Carlton Peele was nearly breathless Tuesday night.

He'd just come off the practice field, fresh from handing out jerseys to the players who will make up his St. George American Legion Post 105 baseball team this year. This will be his fourth season leading the team and perhaps -- he thinks -- his most successful season.

"I think we are going to be pretty strong defensively, and we will have some pitching," he said. "It will just depend on if we hit or not.

"But, I'm thinking this will be my strongest team from top to bottom."

That reasoning begins on the hill for Post 105 where Peele can choose between Dorchester Academy standout Walt Quattlebaum, former Colleton Prep ace Brandon Purvis and his son, Brady Peele, who logged innings at Anderson this past season. Quattlebaum is fresh off a season in which he went 11-1, and Purvis, a left hander who throws in the mid-80's, led the War Hawks to several state titles. But, that's just the beginning of the possibilities.

Wesley Buchanon, one of the top relievers for the Colleton County Cougars this past season, is available to throw, as is Odie McAlhaney, Edisto's Dillon Thomas, Branchville standout Tyler Looper, Dorchester Academy's Patrick Murray and former Colleton Prep outfielder Hunter Hall.

Of course, the pitching isn't the only thing that has Peele excited. He likes his team's experience as well.

"We have seven or eight 19-year-olds," he said. "Three of those kids -- Brady, John Gibbs and Nick Chinners -- played college ball."

Gibbs was a middle infielder for USC Salkehatchie while Chinners redshirted at Charleston Southern University this past season. Peele said Chinners would likely play first and third base. Jeff Ament returns as the catcher, and John Wilds from Dorchester Academy also returns to the team. Other players figuring into the equation include: Woodland's Chris Green, Holly Hill Academy's John Tweed and Branchville's Benjamin Kinsey.

St. George will open its season Oct. 4 in Orangeburg against Post 4.

"We've opened against them the past couple of years," said Peele. "We have to be ready for that first game. We've had a week of practice. Now, it's just a matter of fine tuning and getting ready."

You must be logged in to comment.