The John Milledge Academy varsity softball team ended its regular season on a high note Tuesday, defeating Stratford 3-2.

“It’s a simple thing,” JMA head coach Gordon Veal said after the game. “You just have to score one more run than your opponent. We did that.”

The Lady Trojans scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the first inning. Veal said it was his less experienced players that stepped up and had an impact on the game.

“Our younger players, they are really stepping up,” he said. “It’s the end of the season, and this is the time for them to play their best.”

Lynsey Rowland led JMA at the plate, going 2-for-3. Anna Williams and Kristen Satcher both went 1-for-2, and Haley Dunn, Courtney Maddox and Macie Couey each went 1-for-3.

Dunn picked up the win, and Couey was credited with the save.

“It was a typical fastpitch softball game,” Veal said. “It was low scoring and the team that made the fewest mistakes won.”

The Lady Trojans now move on to the GISA State Playoffs, which begin Saturday in Dublin. JMA starts the tournament off with a tough opponent in FPD.

“In my book, they were No. 1 in the state all year,” Veal said. “They should be the hardest to beat because of the size and talent they have, but we split with them. As far as our team is concerned, we’re a scrappy bunch. We can beat anybody.”

The Trojans’ game starts at 10 a.m., followed by a 1 p.m. game. Veal said FPD will come into the first contest with a chip on its shoulder.

“They will definitely come in there cocky,” he said. “But it won’t take long. If we score two or three runs early, we’ll set them back down in a hurry. We have to beat them sometime. It might as well be the first game of the tournament.”

Sports Editor Ross Couch can be reached at (478) 453-1465 or sports@unionrecorder.com