Patriots aim to compete

By Roger Lee

North Charleston – Fort Dorchester has a new baseball coach but he has some seasoned players to work with.

The Patriots play in one of the toughest regions in the state, but the goal this season is to bolster their standing in Region 7-AAAA. Coach Jon Helsabeck has taken the reigns of the team and he has a nice mix of returning varsity lettermen and promising young athletes to work with during the 2024 campaign.

“We came out of the gate strong, tying Wando in the (Shipyard/Prep Baseball) Showdown,” the new Patriots’ skipper said. “We are swinging the bats stronger than we did at the start of the season and we feel like our pitching staff will keep us in every game. One thing I feel really confidant about is on any given day we may start five sophomores and that bodes well for the future.”

Fort Dorchester went 2-1-1 in the Shipyard tournament Feb. 29 through March 3 with wins over Riverside and Northwestern and a loss to Legion Collegiate Academy. On March 7, the Patriots claimed a 4-0 win over Oceanside Collegiate. Braiden Eagen, who transferred from Summerville to Fort Dorchester for his senior season, threw a no hitter through six innings and senior William Eason came in and secured the shutout.

Fort Dorchester had nine varsity lettermen return this season and five of them have already signed to play collegiately. Riley Miller (USC Union), Ryan Hamilton (Southeastern Community College), Ty Howey (Montreat College), Charles Wamer (USC Sumter) and William Eason (Southeastern Community College) all made their commitment official in February. In addition, Braiden Eagen signed with Newberry College in February.

The teams other returning lettermen are senior Logan Koch, juniors RJ Hamilton and Carson Ridgeway and sophomore Banks Wickersham. New members of the team are eighth-grader Brady Quirk, sophomores Lee Lovelace, Nathan Clark, Cannon Corder, Thomas Wamer and Elijah Williams, juniors Lesley (LJ) Johnson, Ty Wollenbecker and Miles Tompkins, and senior Jalen Barry.

Helsabeck said the team will need multiple players to perform well at the plate this season, but a few have stood out so far.

Clark was hitting over .400 early this season. Others who have had pop in their bat included Wickersham, Charles Wamer, Johnson, RJ Hamilton and Lovelace.

Charles Wamer, Eagen and RJ Hamilton are the top three pitchers in the rotation. Ridgeway, Thomas Wamer and Eason are the main relief pitchers.

“We have 11 guys who we trust to go in and throw and our top guys are all 85-plus pitchers,” Helsabeck said. “Bringing in Eason, who is low 70s and a lefty, gives us a change of pace and then Banks Wickersham, who is touching 90, is a strong closer.”

Miller and Ryan Hamilton are splitting time behind the plate. Eagen, Corder and Ridgeway play at first base. The middle infield is manned by Johnson and RJ Hamilton most nights with Quirk also seeing action at shortstop and second depending on who is pitching. Charles Wamer holds down the hot corner when he isn’t pitching and Wickersham provides quality depth at multiple infield positions, including catcher.

Clark anchors the outfield from center field and Lovelace is the starter in right field. Williams and Howe are also spending time in the grass.

Playing several young players can have a down side, but Helsabeck is hoping the experience they gain will help in the long run.

“Fort has struggled getting wins with this group so these guys are really just starting to learn how to win,” he said. “Every win we get right now is a big morale booster and it shows them they are getting better.”

Fort Dorchester enters the HIT with a 7-7 record with a 1-2 mark in its region. The Patriots play at 5 p.m. April 1 against Providence of North Carolina at Wando.