Panthers enter HIT as region champs
Max Poulakis has been key to Pinewood’s success this season as a pitcher, infielder and batter.
By Roger Lee
Contributing Writer
Summerville – The Pinewood Prep Baseball team is playing sound defense and has some pop in its bats.
“We are scrappy,” said Pinewood coach Jay Buddin. “We had to overcome some significant injuries early this season but we have some really good arms and guys are starting to find their spot.”
The Panthers improved to 19-3 on the season last week, sweeping SCISA 4A Region 3 in the process to capture the region championship. Pinewood will play in the 2025 Hanahan Invitational Tournament this week, starting the tournament with a 5 p.m. game Monday, April 14 at Lucy Beckham.
The Panthers lost to Hammond School, Lawrence Manning Academy and Dobyns Bennett, a 6A team from Tennessee that has won the HIT several times. Pinewood did avenged the loss to LMA. In fact, that loss in the rematch is LMA’s only loss of the season.
Senior Drew Hartig (USC Lancaster commit) and sophomore Sam Chisolm are doing most of the catching. However, junior AJ Marte’ is a transfer from the Dominican Republic who will also likely see time behind the plate.
Senior Finley Taylor played shortstop last season but is recovering from a pre-season arm injury so he is at first base this season. Junior Carson Good is holding down the hot corner. Juniors Max Poulakis and Grady Fuller are the starting middle infielders.
Seniors Asa Windham (Methodist University Football commit) and Christopher Kabine are playing a lot of left field. Senior Will Watson (Wofford College commit) and sophomore Camden Abernathy are the other starters in the grass.
The Panthers have 12 pitchers on their roster, but at the beginning of the season they had to replace their top three in the rotation from the year before.
“Max Poulakis and Cam Abernathy throw really well and are stepping into those starting roles,” Buddin said. “Drew Hartig and lefty Chris Kabine are seeing a lot of time on the hill. We have two freshmen pitchers who are developing that may be really good down the road.”
Sophomore Brian Shelton is a promising closer. Southpaw Sam Spickard and Andrew Leister are the two freshmen. Eighth-grader Nathan Good, juniors Grady Fuller and Carson Good and seniors Finley Taylor and Watson also have pitching experience.
While the team only has four seniors, it doesn’t lack experience.
“This is a gritty group that understands the game,” Buddin said. “This group of juniors all started as freshmen. This team has a lot of varsity innings under its belt.”
Taylor is leading the team at the plate with a .491 batting average, .530 on base percentage and .600 slugging percentage. Fuller has a .452 batting average, .552 on base percentage and .484 slugging percentage.
Poulakis, Carson Good, Marte’, Leister and Abernathy are all batting over .300. Poulakis, Marte’ and Watson all have multiple home runs for the Panthers.
Abernathy is 4-0 on the hill. Kabine is 4-1. Poulakis is 3-0 while both Hartig and Spickard are 2-0.
Buddin also had praise for his coaching staff.
“Mickey Dugan, Jimmy Harrell and Sammy Casey know a lot about baseball,” he said. “Sammy played for me; Jimmy played at Georgia; and Mickey played at Garner Webb. We have built this program to about 60 kids. Our B-Team and JV coaches do a good job getting guys ready for us.”
