamar County brought the thunder to the Devils to put the game to rest. A single by Logan Miller sent Nate Striplin home. Afterwards, Caden Crawford scored on a single by Charlie Hutto. A line drive to left field by Aiden Maurice led to Charlie Hutto and Logan Miller scoring. Walker Greer doubled to left field to bring Maurice home. With Greer reaching third on a wild pitch, James Green singled to left and scored the Trojans’ final run of the day.
This Week
With Saturday’s win, Lamar County has now won its third consecutive game, improving to 3-4. The Trojans have a great opportunity to gain some momentum going into region play later this month.
The Trojans play Callaway on Tuesday and Taylor County on Wednesday. Both games will be played at 5:30 PM at Aldora Field.
Grant Turner is the editor of the Barnesville Buzz and an educator, coach, and writer based in Barnesville, Georgia. He shares stories that bridge community, faith, and personal growth. In addition to teaching and coaching, Grant is Director of Musical Worship and a Sunday School teacher at New Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon, Georgia. He lives in Barnesville with his wife, Haley.
