Barnwell Softball Focused On Continued Success As Beasley Begins 4th Season As Head Coach

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Barnwell—Despite Jaidyn Devore’s 660 career strikeouts moving on to the softball team at Howard University this season, Barnwell head softball coach Mike Beasley has a great blend of old and new talent that will start the season at home on March, 10 against region foe Lake Marion.

Last season the Warhorses finished 21-7 and Coach Beasley is starting his 4^th season as the head coach in the program. He starts the 2026 softball season with a career record of 277-115.

“I can say with confidence, for the first time in my 30-year coaching career, that any of the 12 players on my team could start at any time and we would not have a drop-off in talent,” said Coach Beasley. “Our new consolidated Barnwell County High School will open in the Fall of 2028, and I am looking forward to these current young players on the team being juniors and seniors when the new school opens.

“We have a lot of talent in grades sixth through nine right now,” said Coach Beasley. “The vast majority of our players are year-round committed softball players.”

The team performed well, according to Coach Beasley, in scrimmage games against Colleton County, Edisto and Wagener-Salley. “I thought we played well in all of our scrimmages,” said Coach Beasley. “W have three solid pitchers, good contact hitters, and our defense looked solid, so we are looking forward to the season.

“This group is very competitive and skilled, so we hope to defend our region title and make a deep run in the playoffs,” said Coach Beasley. “I am excited about the promise of this season.”   

Stepping in the shoes of Devore in the circle will be number one junior pitcher Laney Grubbs. “Laney was All-State last year, and she has been on the team since the 7th grade,” said Coach Beasley. “She is 9-2 in the circle for us over the past three years and she has 65 strikeouts also. She hit .341 last year so she is a solid contact hitter.”

Junior Kendall O’Berry will start in center field after earning all-region honors and batting .325 with 18 RBI’s last year. “Kendall is a great defender, and her hitting has really improved over last season,” said Coach Beasley.

Junior Molly Wilson will start at second base. “Molly has learned to be a slap hitter since last season and she brings solid defense to the second base also,” said Coach Beasley.

This year’s team has only three seniors. Brianna Croft will start at catcher after earning all-region honors as a junior. Abigail Corley has now been on the team for six seasons and she will start in left field.

Kinsley Terrapin made the HSSR all-state all-rookie team a year ago when she batted .415 as a 7^th grade shortstop/pitcher. “Kinsley will be our number two pitcher, and she will start at short where she is an excellent defender,” said Coach Beasley.

Genesis Walker is an 8^th grader who also earned all-rookie honors last season after batting .417. Walker will play first and catch this season, and she is a real versatile player.

Shalayah Badger returns to an 8^th grade third baseman and she will also serve as the team’s number three pitcher. Last season she batted .355 with two home runs.

Senior Shaelyn Badger will also see action at first and third base this season. Badger batted .444 with 10 RBI’s last season. “Shaelyn is our power hitter,” said Coach Beasley.

The team has three talented newcomers up from the junior varsity program. Emily Vanacore is an 8^th grader who will start in right field. Brinkley Taylor is an 8^th grader who will see action at both third and behind the plate. Sophomore Braelyn Chavis is very versatile and can play shortstop or third as well as the outfield.

Barnwell will play 26 games this season. Last year they went undefeated in winning a region title. In the month of March, the Warhorses will play 13 regular season games.

After starting the season at home on March 10 with Lake Marion the team travels to Swansea on the 11^th with Class A power Branchville visiting on the 12^th. Barnwell travels to Lake Marion and Bridges Prep on the 13^th and 17^th respectively. Barnwell will host Swansea on the 18^th before playing an away game at Williston-Elko on the 19^th.

On March 20 Barnwell hosts Bridges Prep, travel to Hampton County on the 24^th and then hosts Silver Bluff on the 25^th. During the final week of March, they are at Hampton County (3-27), at Edisto (3-30) and then on the 31^st they are at Bamberg-Ehrhardt.

Coach Beasley is once again assisted by Rick and Rose Arnold. Jenny Raines has rejoined the program this season also.