Three Trojans homer in 13-7 loss to Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets

Coffee High School baseball team falls to regional rival in high-scoring affair.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:25pm

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The Coffee Trojans baseball team lost 13-7 to the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets on Tuesday, despite home runs from Ben Fussell, Eli Wood, and Taeven Harden. The Yellow Jackets jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, but the Trojans battled back with two-run innings in the fifth and sixth before TCC pulled away late.

Why it matters

This was an important regional matchup between two of the top high school baseball programs in South Georgia. The loss drops Coffee to 2-2 in region play, making their upcoming doubleheader against TCC on Wednesday even more crucial for their playoff hopes.

The details

The Yellow Jackets scored five runs in the first inning and two more in the second to build a big early lead. Coffee starter Eli Vickers took the loss, while TCC pitcher Reid Gainous earned the win, striking out six. In addition to the three Trojans homers, Barrett Harrell, Conley McDaniel, and Jimmy Timothy each had doubles for Coffee.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, March 13, 2026.
  • The teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 14, 2026 in Thomasville at 4:30 p.m.

The players

Ben Fussell

A Coffee Trojans baseball player who hit a home run in the loss.

Eli Wood

A Coffee Trojans baseball player who hit a home run in the loss.

Taeven Harden

A Coffee Trojans baseball player who hit a home run and went 2-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored in the loss.

Reid Gainous

The Thomas County Central pitcher who earned the win, striking out six and also going 2-4 with a double and an RBI at the plate.

Eli Vickers

The Coffee Trojans starting pitcher who took the loss.

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What they’re saying

“It looked like fans might be in for a shootout when Fussell led off the game for Coffee with an opposite field home run. But the Coffee offense cooled off quickly and managed just one run in the second and third innings.”

— Robert Preston, Author (douglasnow.com)

What’s next

The teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 14, 2026 in Thomasville at 4:30 p.m. to finish off the season series.

The takeaway

This high-scoring loss to a regional rival highlights the competitive nature of high school baseball in South Georgia, where top programs like Coffee and Thomas County Central battle for playoff positioning throughout the season.