CHAMPIONSHIP GLORY: BETHEL TROJANS CLAIM 2025 NCCSA 2A TITLE WITH DOMINANT 6–1 WIN
Under the bright Saturday afternoon sun, beneath the weight of history and expectation, the Bethel Christian Academy Trojans delivered a performance for the ages — and wrote the final chapter of their 2025 season in championship ink.
In a commanding 6–1 victory over Greenville Christian Academy, the Trojans seized the NCCSA 2A State Championship, marking the seventh in school history and an incredible fifth title for head coach Kenny Sutton — a living legend on the diamond.
With fire in his arm and ice in his veins, Cooper Williams stood tall on the mound. In his final high school appearance, the senior ace went the distance — seven complete innings, allowing just two hits, one run, no walks, and striking out nine. This was not just a win. It was a statement. A masterpiece.
The Trojans wasted no time igniting the scoreboard. In the second inning, Braden Cash lit the spark, ripping a double down the line to electrify the Trojan faithful. Moments later, a daring sprint home on a passed ball left Greenville reeling — and Bethel had landed the first blow.
But they weren’t finished.
In the fourth inning, it was Cooper Williams again — this time with his bat — smacking a leadoff single. After a wild pitch moved him to second, Greenville made a fateful choice: intentionally walk Braden Cash. That decision brought up Will Wiggins.
And then — boom. One pitch. One swing. One memory that will last forever. A booming double drove in both runners and shifted the game’s momentum for good.
“They knew that Braden could hit, and they didn’t know I could hit as well as I could,” Wiggins said after the game, with a quiet confidence that now echoes like thunder across the state.
Bethel added insurance in the fifth and sixth. Jamey Williams laced an RBI single. Then, senior Asher Strickland — in his final game — drove in another, the exclamation point on a relentless offensive display.
As the final out hung in the air, Jason Turnage sprinted in from center field, laying out in full extension for a sliding grab — a catch that sealed the title and symbolized the grit and grace of this championship squad.
When the dust settled, Bethel's four seniors — Cooper Williams, Jason Turnage, Jonathan White and Asher Strickland — walked off the field not just as players, but as champions. Their last dance in Trojan uniforms ended in triumph.
Before the hardware was handed out, the NCCSA All-Region and All-State honors were announced — and the Trojans showed up in force. Jonathan White earned All-Region honors, while Braden Cash, Cooper Williams and Jamey Williams were named to the All-State Team — cementing their legacies.
After the game, Coach Kenny Sutton, his voice filled with pride, reflected on the journey.
“Extremely proud, very happy for them. A lot of work has gone into the season. We started off where we were at, and they have worked and worked to get where we are now. That’s what kind of work it takes, and I am very proud they have accomplished that.”
Then came a message to his seniors — one that echoed louder than the cheers from the crowd.
“I told the four seniors that you’re never going to forget this. Win or lose, you want it to be a good memory because you are going to remember it the rest of your life.”
And for Cooper Williams?
“It’s awesome to bring it back home. I am glad I got to play my final game here and get a win.”
The Trojans didn’t just win a championship. They claimed a legacy.
