Conquerors Get Conquered: Trojans Win Behind Williams’ Masterpiece
KINSTON — Under a blazing afternoon sun and with their legacy on the line, Bethel Christian Academy’s four seniors took the field Monday for their final regular season home game — and thanks to a dominant performance from ace Cooper Williams, they made sure it ended in triumph.
Williams was simply electric, striking out 14 batters across six overpowering innings to lead the Trojans to a 3-1 victory over Faith Christian Academy. The win honored seniors Williams, Jason Turnage, Jonathan White, and Asher Strickland, while boosting Bethel Christian to a strong 10-4 mark on the season.
"I just tried to throw strikes and let the players play and do my best," Williams said, reflecting on one of the finest outings of his career.
From the start, the afternoon had all the makings of a classic pitcher’s duel. Faith Christian struck first in the third inning following a Trojans miscue, briefly putting Bethel on its heels. But the Trojans, showing the toughness that has defined their senior class, responded quickly.
Will Wiggins tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, and chaos on the basepaths in the fifth helped the Trojans surge ahead for good. Two hit batters and aggressive baserunning opened the door for a pair of crucial runs.
Faith Christian’s Andrew Pittman delivered a strong outing of his own, allowing just three hits and three runs over six innings while striking out six. Jessie Carrillo led the Conquerors at the plate, going 1-for-3, while the team stole five bases and played error-free defense.
After the game, Bethel Christian head coach Kenny Sutton praised both teams' resilience, especially given the rust from an extended layoff.
"I saw effort on the mound from both teams," Sutton said. "There were some defensive plays made. Our at-bats may be a little bit behind — we’ve been on spring break for eight or nine days without practice. We are going to get at it now. I was pleased with the win."
Speaking about his seniors, Sutton pointed to their experience and critical role in the Trojans' sustained success.
"They have been in some battles," Sutton said. "We have finished at the top of the state the last three years. We have an opportunity this year — and they are part of the reason."
Jamey Williams secured the save with a clean seventh inning, capping a day Bethel Christian’s seniors — and their loyal fans — won’t soon forget.
Next up, Bethel Christian Academy is scheduled to take on Living Water Christian as the postseason push continues.
