Jared Donalson helps Terrell Academy top Crisp

DAWSON — Ashley Walker has been the head baseball coach for nine seasons at Terrell Academy. And he’s never seen the kind of pitching performance he saw Friday afternoon.

Starter Jared Donalson struck out the first seven batters he faced and finished with 17 strikeouts to help lead the Eagles to a 6-0 shutout of Crisp Academy in the Georgia Independent Schools Association Region 3-AA opener.

Terrell Academy improved to 4-0 overall, 1-0 in region play.

Donalson allowed just one hit and his defense committed one error behind him to keep the senior from hurling a perfect game.

“He came out and struck out the side to start the game and I could tell he was on,” Walker said of Donalson. “It was his game. He had good velocity on his fastball and his breaking ball was working great. He just pounded the strike zone.”

Donalson also did his part at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Hunter Mathis helped seal the victory with a three-run homer late in the game. He finished 2-for-4.

But Walker couldn’t say enough about Donalson.

“We’ve got a lot of young pitchers, but Jared is the rock of our staff,” Walker said. “He sets the tone for us.”