SPRINGFIELD – The downside, if one could call it that, is that when playing defense behind Effingham County’s standout pitcher, Luke Edwards, there is a strong possibility of feeling unneeded.
The senior right-hander has been so dominant this season that he almost reduces the field of play to the infield, if not monopolizing the area between the mound and home plate.
PHOTO: Effingham County pitcher Luke Edwards delivers a pitch during the Region 1-5A championship game. (Photo by Birk Herrath Photography)
“He throws a 92 mile-per-hour fastball than runs like 8 inches. Then he throws a slider that’s MLB grade. It’s insane,” senior outfielder Ryan Wells said Thursday night. “It’s like boring to play baseball when he’s pitching because it’s like we’re doing nothing out there.”
Rebels head coach Eric McCombie said Edwards has a “special arm” and is a leader who has made huge strides as a senior.
“I’ll put him up against any offense in the state,” McCombie said. “He is going to compete. He is going to give us six, seven strong (innings) every time. Our guys feel good about it. Actually, our fielders sometimes get upset that they don’t get enough action.”
The coach could laugh at this good problem to have, but for Thursday’s opponent, Greenbrier, it was a serious issue.
The Wolfpack rarely hit the ball out of the infield as Edwards led the host Rebels to a 3-0 victory in the Region 1-5A championship game. Effingham County (25-5) will be a No. 1 seed in the GHSA Class 5A state playoffs starting Wednesday and will have home-field advantage, should it win the best-of-three opening series, for at least two rounds.
Edwards (7-0, 0.29 ERA) pitched the first six innings of the shutout and allowed one hit while walking three batters, hitting one and striking out nine. Edwards, who has signed to play baseball at Valdosta State University, has 89 strikeouts and 29 walks in 48 2/3 innings pitched this season.
“Luke’s been like that all year. They had hits off him, but I think he’s unhittable,” said Wells, who was asked if he’s batted against Edwards in practice. “I have not, and I’m thankful.”
Photo: Effingham County’s Ryan Wells rounds third base before being held up by head coach Eric McCombie during the Region 1-5A championship game. (Photo by Birk Herrath Photography)
Edwards literally was unhittable with a no-hitter in a 10-2 win over Statesboro on April 3.
On Thursday, Edwards said he had command of his fastball early.
“Everything was able to play off of that,” said Edwards, who threw his usual fastballs and sliders and mixed in changeups. “I had strikes with everything. Everything was working really well for me tonight.”
Wells helped provide Edwards with all the scoring he would need in the Rebels’ three-run second inning.
Newton Kieffer led off with a walk against left-hander Jackson Farlow, who started for Greenbrier (12-11). Jacque’s King was hit by a pitch, and Kieffer was thrown out trying to steal third, with King advancing to second.
King was in scoring position when Wells smashed an RBI double down the left-field line for a 1-0 lead. Caleb Swindle followed with a hard-hit single to left, and one out later, Adam Acel blooped a two-run double for a 3-0 cushion.
PHOTO: Effingham County’s Caleb Swindle keeps his eye on the ball and makes solid contact during the Region 1-5A championship game. (Photo by Birk Herrath Photography)
That wouldn’t have provided much security in ECHS’ wild 13-8 home victory over Brunswick in the region semifinals on Tuesday. But Thursday was a different opponent, and Greenbrier has played an extremely difficult schedule, including being swept in three games against Effingham County.
One of those losses was by 2-1 on March 13 in Evans, with Edwards earning the victory with a 14-strikeout complete game. He went exclusively with fastballs and sliders, keeping the changeup in his back pocket.
“I just didn’t need to throw it the last time they saw me,” Edwards said. “They’d already seen me before. It’s good to have an extra pitch that they didn’t know about.”
It may sound unfair, but it wasn’t a stated strategy in case the teams met again. When Wolfpack batters laid off the sliders later in the game, they were fed more changeups.
“We added in that changeup quite a bit tonight, and I think that kept them off-balance enough because they hadn’t seen that pitch,” McCombie said. “We needed something that they hadn’t seen, because they saw seven innings of him. So we added that in. I’ve got to credit Coach (Rob) Ergle on that, calling the pitches. He called a hell of a game tonight.”
Edwards was relieved by trusted closer Ayden Roeser (2-2, 1.42 ERA, five saves) in the seventh inning. The junior right-hander had to work out of a jam, alternating a single and hit batsman around two swinging strikeouts.
PHOTO: Effingham County closer Ayden Roeser in the seventh inning securing the Region 1-5A championship win. (Photo by Birk Herrath Photography)
A walk loaded the bases before Roeser coaxed a groundball for a fielder’s choice and the final out, setting off a celebration for the newly minted region champions.
All of the Rebels who started in the field on Thursday are seniors with the exception of catcher Karson Thompson, with fellow junior Kaleb Pendley the designated hitter.
This veteran crew didn’t let last season’s 10-20 mark keep them from dreaming big in 2025.
“Last year, we knew we had the talent. It just wasn’t all there,” Wells said. “We know for some of us it’s our last time playing baseball. We knew we had to put it together, and if we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here.”
Edwards agreed that the squad was talented but needed time to mature and develop a winning mentality.
“That’s what we needed, and that’s what we got,” Edwards said. “And, of course, Coach McCombie is a great coach. He helps us every step of the way.”
McCombie pointed out several individual moves, like Acel becoming the starting shortstop with no experience at the position, and Kyle Thomas (6-0, 2.47 ERA) joining the starting rotation. The moves came at Thomas’ suggestion.
PHOTO: Effingham County shortstop Adam Acel leaps to complete a play during the Region 1-5A championship game. (Photo by Birk Herrath Photography)
The coach also praised Thompson’s work ethic, durability, and skill behind the plate as a new starter this season. McCombie said he is not surprised by the team’s huge jump in wins and the region crown.
PHOTO: The Effingham County High School baseball team celebrates after winning the Region 1-5A championship. (Photo by Birk Herrath Photography)
“We all knew how talented this group was,” he said. “Just a little bit of a different mentality. From the top to the bottom, they’ve bought in. On paper, it looks great. The way they have really come together as a group is why we’re 25-5. Players didn’t change much. It’s the mentality and the amount they love each other and care about each other. That’s going to be a special thing coming into the state playoffs.”
| ECHS 3, GREENBRIER 0 | ||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| GREENBRIER | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| ECHS | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 | 4 | 3 |
|
Records—Greenbrier 15-10, 7-5 Region 1-5A; Effingham County 25-5, 12-1. |
||||||||||
PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy Birk Herrath Photogrpahy
FOLLOW the Prep Sports Report on Twitter @PrepSav and Instagram savannahsportsreport. If you have any scores, information, or story ideas to share, please email kdemasi@prepsportsreport.com.
Optim Orthopedics: Championing Savannah's Prep Sports Scene!
From the gridiron, hardwood, and baseball diamond, Optim Orthopedics stands tall as a dedicated supporter of high school athletes across Savannah. They're not just sponsors—they're game changers, delivering top-notch medical care to nine standout schools:
- Dr. Don Aaron: Bryan County Middle/High School
- Dr. David Sedory: Benedictine Military, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County
- Dr. David Palmer: Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham
- Dr. Thomas Alexander: Savannah Country Day, St. Vincent's
As Southeast leaders in fellowship-trained orthopedic care, Optim Orthopedics fuels Prep Sports Report's basketball and football coverage. Because when the game's on the line, Optim Orthopedics gets you back in it!
