SPRINGFIELD, Ga. – Veterans meshed with newcomers to produce a year of athletic highlights at Effingham County High School in 2025.
A talented group of baseball returnees that fell short of expectations a year earlier suddenly became the boys of spring, marching through region play and deep into the state tournament. The football program surrounded its senior quarterback with a new stable of receivers and a dependable running game en route to eight wins. Softball reloaded with youth and still found its way back to Columbus, while volleyball’s young lineup matured faster than expected. Girls lacrosse, behind a new scoring leader, continued its run as one of the area’s most consistent programs.
Here’s the backstory behind the Effingham County teams that made 2025 special.
Baseball delivers dramatic turnaround
After winning just 10 games in 2024, the Rebels posted one of the biggest turnarounds in the state, finishing with 30 victories and reaching the Elite Eight of the Class 5A Baseball State Championships.
Eric McCombie, in his second season as head coach, led a squad that finished first in the Region 1 North subregion during the regular season, won the region championship and captured best-of-three state playoff series against East Paulding and Winder-Barrow before falling to River Ridge, two games to one.
It marked ECHS’ first winning season in four years and its first region championship since 2019. The Rebels also swept rival South Effingham in a two-game series for the first time since 2019.
McCombie was named the subregion’s Coach of the Year, and right-hander Luke Edwards earned Pitcher of the Year honors after posting a 9-1 record, a 0.64 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 65.2 innings.
Kaleb Pendley (team-leading .410 batting average), Ryan Wells (.330), Will Floyd (.325), Q King (.361), Kyle Thomas (8-0, 2.33 ERA) and Ayden “AR” Roeser (1.48 ERA, five saves) earned first-team all-subregion honors.
Football sets records
The Rebels scored points in bunches in 2025. Two more could have changed the ending.
ECHS closed its season with a heartbreaking 34-33 loss to Clarke Central in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs, the program’s fifth straight opening-round exit. Still, the season was one for the record books.
Coach John Ford’s offense set a school record by averaging 37.9 points per game, eclipsing the previous mark of 34.9 set in 2024. Under Ford, the Rebels’ scoring average has increased in each of the past five seasons.
ECHS topped 40 points seven times despite playing without injured starting quarterback Tucker Perkins for much of the first two games. As defenses focused on stopping Perkins through the air, the Rebels leaned on a productive running game.
Junior Jmere Doe-Davis recorded his first 1,000-yard rushing season, while Doe-Davis and senior Mauricio “JR” McKenzie combined for 22 of the team’s 32 rushing touchdowns.
The Rebels won four straight one-score games during the regular season and finished with eight victories, the program’s highest total since 2002. In the school’s 66-year football history, only six teams have won more games — 14 in 1987, 10 in 1986, and nine in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1995.
Softball returns to Columbus
The Rebels entered the softball season with questions but never wavered on their October destination — Columbus.
ECHS made its fourth consecutive trip to the Class 5A Elite Eight double-elimination state tournament despite filling five positions with first-year starters. The Rebels finished 27-9, tying the school single-season record for wins.
ECHS claimed a subregion title by winning two of three games against Greenbrier and captured the region championship by defeating rival South Effingham 4-3 in Guyton. The victory avenged the Mustangs’ region title win in Springfield the previous season.
Seniors Gracie LaFleur, Ansleigh Giordano, Shelby Zeigler and Gabie Hill provided leadership, while newcomers Ava Wiley, Mady Reagan, Jenny Parker, Kamryn Hall and Cheyenne Hart made immediate impacts.
The Rebels swept Apalachee in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs, then won a dramatic three-game series against Seckinger that was decided on the final swing.
ECHS also won two of three games against South Effingham, taking the season series for the first time since 2019. In Columbus, the Rebels entered ranked third in Score Atlanta’s Class 5A poll before falling to eventual champion Creekview in the opening round. On Day 2, a seventh-inning lead slipped away against Loganville.
Young volleyball squad surges late
Inexperienced early, the Rebels volleyball team grew up fast and finished the season with momentum that points to a promising future.
ECHS finished 20-22, overcoming a stretch of 12 losses in 16 matches to surge late, reach the region championship match and earn a first-round home match in the state playoffs.
Coach Brittany Lein was named Class 5A Region 1 North subregion Coach of the Year after developing four underclassmen into starters. Lein replaced nine seniors from the 2024 team that set a school record with 30 wins.
Senior Bella Giaquinto moved from defensive specialist to libero and responded with 388 digs, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors. Sophomore Ka’Meil Bates (240 digs) and junior Jordyn Powell (236 kills) were first-team all-subregion selections, while sophomore setter Brynley Jordan (401 assists) earned second-team honors.
Late in the season, the Rebels avenged earlier losses to Savannah Arts, Greenbrier and St. Vincent’s, then upset South subregion champion Glynn Academy and North champion Lakeside to reach the region finals. ECHS led South Effingham 2-1 in that match and held a 2-0 advantage against Habersham Central at state before falling a set short both times.
Girls lacrosse posts best season yet
The Rebels have been one of the area’s top girls lacrosse programs since launching varsity play six years ago, and 2025 marked their best season to date.
ECHS finished 11-4, posting a school-best .733 winning percentage and tying the single-season record for victories. Late in the season, the Rebels rattled off a school-record nine-game winning streak, capped by a 16-2 win over Evans that marked ECHS’ first state victory since 2022.
With two regular-season wins over South Effingham, the Rebels have claimed 10 of the last 11 games in the rivalry series.
Coach Alison Lawson leaned on an experienced core while adding attacker Gracie LaFleur, who finished with a team-leading 43 goals. Veteran midfielders Olivia Morgan (38 goals, 16 assists), Megan Coleman (35 goals) and Ava Deloach (14 goals, 21 assists) joined LaFleur and goalie Carlee Fleming (72 saves) as Division 2, Area 4 first-team all-area selections.
