Northwood Academy Baseball Team Developing Players Under Coach Hickey
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Summerville—The Northwood Academy Chargers baseball team is rebuilding under second year head coach AJ Hickey who spent four years as an assistant coach at Goose Creek High before taking over the Chargers program in 2024.
“We have made great strides in our “B” team, junior varsity, and varsity baseball programs over the past two seasons,” said Coach Hickey. “We only have two seniors and two juniors on the varsity this year and we are still developing a winning culture at the varsity level.”
With only two non-region games remaining on the schedule, the Chargers are currently 6-15-1 and 3-8-1 in the region. “With realignment we have three regions comprised of 14 teams in SCISA 4-A baseball,” said Coach Hickey. “SCISA put an extra team in the three regions with realignment, but only 8 teams will make the play-offs. Unfortunately, I do not think we will make the play-offs and that was a strong goal of ours.”
Coach Hickey said the Chargers best game all season was a 0-0 tie game with First Baptist on March 28. The game had to be discontinued in the 8th inning because the field at First Baptist didn’t have lights.
“That game was the best game we played all season and I doubt that we make it up but it was a region game,” said Coach Hickey. “Sophomore Eliajah Flatt (L-L) had 13 strike-outs in that game and he pitched lights out the whole game. I am telling you this kid is a prospect. He is left-handed and his fast ball is hard to hit.”
Flatt, who won two games on the mound, has pitched 28.1 innings on the season with 50 strike-outs. The team’s number two pitcher is 8th grade lefty Jhett Dungan who has thrown 37 innings with 26 strike-outs. “Dungan’s best pitch is probably his change-up,” said Coach Hickey. “Our number three pitcher is 8th grader Wesley Boldin and he has improved a lot over the season,” said Coach Hickey. Bolden has pitched 21.2 innings with 23 strike-outs.
The top hitter on the team is senior leadoff batter William Rose who is currently hitting .333 with 12 RBI’s including three triples. “Rose is a solid catcher behind the plate and he has a very strong throw to second,” said Coach Hickey. “He is a prospect for someone in my opinion.”
The next Charger on the hit index is sophomore designated hitter Tyler Cumbee who is hitting .291 with 10 RBI’s to date. Cumbee also plays some in right field. The next leading hitter is junior left-fielder Jack Singleton at .282 with five RBI’s batting in the five-hole.
The clean-up batter is freshman third baseman Travis Mercuri who has four RBI’s and one double so far. Senior Noah Oswald starts at short and he is batting .241 with 10 RBI’s including two doubles and a triple. “Oswald has the best set of hands I’ve ever coached,” said Coach Hickey.
A leading candidate for the Most Improved Charger over the past two seasons is probably two-hole hitter Zach Welch who starts at second base. He is batting .274 with 12 RBI’s including four doubles and a triple.
The team’s best offensive game of the season was a 9-4 win over Ambassador Christian, NC on March, 31. Dungan was the winning pitcher in that game tossing a three-hitter, giving up two earned runs with two K’s.
In the win over AC Rose was 3-for3 with two RBI’s and a double. First baseman Nate Cross had two hits, scored two runs with one RBI. Flatt had a hit and one RBI and Singleton had a hit, scored a run and had one RBI. Mercuri had a hit and scored a run in the game and Cumbee had a hit and scored a run. Welch also had ahi tans cored a run in that big win.
Some additional key reserves include freshman Mason Curti, freshman pitcher Rhett DeMars, freshman 1st baseman Nate Cross, soph RHP Grady Livingston, and freshman OF Noah Wilder.
The Chargers have been a good running team on the base paths with 38 stolen bases so far this season. Rose and Oswald are currently tied with 9 stolen bases each, and Welch is right behind with 8 stolen bases.
Coach Hickey is assisted by Donovan Campbell and Kyle Gaynor.
