HINESVILLE -- Highlander baseball have found their man.

A season ago, First Preparatory Christian Academy baseball had a first-year coach in Chandler Newman.

But since, Newman he has moved on to relocate in the Brunswick area.

The 2020-21 season had some success as the Highlanders were region runners-up before falling to Thomas Jefferson in the state championship.

The Highlanders have brought in a new coach with a tremendous amount of baseball knowledge and background, Elias Macias.

The newly hired Macias is from Miami, Florida, and a graduate of Valdosta State University.

Macias also played and coached professionally in Europe.

“I feel very blessed to have this opportunity,” Macias said of the opportunity. “I fell in love with the game at a young age. Being a Cuban American, born in Miami, this game was in my blood. It’s everything I’ve done for a very long time. I’m just very excited to give that back to the local youth here in Hinesville and Midway. I hope I can start with this FPCA team and really build a community who loves baseball and athletics. There are so many great professional athletes in this small area which is incredible – Richard LeCounte, Davion Mitchell, Raekwon McMillan. There’s so much talent in this area and if we had the proper coaching and way for them to grow as ball players and men, we’ll have even more of these kids with this talent being able to reach their potential. That’s really what I’m here for. I want to help these kids reach their potential on the field but especially off the field as well. My main goal and focus are to impact these kids and letting God use me as his instrument and leading them to be the best men they can be and the best athletes they can be.”

The Highlanders will step on the clay for their first game of the 2021-22 season on Wednesday, Feb. 23 when they host Bryan County.