Williamsburg Academy baseball team off to fast start despite changes
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Williamsburg baseball off to fast start despite changes
By Dennis Brunson
hssr.com Associate Editor
Kingstree – The Williamsburg Academy baseball team lost six seniors from last year’s 19-7 squad that reached the semifinals of the SCISA AAA state playoffs. All of that group -- Greyson Moore, Blake Hedrick, Wes Smith, Conrad Balder, Landon Strong and BJ Davis – were major cogs last season, but many of them had been a major part of the program’s recent run of success.
Any thoughts the Stallions’ success rate this season wouldn’t be as strong with the changes have yet to be proven. It appears they haven’t skipped a beat, winning their first seven contests of the season.
Williamsburg head coach Tyler Boyd is surprised/not surprised by his team’s start.
“I guess I’m a little bit surprised,” Boyd said. “We’re counting on a lot of sophomores this year and we hoped they would be able to step up. A lot of these sophomores had to play junior varsity last year because we had so many seniors and they were great. We only lost one game on JV last year.
“We thought they would be successful for us on the varsity this year, and so far that has been the case.”
However, while the newcomers are certainly helping out, Williamsburg returns senior Bryce Blackburn and senior Layton Morris. Boyd deems them as the top two players from last year’s squad.
“It’s big for us to have them back,” the veteran head coach said. “Even with all the seniors we had last season, Bryce and Layton were our two best overall hitters and two of our three best pitchers.”
The right-handed swinging Blackburn owned a .370 batting average last season while having eight doubles and three home runs among his 27 hits. He also had 19 runs batted in and scored 16 runs while stealing seven bases. The left-handed hitting Morris batted .362 with seven doubles and four homers among 25 hits. He led the team in both RBI and runs with 24 and 30, respectively, to go with six steals.
Morris finished with an on-base percentage of 495 while Blackburn had an on-base percentage of .447.
Blackburn and Morris both throw right-handed. Blackburn had an 8-1 win-loss record with a 1.63 earned run average in 38 2/3 innings pitched. He struck out 29 while allowing 22 hits and walking 21.
Morris was used more out of the bullpen last season, but is one of the top two starters. He pitched 22 innings last year, posting a 2-1 record and a 0.32 ERA. He recorded two saves while striking out 28 against three hits and eight walks.
The duo will be holding down third base when either one is pitching.
The Stallions will be counting on a quartet of sophomores in Ethan Jones, Hall Dukes, Sammy Tomlinson and Charlie Caulder to provide major innings. Boyd sees Dukes as his No. 3 starter with Tomlinson, Jones and Caulder coming out of the bullpen.
Senior Wyatt Floyd and junior Jay Kellahan will also see time on the mound.
“The pitchers have been doing a good job of throwing strikes so far,” Boyd said. “We’re hoping that’s something that will continue. Just the amount of strikes we’re throwing will be important for us to be successful this year.”
The other returners to the starting lineup are Kellahan at shortstop and Floyd at first base. Kellahan batted .250 in 28 at-bats with a double, six runs, five stolen bases and 10 runs batted in Floyd also had a .250 average in 36 at-bats with three double, a home run, nine runs batted in, six steals and 10 runs.
Kellahan and Floyd both had strong on-base percentages though. Floyd had an OBP of .438 while Kellahan was at .382.
Boyd likes the way his team has played defense so far. He believes if the Stallions continue to play stellar defense, it will be hard for the opposition to put up runs.
“As long as we’re making those plays we’ll be OK,” Boyd said.
Dukes, a left-handed swinger, will be splitting time at both second base and in left field with junior Micah Balder. Junior Conner Morris and sophomore Grant Small will be splitting time at catcher. Caulder will be the centerfielder with Jones, senior Kayden Carter and senior Billy Williamson in the mix in the outfield.
Blackburn, Layton Morris and Conner Morris have been hitting the baseball with great authority all season, according to Boyd. He just needs the remainder of the lineup to do its job.
“We have three guys hitting the ball really well, and I’m not going to be asking them to change anything,” he said. “Throughout the rest of the lineup, I want them to be making contact, not striking out and putting the ball in play. If we can do that, we’ll score a lot of runs.”
The Stallions are part of SCISA Region3-AAA along with longtime foe Pee Dee Academy, Florence Christian School, Dillon Christian School and Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach.
After winning the AA state championship in 2021, Williamsburg finished as state runner-u to Pee Dee the next two years. The first year, 2022, came in AA, while it was for the AAA title the following year.
Boyd hopes losing to eventual AAA state champion Hilton Head Christian Academy in the semifinals last year has the Stallions hungry.
“I think they have the desire to do so,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll get back to where we wat to get, especially with this senior group.”
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