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The sun was hot, the crowd was large and hamburgers were cooked on the grill. All of this translated into state championship baseball Friday afternoon at Bethlehem Christian Academy.

What a season it has been for the Knights. BCA capped an incredible season with the GISA Class A state championship trophy. While the second game did not have much drama as the Knights took control early, that did not dampen the celebration as BCA players rushed the field after Jared Martin struck out the final batter of the afternoon.

Yes, sports writers are supposed to be impartial. It’s not supposed to matter who wins. We are just there to cover the game and report what happens.You know what? I was pulling for BCA as much as anyone. You can’t help but cheer for a team that has accomplished what the Knights did, not only this season but in 2012 as well. [Full Story »] 

The Bethlehem Christian Academy baseball team has run out of opponents to defeat.

In only their second full season of varsity play, the Knights capped the 2013 season Friday with a doubleheader sweep of David Emanuel in the Georgia Independent Schools Association Class A state championship series.

BCA finishes the season 21-5-1 overall as the Knights did not lose to a Class A team all season. Coach Nick Pou’s team held on for a 4-2 win in the opener Friday before cruising to an 18-0 victory in the second game in somewhat of an anticlimatic fashion. [Full Story »] 

The Bethlehem Christian Academy baseball team left little doubt by the time Friday evening arrived.

After holding on for a tough 4-2 win in game one of the GISA Class A state championship series against David Emanuel, the Knights powered their way to an 18-0 victory in game two.

Niko Mallioux earned the win in the state championship series opener while Jared Martin held the Eagles in check in game two. Martin actually closed out the first game working the final 1.1 innings to record the save.

BCA finishes the season 21-5-1 overall and did not lose to a Class A foe all season.

"This is an amazing feeling," said sophomore Luke Allen. "It feels great to be a part of this program."

See full details of the Knights' state title in Wednesday's print edition of the Barrow Journal.

And then there were two.

Bethlehem Christian and David Emanuel will battle for a state championship beginning Friday as the two schools are the last two standing in the GISA Class A baseball playoffs.

The Knights, who are 19-5-1 overall, defeated Crisp Academy in the semifinals (see related story in today’s edition) while the David Emanuel Eagles advanced by eliminating Fullington in two games.

“Our goal all season has been to play for state,” BCA first baseman Ramon Rivera said. “It will be a great experience and one we are all looking forward to.”

While pleased with how his team performed in the anticipated rematch with Crisp Academy in the finals, Knights coach Nick Pou said it is not time to celebrate just yet.

“By the time we go back to practice, that series will have been forgotten,” said Pou. “This team has done a great job of focusing on the task at hand. We were ready to play against Crisp and I have no doubt we will be ready to face David Emanuel in the finals. A team doesn’t reach the finals without being good and having quality players. We have to be ready to compete, just like we have all season.” [Full Story »] 

The much anticipated rematch between Bethlehem Christian Academy and Crisp Academy lived up to its billing for a brief time, but in the end, the Knights were simply too strong and took advantage of numerous Wildcat miscues to sweep its semifinal series.

The end result was a little measure of payback as BCA swept Crisp Academy 10-5 and 25-2 to advance to the GISA Class A baseball championship. Last spring, the Wildcats ended the Knights’ season with a semifinal sweep.

“This was step three,” said BCA coach Nick Pou after Friday’s doubleheader. “I believe the tough non-region schedule we played had a big impact today. We were ready for this level of competition. It’s why we did it. We are also a year older and a year better.” [Full Story »] 

The 2012 football season was somewhat of a trial under fire for the Bethlehem Christian Academy football team.

The Knights were playing a full varsity schedule for the first time in school history and took some lumps along the way. However, there were also some bright spots including three wins (two of which came in region play) and an establishment of a foundation which should help carry the BCA program into 2013 and beyond.

“There were some good things from this season,” said Knights head coach Don Garmon. “We feel we could have had even more wins. The key from the beginning of the season for us was to not have many injuries. Unfortunately, that’s difficult to prevent in football. By the end of the year, we had several players out with injuries and that hurts when you don’t have a deep roster.” [Full Story »] 

The curtain fell on the first full varsity season for the Bethlehem Christian Academy football team Friday night.

The Knights finished the 2012 season 3-7 overall after falling to perennial state power Thomas Jefferson 71-26. The Jaguars are once again region champs and are the favorites to win the GISA Class A title.

“Offensively, they are as good of a team as we’ve seen,” said BCA coach Don Garmon. “They run multiple sets. They’ll be in the wishbone one play and then four wides. They will then work out of the shotgun and then go to the Wing T formation. Defensively, you have to be on your toes.” [Full Story »] 

Bethlehem Christian Academy needs to win Friday night and then get a little help to qualify for the state playoffs in their first full season of varsity play.

Neither task will be easy. The Knights will travel to Thomas Jefferson, a perennial region and state champion for the final regular season contest. BCA needs to win and then have John Hancock, who is winless in 2012, upset David Emanuel.

Both scenarios need to happen since David Emanuel has the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Knights. Thomas Jefferson has already clinched the Region 1-A title after defeating Curtis Baptist last week by a 54-0 score. The Jaguars are 7-3 overall and have scored more than 40 points in all seven wins. Thomas Jefferson has also posted totals of 62, 58, 54 and 49 in 2012. [Full Story »]