SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — Three up, three down. Nine swings and misses every inning for seven innings – that’s the perfect game.

“Everyone says the goal is to get 21 Ks, but obviously it’s never going to happen,” said Effingham County senior right-hander Kyle Thomas.

Thomas was close to perfect Wednesday night against Statesboro at Rebel Field.

He struck out a career-high 12 in five innings and allowed just two infield singles while overpowering the Blue Devils 10-0 in the Simmons Cup game – honoring the late coach Jim Simmons, who coached at both Effingham County and Statesboro before succumbing to cancer in 2021.

The annual game raises awareness for the Simmons Strong Foundation, founded in his name.

“I knew Jim when I was in the college game recruiting,” ECHS coach Eric McCombie said. “It means a lot to our program and Statesboro’s program for what he did for our schools. This is a great thing we do every year. We love being part of it.”

For the second straight year, the Rebels claimed the Simmons Cup trophy.

Dominant from the start

For the second straight year, Thomas, a 5-foot-9, 190-pound senior committed to Central Alabama Community College, was at his best against the Blue Devils. He pitched a five-inning no-hitter against Statesboro last season.

His fastball touched 91 mph Wednesday. Only one Blue Devil hit the ball out of the infield. Statesboro did not get a runner past second base.

Thomas (3-0) struck out nine of the first 10 batters he faced.

“Two-seam (fastball) was good tonight. The slider was good, too,” Thomas said. “I was getting the ball out front. If I can get the ball out front, I’m usually pretty good with the command.”

Getting the ball out front means releasing it at the furthest point from the body.

McCombie said Thomas took time off during the winter because of an injury and has come back physically and mentally stronger than ever.

As a junior, Thomas went 8-0 with a 2.33 ERA and earned first-team All-Region 1-5A subregion honors. He was a key part of a 30-win squad that advanced to the Class 5A Elite Eight in the state playoffs.

“He’s as strong as anyone at the school, and when you get his mentality with the stuff that he has, he’s like he was tonight,” McCombie said. “His changeup is harder than most people’s fastball. He had everything working tonight.”

Rebels provide plenty of support

One run would have been enough, but the Rebels (4-1) scored 10, finishing the one-hour, 38-minute game with a six-run fifth inning.

Hunter Tuten led the offense with a 3-for-3 performance and an RBI. Nick King added two hits and drove in two runs. Kris Swinney and Brody Mallard each had two-run singles.

But all Thomas needed was the first run, scored by Ayden “AR” Roeser in the second inning after a wild pitch.

“So far I’m doing great. I don’t see it changing any time soon,” Thomas said. “My arm feels good.”