Pee Dee baseball team after third state championship in four years

          Mullins – The Pee Dee Academy baseball team saw its run as a 2-time defending state champion come to an end last year with a loss in the AAA championship series to Hilton Head Christian Academy. The Golden Eagles are now focused on another title run and making it three in four years.

           “I think we are all excited about this season even though we came up short in the championship game last year,” said PDA head coach Brian Davis.

           Pee Dee finished the regular season with a 14-3 record and won the Region 3-AAA title with a 6-0 record. The Eagles open the state lplayoffs by playing host to St John's Christian Academy on Tuesday, April 29, beginning at 6:30 p.m. PDA is the No. 2 seed in one of two 5-team double-elimination brackets. Orangeburg Prep is the No 1 seed, SJCA is the third seed, Patrick Henry Academy is the No. 4 seed  and Spartanburg Christian  Academy is the No. 5 seed.

           PDA is led by left-handed pitcher Colby Richardson, who has signed to play collegiately with Coastal Carolina. He is having an amazing year on the mound, allowing just one unearned run in 33 innings pitched. He had a 6-0 win-loss record and had allowed just 18 runners to reach base – 10 hits, four walks and four hit batters.

           Offensively, Richardson was leading in hitting with a .513 batting average. He had 11 runs batted in, 17 runs scored and 10 stolen bases.

           “Colby is a special talent,” Davis said. “Colby is very deserving of all the accolades he’s received so far in his career. He’s an intense competitor and has been a lot of fun to coach and watch play these last few years.

“I’m excited to see what all he can do at the next level at Coastal Carolin. I believe his love for the game will drive him to success.”

Richardson is part of a quintet of seniors for which Davis has the highest praise. The others are Jamison Rogers, Miles Trussell, Bennett Causey and Ryan Hucks.

“All five have played major innings for us in the past, and I hope they can take another big step forward this year and take the team back on another long playoff run,” Davis said.

           Rogers was batting .488 with a team high 21 runs to go with 12 stolen bases. Trussell was hitting .387 with five doubles, two triples, two home runs, 15 RBI and 12 stolen bases. Causey was batting .372.

           “I’ve been proud of our guys and how they’ve responded to some adversity this year,” Davis said. “I don’t think we’ve played our best baseball yet this year, and I hope that will show up some time in May.”