The 2024 season came to an end for the Millers with a 3-game sweep in College Station last weekend to finish the season 36-13. The Millers JV program also picked up a win on the weekend to finish their season on a 5-game win streak and a .500 record at 6-6.
Game 1 was a difficult day for the offense with the wind blowing straight in, making for a day with few extra-base hits. The Millers scored 9 runs on 10 hits and 5 walks with just one extra-base hit in the game coming via an Andrew Ashby double. 9 different Millers picked up a hit in Game 1 with Ashby having the only multi-hit game. Noah Watkins was the clutch bat in Game 1, picking up 3 RBI on his lone hit in the game.
Gavin LeBlanc threw his first complete game of the season in the Game 1 victory and picked up his team-leading 7th win of the season. LeBlanc picked up 13 strikeouts, allowing 1 unearned run on just 3 hits over the course of 7 innings in the 9-1 victory for the Millers
2B: Andrew Ashby (11)
HBP: Gavin Walker (1), Kade Massey (13)
SB: Taylor Walters 2 (12,13), Connor Pleasant (22), Kole Sonnier (12)
Win: Gavin LeBlanc (7-1)
Game 2 had the same struggles with the wind on the offense but the Millers were still able to break through for 12 runs with doubles from Gavin Walker, Kade Massey, and Kole Sonnier; as well as an inside-the-park home run from Connor Pleasant. The JMU offense banged out 12 hits with Connor Pleasant leading the way with a 3-hit game and Kole Sonnier and Kade Massey each picking up multi-hit games. Connor Pleasant had a big day at the plate scoring 3 runs and picking up 2 RBI's to go along with the 3 hits and the home run.
Willy Flynn picked up the win in his second start of the season, working 4.2 innings, allowing just 2 hits, and giving up 3 earned runs in the winning effort. Cabet John Blanchard finished the game in relief, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings to close out the 12-4 JMU victory
2B: Gavin Walker (2), Kade Massey (11), Kole Sonnier (13)
HR: Connor Pleasant (4)
HBP: Joe Teuton IV (6), Shilon Christmas (5)
SB: Connor Pleasant (23), Gavin Dohmann (1), Shilon Christmas (5), Trystin Gilbert (3)
Win: Willy Flynn (3-1)
Game 3 was a much kinder day to the Millers offense which scored 13 runs on 16 hits and 4 walks in the Game 3 victory. Kole Sonnier and Andrew Ashby each picked up 3 hits to lead the JMU offense with Trevor Durr, Taylor Walters, Dylan Jimenez, and Trystin Gilbert each picking up multi-hit games to end the season. Andrew Ashby scored 3 runs and picked up 3 RBI's and Kole Sonnier also scored 3 runs in the winning effort.
Game 3 was a clean game on the mound for the Millers all told. Moose Ortego picked up his first win of the season in his first start on the mound of the season. Ortego threw 4 innings in the start, striking out 4, and allowing just 2 runs via a home run in the 2nd inning. Freshman Noah Berg picked up his 2nd save of the season, throwing the final 3 innings of the season, allowing no hits and just 1 unearned run to close out the 13-3 JMU victory.
It was an emotional final game of the season and for some, the final game of their careers. Andrew Ashby and Kole Sonnier entered the final game of the season with 6 home runs each and tied for the single-season record. While each of them picked up a 3-hit day and each scored 3 runs in the game, it was Andrew Ashby who left the yard in his last at-bat of the season to pick up his 7th home run of the season to hold the JMU single-season record. Seniors Kole Sonnier and Trystin Gilbert each had multi-hit games to close their book on their storied careers. In the 7th inning, Kole Sonnier, Trystian Gilbert, and Andrew Ashby were all removed from the game and received standing ovations from both the crowd and their teammates who met them at the foul line to give them a proper sendoff.
2B: Taylor Walters (7)
HR: Andrew Ashby (7)
HBP: Connor Pleasant (7), Zayne Earl (2)
SB: Dylan Jimenez (1), Taylor Walters (14)
Win: Moose Ortego (1-1)
Save: Noah Berg (2)
