The Bainbridge Middle School boys closed out a successful season on Wednesday, March 21st with a 7-0 victory over Thomas County Central Middle School at Centennial Field.

Bainbridge’s first two scores came courtesy of two own-goals by Thomas County Central defenders as they failed to clear two corner kick attempts.  From there, Mason Ard scored four goals, while Zaccheaus Chrispen contributed a goal of his own to cap the 7-0 victory for the middle school Bearcats. 

Led by Coach Anthony Holley, the middle school boys finished the season with a 5-1 record, and the contests were not even close outside of the 1-0 loss the team experienced at Thomas County Central. 

Holley stated that he was proud of the team for their efforts to avenge their only loss of the season with the lop-sided victory that they earned at Centennial Field.  “Not to make excuses, but our only loss to Central was difficult to accept because so many of our players were sick or injured when we played them in Thomas County.  I was glad that we were able to show that we are truly the better team, when healthy, with this victory.  It still stings that we were not able to go undefeated because of sickness and injuries, but this game made it sting a little less.”

During course of the season, the middle school Bearcats also defeated Cairo (5-0), Thomasville (7-1), and Early County twice (10-0 and 9-0).

The leading goal scorer for the team was Mason Ard with 19 goals in five matches as he was unable to play in the team’s lone loss at Thomas County Central due to injury.

“We had a very talented roster.  Mason, Zaccheaus Chrispen, and Dontae Broadnax terrorized our opponents’ defenses with speed, strength, and skill.  Juan Becerra and Blake Fagan contributed goals as well. Juan Gorena performed well as our team’s defensive central midfielder.  Luke Emmons, Annibal Garcia, Drew Ryan, Kasin Taylor, and Javier Salgado were rock solid all season on the back line of defense.  Keeper Dax Willis also performed amazingly well.  Defensively, the team was so strong; only conceding two goals on the season, and one of those goals was an own-goal.  That’s unheard of!” Holley said.

“We also had younger players coming into the games and contributing solid performances.   These players included Joshua Fillingame, Lance Adams, and Wiley Barber.  Fillingame, Adams, and Barber were all seventh graders, and will be relied upon to make great contributions to the team next year.”

“If these players stick together and keep developing, our high school team should be very strong in the years to come.  We are looking forward to a bright and promising future,” he finished.