Cain Cooper pitches in a 2017 game for Tiftarea Academy. He is one of a deep roster of players who will take the field today.

TIFTON — It’s time to play ball at Tiftarea Academy. The Panthers return to hardball action this afternoon with a 4 p.m. home game against Maclay, Fla.

The season began with a scrimmage at Windsor Academy Tuesday, a 16-5 victory for the locals.

“We’re going to be fine,” said head coach Chance Benson, who took over the program last summer.

Benson cited the team’s experience.

“We have a lot of innings played,” he said.

The Panthers advanced to the elite eight of the state tournament in 2017 and nearly every player from that team is back this year. Twenty-four are on the roster, with 18 expected to suit for varsity games.

Tiftarea is especially deep in pitching, Benson said. In an intra-squad scrimmage last Saturday, 12 Panthers took the mound.

“We have a lot of arms,” he said.

The pitching corps are led by Dawson Patterson, a senior who recently signed to play for Tallahassee Community College in Florida. Patterson has had a hand in two no-hitters in his career and nearly added a third in 2017 when he one-hit Brooks County.

Cain Cooper and Brandon Prudhomme are others on the staff, as well as a newcomer, Colby Grant. Grant transferred from Jacksonville, Fla., this school year.

Hunter Hartsfield will again be behind the plate. He and Patterson were both GISA All-State players last year.

Benson said first base would be “a mix” of players, among them Patterson, Casen Royal, Will Matt and Noah Copeland.

Middle infielders are Carter Stewart, Hayden Murphy, Grant Hall and Murphy. Hall, Cooper, Murphy and Patterson can all play third base as well.

Jackson Lee, McRay Lentz, Bret Bernard, Prudhomme, Cooper and Royal can all play outfield. Jayk Sailer was also penciled in as an outfielder but broke his collarbone last week. There is a chance Sailer will be able to play this year.

Murphy might be the biggest surprise this year.

Benson said he was only in eighth grade and already 6’1” and 170 pounds.

“He might shock some people,” he said.

Tiftarea has a difficult schedule in front of them.

“Most of the teams we play are good,” said Benson.

Maclay made it to their region semifinals in 2017, winning 19 games in the process. Stratford Academy, a GHSA school the Panthers play next Thursday, is already 2-1.

The Panthers are also playing at Trinity Christian of Sharpsburg next Friday. Trinity is the team that knocked them out of state a year ago and ultimately finished as state runners-up in Class AAA.

Other Tiftarea games include Turner County and a trip to Florida during the first week of April to play at Fernandina Beach and Yulee.

That particular is “fantastic,” he said. “Three games and go to the beach.”

Region starts March 13 at Brookwood. The Panthers play each region team at home and on the road.