MOULTRIE – After he introduced the members of the 2025 Packer baseball team on Monday, new coach Ryan Strickland told fans they will be “absolutely proud of how they represent Colquitt County, on the field and off the field.”
“You are going to see a lot of players who are greatly improved from last year and a lot of fundamental baseball being played.”
Strickland’s comments came at the first First Pitch Dinner and Silent Auction, which served to raise money for the baseball program and to introduce the team to the community.

The keynote speaker was former Colquitt County, Darton and Mercer player Ty Megahee.

A college coach for 19 seasons, Megahee spent last year as Florida State’s third base coach and recruiting coordinator, helping the Seminoles go 49-17 and earn a berth in the College World Series.
Fans will get their first chance to see the 2025 Packers on Thursday when Worth County visits for a scrimmage on Ike Aultman Field at Jerry Croft Stadium.
First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Colquitt also will open the regular season at home on Wednesday, February 12, when Ware County visits from Waycross. Game time also is 6 p.m.
Judging from an unexpectedly large crowd at the Monday dinner, Strickland has brought a new enthusiasm for Packer baseball.
Strickland, a former Thomasville High player who was a Colquitt County assistant from 2013-2015, led the Thomas County Central program the last seven years.
Under his guidance, the Yellow Jackets went 141-86 and made four trips to the state Elite Eight, including the last three years in a row.
Colquitt County has not had back-to-back winning records since 2017-2018.
The Packers went 14-17 last year under Brandon Brock and interim head coach Chance Pitts.
Diamond Club president Tony DeRosso detailed upgrades to the program including new technologies that will help players improve their performances.
“They’ve got some incredible tools,” athletic director Cleve Edwards said. “Players can be graded daily and the programs can tell what they need to work on.
“And practices are being filmed.”
Edwards said the excitement about the program is the greatest he’s felt and seen since he’s been in Moultrie.
He also was complimentary of the middle school program, which he said Strickland has revamped.
“We’ve got some good things coming,” Edwards said.
A former baseball coach himself, Edwards also shared with the players a message that he keeps on his office wall.
“It says, ‘How you do anything is how you do everything,’” he said, adding that players would do well to keep that in mind each day at practice.
Strickland introduced his first staff, including middle school coaches Aaron Prewitt, Will Southwell, Ian Brinson and Will Flowers.
“These guys have done a phenomenal job so far,” Strickland said.
Through Wednesday, the three middle school teams are a combined 7-2.
Coaching the ninth- through 12th-graders are Danny Blalock, Kirk Woodall, Kyle Miller, Tyler Hembree, Spenser Richardson, Taylor Barber and Chance Carter.
Strickland also gave a shout-out to Colquitt County strength and conditioning coach Stan Luttrell.
“He is an instrumental part of what we do,” Strickland said.
Blalock, Woodall, Hembree and Richardson are veteran Colquitt County baseball coaches.
Barber is a former Packer player as assistant coach who returned last summer to become the fast-pitch softball head coach and again work with the baseball team.
Carter came with Strickland from Thomas County Central.
Miller, who joined the team in January, spent the last five seasons helping with the baseball program at Appling County, his high school alma mater.
As a player, he helped lead the 2012 Pirates to a state championship.
The Packers will be led by a 10-member senior class that includes Ethan Allegood, Adam Beverly, Jaxon Chambers, Brady DeRosso, Gabe Eubanks, Hayden Hembree, Cole Holder, Rylan Howell, Cook Tompkins and Jake Walker.
The juniors are Owen Bennett, Eli Hobbs, Tyson Hobby, Tyson Samples and student assistant Breyland King.
The promising sophomore class includes Bowen DeRosso, Jackson Edwards, Parker Goss, James Horne, Carter Penuel, Hardin Reeves, Bryce Roberts, Luke Strong, Carter Summerlin, Judson Taylor, Wyatt Thompson and Davis Wingate.
The freshmen are Owen Avery, Ragan Bozeman, Tripp Bridges, Bradley Bryan, Trenton Coney, Jackson Dorminey, Chase Enfinger, Wesley Hall, Gavin Henderson, Kade Hopper, Cohen Lawson, Jonathan Littleton, Brey Sands and Carson Taylor.
Strickland said the 2025 Packers are a group that will compete.
“They will fight to do their job and play the game with passion and energy,” he said.
Strickland also noted that the team’s grade point average is 94.38.
“That tells you they know how to go about their business and live up to expectations,” he said.