Fountain Inn is new kid on the block in AAAA baseball
Fountain Inn is new kid on the block in AAAA baseball
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Moncks Corner – The latest rankings of Class AAAA teams by the High School Sports Report has some of the state’s more traditional winners among the top 10.
Schools like A.C. Flora, Gilbert, Hartsville, Airport and Bishop England have all won or contended for state championships in recent years. Flora, Gilbert and Bishop England have each won multiple state champions in other classifications.
Recent realignment of schools by the South Carolina High School League has brought them all together in Class AAAA this year. However, sitting atop the rankings is the new kid on the block.
Fountain Inn has not been open long enough to contend for a state championship but, in this their third year, the new kid on the block will seek to change that.
Blake Roland started the baseball program in 2021 as a junior varsity team. Their first varsity season of 2022 yielded 12 wins and people began to take notice.
Last season, the Fury won 18 games and got a good taste of playoff action. This spring, Fountain Inn already has 17 wins in their first 20 games. With what is now a veteran varsity roster, the Fury has entered the realm of state title contender.
At 9-0 in region one, the Fury is set to claim the region championship with bigger and better things on their mind. Key seniors leading the way include infielder Miles Barbrey (.341), outfielder Zac Madden (.400) and first baseman Nick Saddler (.286). Sophomore Carter Kelly is hitting .345.
Anchoring the pitching staff are senior Joel Irizarry (1.43 ERA) and junior Luke Tanner (1.81 ERA).
The winning should come as no surprise as many of the players came from Hillcrest High, already a state championship program, when the new school opened.
One should fully expect the Upper State to be highly competitive. Seneca, Daniel and A. C. Flora will be chief among the contenders.
Flora is led by Andy Hallet in his 28th season. The coach felt this year’s team had a chance to be among his best and the Falcons have been good so far at 12-4.
Among the key returners from last season is junior middle infielder Roper Wentsky, an all-state performer in 2024. Infielders Jack Chetwood, Zach Snead and catcher Tyler Hernandez also return to provide key leadership.
Charlie Scott is the leader of the outfield while the anchors on the mound are junior Sam McCutcheon and senior Carter Harrington.
Region three is a three-way dogfight between Greer, Seneca and Daniel. Entering the final two weeks, Greer and Seneca have a loss and Daniel has two.
Seneca (15-4) and Greer (10-5) play a key two-game series in mid-April. Seneca is led by Will Cutshall, who is hitting .580 with 26 RBIs through 19 games. He also is 4-0 on the mound with a 1.02 earned run average.
Tyler Vassey and Luke McGuffin also have been solid on the mound and Kade Scruggs has contributed a .345 batting average. Seneca has a team ERA of 1.94 this season.
Seniors Lee Turnipseed and Spencer Conn set the offensive pace for the Daniel Lions. Turnipseed is hitting .483 with 17 RBI while Conn is hitting .433 with 13 RBIs. Ian McCrary has been among the top pitchers this season but pitching is not a strength overall.
Gilbert and Airport of region four are the favorites in the Lower State. Gilbert is 17-2 and 11-1 in region play while Airport is 15-3 overall and also 11-1 in region play.
Gilbert is led by catcher Sam Woodyard and outfielder Cooper Price, while Kitt McLauchlin heads up the pitching staff.
Airport has a veteran team, led by seniors Hunter Epps (.400, 6-1, 0.90 ERA) and Bryce Gillette (.396, 29 RBI). Sophomore Cash Epps has been effective on the mound as well with four wins and a 1.24 ERA.
Hartsville and Bishop England are certainly capable teams if their pitching holds up. Bishop England (12-6, 9-3) lefty Jackson Winer is the ace of the Bishops’ staff and also a terror at the plate. He is hitting .629 with six homers and 20 RBIs. Finn Corley adds a .442 batting average and Wyatt Lynn is hitting .409 with 19 RBIs.
Hartsville (13-3, 8-0) has a very solid offensive lineup, paced by Bryce Oliver (.583, 19 RBI) and Jackson Moore (.538, 17 RBIs). Casey Hawkins is hitting .472 with 24 RBIs and Web Barnes adds a .478 average with 18 RBIs.
Brandon Anderson has been the ace of the staff with six wins and 1.08 earned run average,
Class AAAA Top 10 Baseball (Apr. 13)
1. Fountain Inn
2. Airport
3. A.C. Flora
4. Gilbert
5. Seneca
6. Daniel
7. Hartsville
8. Greer
9. South Florence
10. Bishop England
