Patrick Henry baseball team overcomes slow start to make playoffs
Patriots will play host to Spartanburg Christian on Monday in AAA playoff opener
Estill – There were changes galore for the Patrick Henry Academy baseball tem coming into the 2025 season.
First, after winning the SCISA AA state title in 2023 and finishing as runner-up in ’24, PHA was moved up to the AAA classification due to realignment. Second, Wayne Brown stepped down as head coach with Cary Harriott taking over. Third, the Patriots graduated standout twins Forest Fairey and Hugh Fairey among five seniors.
Patrick Henry came out of the gate a bit slow, losing its first three games. However, as it got some players back from injuries it righted the ship, winning eight of its next 14 games. The Patriots finished 2-4 in Region 4-AAA, beating Colleton Prep Academy twice while losing to both Hilton Head Prep and St. John’s Christian Academy twice.
The Patriots have earned a berth in the state playoffs. They will open the playoffs on Monday, April 28, at home against Spartanburg Christian Academy. PHA is the No. 4 seed and SCA the fifth seed in one of two 5-team, double-elimination tournaments. The other teams are No. 1 Orangeburg Prep, No. 2 Pee Dee Academy and No. 3 SJCA.
PHA does have five returning starters from last season in junior catcher Rylin Brunson, junior centerfielder Jacob Corley, senior third baseman Sims Brunson, senior first baseman Spencer Kelehear and senior second baseman Brighton Peeples.
Sims Brunson was the leading hitter with a .439 batting average and led in runs batted in with 12 to go with three doubles, a triple and a home run.
Kelehear was batting .394 with 10 RBI, three doubles ad a triple, while Rylin Brunson was batting .356 with a team high in doubles with six and triples with three along with 10 runs scored.
Peeples was batting .324, while Corley was batting .250 but with a .455 on-base percentage. He had also scored a team high 11 runs and led in stolen bases with six.
“My expected leaders on the team are starting to show themselves and that is what we have needed to turn this team around after starting the season 0-3,” Harriott said.
The other starters are senior infielder Luke Sanders, sophomore infielder/outfielder Briar Long and sophomore infielder Scoot Mizzell. Sanders was batting .276, and Long was hitting.265 with two homers and nine RBI.
Senior Maddox Lee and junior Keegan Lee see time in the outfield.
“I would say that our defense is our strength as we start to get healthy and settle in to primary positions,” Harriott said.
Four pitchers have gobbled up the most innings in Long, Sims Brunson, Mizzell and Peeples. Long had worked 23 2/3 innings and had a 3.55 earned run average. Sims Brunson had a 4.75 ERA in 17 2/3 innings, Mizzell had a 5.63 ERA in 13 2/3 innings and Peeples had a 2.62 ERA in 10 2/3 innings.
Other members of the team are senior outfielder Mikell Tucker Mathis and sophomore outfielder Luke Sobey.
