Experienced Rebels looking to turn around 2024 woes

Rebels’ player Q King takes a few swings in the batting cage. (Photos by Gilbert Miller/Effingham Herald.)

Rebels’ player Q King takes a few swings in the batting cage. (Photos by Gilbert Miller/Effingham Herald.)

Published: Feb 4, 2025, 4:30 PM

By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

SPRINGFIELD – A year ago, Effingham County’s baseball team, laden with underclassmen, took its lumps during a 10-20 season.

Rebels’ second-year coach Eric McCombie says his players, a year older and wiser, are hoping to dish out some lumps now.

ECHS will have a scrimmage at home against Ware County on Thursday (Feb. 6) before opening the season for real Feb. 12 at Islands.

“Experience is really important in high school baseball,” McCombie said. “I anticipate us taking a step forward with the experience these guys got last year. Talent isn’t going to be an issue.”

ECHS lost only two seniors from the 2024 team so the Rebels should know what to expect. They weren’t too far off last season with seven losses by one run or in extra innings.

Pitching will be key. Senior Wes Ward leads a quartet of starters whose potential is high. Ward, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound righthander, had a team-best 2.56 earned run average while earning second-team all-region honors.

Ward, who is committed to Thomas University, began last year as a reliever before finding his way into the starting rotation.

Dylan Huntley, a 6-4, 195-pound senior, got better as the season went along and now has added a split finger fastball to go with the four-seam.

Junior Ayden Roeser (6-2, 210) and senior Luke Edwards (6-0, 190), expected starters, also throw hard. Roeser could see time in the outfield and first base.

Aidan Garcia, Caleb Swindle and Kyle Thomas will be instrumental coming out of the bullpen.

All four infield starters are back, headed by second baseman Will Floyd, a second-team all-region performer, who turned in a solid season after hitting .271 with 11 runs batted in.

Thomas, a shortstop with excellent range, hit .244.

Garcia, at third, showed a streaky offensive side by starting 2024 with hitting .438 (7 for 16) in his first five games. He had a second five-game hitting streak later in the season before cooling off.

First baseman Newton Kieffer, a two-year starter, led the Rebels with 18 runs scored.

McCombie said Adam Acel and Noah King will provide backup help in the infield. Acel broke his arm early last season, but returned to hit .368 in 19 at bats.

Karson Thompson, who battled injuries as well, has emerged as a leader behind the plate.

The outfield will be anchored by defensive standout Q King, who struggled offensively at the start of the season (0 for 12) before hitting .254 the rest of the way.

Left fielder Kaleb Pendley earned second-team all-region honors after batting .295 with 10 RBIs.

Ryan Wells, who signed to play football at Army, returns to patrol right field.

Kris Swinney and Swindle add depth. Swinney hit .357 in 28 at bats last season.

“We’re athletic and older so we’ll see how that shakes out,” McCombie said. “We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. We haven’t proven anything yet. …

“The work ethic has been phenomenal. I’m happy where we are right now, but ultimately you’re not going to be happy until you start winning games.”

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Mustangs Show Grit, Look Ahead After Tough Opener

Freshman QB Liam Coburn powers through the defense for tough yardage. His play helped spark the Mustangs. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

South vs. New Hampstead — Freshman QB Liam Coburn powers through the defense for tough yardage. His play helped spark the Mustangs. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

Donald Heath

Updated: Aug 17, 2025, 10:27 AM

Published: Aug 16, 2025, 4:39 PM

GUYTON, Ga. – South Effingham freshman quarterback Liam Coburn decided to do something about his team’s struggling offense Friday night.

Facing third-and-long early in the fourth quarter, Coburn, not known for scrambling, took off out of the pocket and hit a defensive back so hard the defender’s helmet flew off.

The Mustangs bench erupted, and the hit provided some much-needed energy.

“I think our team is in a much better spot,” South coach Loren Purvis said. “They care. They understand what it takes.”

The Mustangs couldn’t overcome a sluggish start and lost their season opener to New Hampstead 14-6. But the display of passion — often missing during the winless 2024 season — was readily apparent.

“We have nine more games left, and I think we’re going to build off this,” Coburn said. “This is a different team than in the past.”

A pregame downpour and flashes of lightning in the area delayed kickoff for about an hour and a half. The game ended at 11:52 p.m.

South Effingham vs. New Hampstead — South Effingham’s Alex Cabrera chases down a New Hampstead ball carrier. (Mark Lastinger / Effingham Herald)

Defense Keeps Game Close

Once the game started, South’s defense kept things close with four stops inside the red zone. The offense eventually scored on Maddox Vasquez’s 2-yard touchdown run with 5:58 left.

But the Mustangs couldn’t stop Phoenix running back Christian Kinlaw, who scored on runs of 31 and 20 yards and caught a two-point conversion from quarterback Erik Hockman to build a 14-0 lead through three quarters.

Kinlaw did most of his damage during the final three quarters, running for 160 yards on 18 carries. A year ago, New Hampstead rang up 56 points against South Effingham.

“I was very proud of the defense,” Mustangs middle linebacker Corey Woods said. “I think we took a major step as a defense. We had more energy. I love that. We all did our one eleven.”

Woods explained the team phrase “doing your one eleven” means there are 11 defenders on the field. You do your one job and trust your other 10 teammates to do theirs.

Special Teams, Offense Struggle

But South's special teams and offense couldn’t find traction. Special teams missed a short field goal and an extra-point kick after a touchdown, had a snap hit an upback during a punt formation, and surrendered an onside kick during a kickoff.

The offense had just two first downs until the final drive of the third quarter. Coburn’s 10-yard scramble and big hit—and a subsequent helmet-to-helmet 15-yard penalty assessed to the New Hampstead defense—highlighted South’s 11-play, 54-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter.

“I rolled out and saw a dude and I thought, ‘I’m going to get my lick on him.’ It got the energy going,” Coburn said. “We got a little momentum going, and we were gaining confidence as the game went on.”

Heart-Stopping Moment

After the touchdown drive, South’s defense stopped New Hampstead at South's 19. On the Mustangs’ next offensive play, Woods just missed making a big play when he couldn’t haul in Coburn’s pass after gaining a step on the defender on a fly pattern.

“I’m going to move on from it,” Woods said. “I’m going to catch more balls in practice, and the next time I get that opportunity, I’ll be good.”

South had a last possession deep in its own territory in the final minute. Mustangs wide receiver Landyn White caught a short pass, took a hit on the sidelines, and laid motionless before responding to medical personnel, Purvis said. White was taken off the field on a stretcher and into an ambulance.

It was a sobbing moment that shook up players and coaches. Purvis tried his best to put the game in perspective in the silent locker room.

“The kids came out and competed. You can build on that,” he said.

Looking Ahead

South now has a bye week next Friday before traveling to Toombs County on Aug. 29.