A breakout season for the Eagles
The Pee Dee Academy baseball squad concluded its maiden campaign under head coach Danny Barker with a 14‑8‑1 record, earning a spot in the championship round of the SCISA AAA state playoffs.
Coach Barker, while acknowledging the loss of several senior players, expressed confidence that the program is poised for continued growth and future success.
Senior pitcher Tristan Heckman emerged as a cornerstone of the team, earning selections to both the SCISA All‑State team and the North‑South All‑Star Game. He topped the Eagles with a .448 batting average, a 5‑2 win‑loss record and a 0.79 earned run average on the mound.
Offensively, Chandler James batted .413 and drove in 21 runs, while Briggs Jones posted a .298 average, a .394 on‑base percentage and stole 10 bases. Cohen Williamson contributed a .327 average, a .411 OBP, four doubles, 12 RBI and 13 runs, and Neal Byrd, despite a .314 average, posted a .538 OBP, scored 12 runs and logged 21 ⅔ innings pitched.
The blend of strong hitting, reliable pitching and savvy base running defined the team’s identity, and the coaching staff believes the returning core will build on this foundation.