MOULTRIE – The Colquitt County baseball team had more than its share of adversity during the 2025 season.
Five pitchers that first-year coach Ryan Strickland expected to anchor his staff wound up unable to make any significant contributions.
And, late in the season with the playoffs approaching, the Packers had to deal with the tragic death of one of their admired former teammates.
But the Packers showed significant offensive improvement, won 16 games, including 10 in Region 1-6A games, broke a string of two straight losing records and finished one victory away from hosting a first-round state playoff series.
Colquitt got a gratifying win over two-time defending state champion Lowndes and did not get swept in any of its five region series.
Of the Packers 16 losses, three were by one run and two were by two runs, including a 5-3, eight-inning defeat at the hand of Buchholz High of Gainesville, one of the top teams in Florida.
“We were not disappointed at all,” said Strickland, who came to Moultrie this year after seven successful seasons at Thomas County Central.
The Packers were led by 10 seniors whose guidance kept the team going through a rocky 0-3 start and the grief of losing former pitcher Garron Wingate in late March.
“We had a bunch of fighters and competitors,” Strickland said. “And these seniors might never understand what they did to help get this program going in the right direction.”
And the Packers needed their influence this year.
Two of the pitchers Strickland had been counting on were not on the roster for the February 12 season-opener.
Then, in the first week, senior left-hander Gabe Eubanks was lost to an elbow injury.
Soon thereafter, Jaxon Chambers hurt his arm and later underwent ligament surgery.
Hayden Hembree, who was expected to work some innings, had forearm issues and never made it to the mound.
Ethan Allegood was able to pitch, but did so through some pain.
“That said, we had a lot of people step up,” Strickland said. “Coach (Chance) Carter did a great job of taking younger guys who were healthy and put them in a position to win a lot of games.”
Senior Cook Tompkins had a solid season, going 4-2 with a 3.74 ERA and had a 2-hitter against Lowndes and a 2-hit shutout against Richmond Hill.
Sophomore Bowen DeRosso led the Packers with 12 starts, a 5-3 record with a 3.55 ERA.
He struck out 44 and walked just 15.
“It’s going to be exciting to see how he grows and develops,” Strickland said of DeRosso, who was one of five sophomores selected to play for Team Georgia in the High School Baseball National Championship Series that will be played July 3-6 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Bryce Roberts, another sophomore, did not pitch as a freshman, “but early in the year, he wanted the ball,” Strickland said.
And he led the team with a 2.14 ERA posted a 3-2 record.
Cole Holder, who will go to Thomas University to pitch for the Night Hawks, threw strictly in relief and went 3-0.
The Packers improved offense bolstered the makeshift pitching staff.
Strickland noted that after the team hit .238 in 2023 and .251 last year, the Packers batted .308 this season.
Colquitt also combined to strike out just 147 times while drawing 145 walks and having 49 batters reach while getting hit by pitches.
“That’s a big measuring stick,” Strickland said
The Packers increased their number of extra base hits and had 147 RBIs after driving in 129 last season and just 97 in 2023.
Colquitt also increased its number of stolen bases.
“We had a lot of offensive growth,” Stickland said. “And we had different guys get big hits for us at different times.”
Senior Jake Walker, who is headed to Gordon State to continue his baseball career, led the Packers with a .372 average.
“Early in the year, it seemed like every time we needed a big hit, Jake was banging a double off the center field wall,” Strickland said.
Brady DeRosso was the team’s most consistent hitter and batted .344 with six doubles, two triples and one home run.
DeRosso, a left-handed batter with speed who is an outstanding defensive outfielder, will play at the next level next season, but has not yet committed.
Rylan Howell quietly had an excellent season at the plate, batting .352.
Roberts, who mostly played third base when not on the mound, batted .333 with five doubles
Sophomore Carter Summerlin batted .348 and led the Packers in extra base hits, with 10; home runs, with two; and runs batted in, with 23.
“He had a heck of a year for us down the stretch,” Strickland said.
Summerlin shared the catching responsibilities with Hembree this season, but could end up in the infield or outfield next season.
Hembree was the Packers leadoff hitter and in addition to his 27 hits, he drew 30 walks.
“He was consistently on base for us,” Strickland said.
Adam Beverly, who will play at Andrew College next season, batted .327.
“He did a great job handling the bat for us,” Strickland said.
Beverly also played a key role in the Packers’ .945 fielding percentage.
“A majority of our errors came in the first two weeks of the season when we still finding where people needed to be,” Strickland said. “After that, we did a good job defensively.”
Strickland said he felt even better about his team after conducting meetings with players following the season.
“They guys said they felt like they grew mentally during the season,” he said. “They felt like they were more of team.
“And it was nice hearing them say things that we didn’t even remember telling them.”
Strickland is already looking ahead to the 2026 season.
The Packers will have just four seniors returning.
“We’ll be young, but we’ve got good numbers in the junior and sophomore classes,” Strickland said. “And we’ll have a lot of kids who got some experience this year. They saw what it takes to be successful.”
Roberts and Bowen DeRosso will be back to help anchor the pitching staff, which also could include Owen Bennett, Carter Penuel and Owen Avery.
Penuel, Tyson Hobby and Jaxon Dorminey got some playing time this season.
When not pitching, Roberts could hold down third base again. When DeRosso is not on the mound, he will be back in right field.
Strickland is hoping he can field a strong, more athletic team next season.
Marietta’s Walton High, the team that eliminated the Packers in the first round of the playoffs, demonstrated the advantage Atlanta-area schools appear to have.
“Our players and parents have to understand what those programs up there are doing,” he said. “And it’s not just the baseball part of it.
“It’s the way their players look. They are in the weight room. They are eating right. It’s not travel ball. The way they train is what is different.”
Strickland noted that several members of the Walton baseball team, which has advanced to the Elite Eight, are also contributors to the school’s successful football program.
“They are not just baseball players playing baseball year-round,” he said. “They are athletes. That makes them more physical and more competitive.”
The Packers will continue with an off-season schedule in May and June and step away in July and August.
“You need to take some time away and reset,” he said.
Fall workouts will be held in September and October.