McCollum Comes Home To Barnwell To Take Over the Baseball Program

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Barnwell — Former Barnwell High baseball player, Cody McCollum, who spent the past three seasons as the head baseball coach at Wade Hampton High (now Hamton County) has returned to his alma mater as the new head baseball coach for the Warhorses.

Former head coach, Will Gee, is now working in the baseball program at Berkeley High after getting married, and moving to the Charleston area after last season, where his wife is in her final year of medical school.

“Although I coached over at Wade Hampton for five seasons (two as an assistant) I continued to live in Barnwell, so I have followed the program here for quite some time,” said Coach McCollum, who mentored under Charlie Assey, and his son,  at several high school programs in the Columbia area after graduating from USC.

“My philosophy, and my approach to coaching the game, is rooted from my experience working with Coach Assey, and his son at White Knoll, Cardinal Newman and Gray Collegiate,” said Coach McCollum. “I learned a lot about the game of baseball from Coach Assey and the younger Assey.”

On the back of the Barnwell practice jerseys this season, the mantra of the head coach is firmly inscribed, “Play In May.” “You are going very deep in the play-offs, and you certainly can not compete for a championship, if you are done playing by the end of April,” said Coach McCollum. “We need to be reminded about this fact, each and every day in practice.”

The foundation of any baseball team starts with a strong pitching staff, and Barnwell has one of the top junior pitchers in the state back for his third season on the varsity in Cameron Austin, (L-R) also a top flight quarterback prospect, who was named to the HSSR all-state football team after this past season.

“In our first game in a pre-season tournament against Philip Simmons, Cameron had seven strike-outs, allowed four hits, two earned runs and at the plate, and  he drove in two runs,” said Coach McCollum. “We won the game 7-2 to get the season started off right.”

Austin is the lead-off batter, and when not on the mound, he starts in center field where he has excellent defensive instincts. 

In the same game,  junior shortstop Trey Boleman went for 3-for-four at the plate with one RBI. “Trey bats in the two-hole and he is a solid hitter,” said Coach McCollum. “He is also a very effective right- handed pitcher.”

After being mainly, a D-H last year,  junior Jaevin Santos is now playing third base and batting in the three-hole. Kaleb McCormick, an outstanding defensive receiver behind the plate, returns to once again start behind the plate. “Kaleb has always been a solid defensive catcher and he has worked hard to improve his hitting, and we are expecting a big season out of him,” said Coach McCollum.

Junior Hayden Pierce is a first baseman who bats in the clean-up slot and he was slowed by a shoulder injury last season. Case Davis is an 8th grader starting at second base, and Coach McCollum calls him a “gamer”. “Case is a real “dirt bagger” and to be such a small kid physically he comes to work hard at practice every day,” said Coach McCollum. “He has a solid glove batting in the 5-6 hole.”

Joining Austin in the outfield is either Colten Rhoad or junior Bradley Richardson in right field and Colten Bradley and Kiez Roberts competing for playing time in left field. Junior Lane Evans will also see action in the outfield and senior Ethan Renew will also see time in the outfield. J Huggins is also working hard for playing time.

The starting pitching rotation will consist of Austin, Boleman (78-80), and Baxley.  Richardson will assume the role of closer.  Santos could be used as a middle reliever also.

“In our program I am asking for commitment, sacrifice, and discipline, from all our players,” said Coach McCollum. “We want to play as long as we can and as hard as we can. Number one, you want to win a region title to get home games in the play-offs. You hope to win your district and move on to the Lower State series and eventually compete for a state title.

“We will play hard, smart and aggressive,” said Coach McCollum. “Your players will always react, how you react as the coach, and the three things I just mentioned are how we hope to play the game.”

In Barnwell’s first three games of the season, they are 2-1 having also defeated Timberland and their lone loss came against Hilton Head. In those three games Barnwell stole 35 bases. “Until your hitting improves you can play small ball and win games also,” said Coach McCollum. “Against Phillip Simmons we laid down seven bunts.”

Barnwell will start the regular season hosting Silver Bluff on March, 4, and travel to Williston-Elko the next day. On March, 8th they host Colleton County.   

Coach McCollum is assisted by Lonnie Boleman and Barnwell legend Britt Pender.