107 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com end. “Our entire region is strong, with no easy games or teams,” McConnell said. “Wando is our main rival, as the town gets into the series, and plays a big part in our season outcome as it is a region game this year. We will be in the IP Classic this year at Georgetown with the best eight teams in the state – and for non-region, we have tough battles with Oceanside, Bishop England and Charlotte Christian.” But the Bengals are returning 13 seniors and seven juniors along with their entire pitching staff – all experienced players – nine of whom plan to play college baseball. Leading the team will be second baseman and team captain Tommy Byrne; catcher Hank Aeppli; shortstop Ryan Roggin; first baseman/pitcher Preston DeNapoli; utilityman Andrew Hoover; center fielder/pitcher Holman Blake; pitchers Hunter Doyle, Michael Mapes, Ford Thompson and Sawyer Minton; first baseman/pitcher Charles Kelly; and outfielder/catcher Keagan Conroy. “We’re expecting to be very strong,” McConnell said. “We have many goals to accomplish and want to make a deep run in the playoffs.” BISHOP ENGLAND BATTLING BISHOPS For some time now, Bishop England head baseball coach Mike Darnell has had a rare kind of problem: where to store all the championship trophies and where to put others that may yet be won. Since taking over the Bishops’ team in 2000, Darnell has led them to six state titles, including three in a row from 2017-19, to go with another four secured before his arrival. Despite last season’s low point of 15-14, he and his current team are looking for an encore to their 31-2 record from 2018 and to reclaim the top of the state high school baseball world. “We have a talented group led by a strong senior class,” said Darnell, whose team will compete in Region 6 AAAA. “We are expecting to pitch well and play good defense which will keep us in games.” And there will likely be far more close games than routs, as Lowcountry teams are known for stellar baseball play and success. “We have always had a great rivalry with Hanahan, Wando and more recently Oceanside,” Darnell said. “But this is a new region for us and a new classification and we play a three-game series (M/W/F), which will also be new to us.” The Bishops are fielding a mix of talented younger players and a lot of returners, including these seven seniors: • Pitcher/first baseman Jackson Winer • Pitcher/shortstop Will Rissmiller • Pitcher/outfielder Peter Fulton • Pitcher/infielder Davis Metz • Outfielder Maddox Munzel • Third baseman/first baseman Wyatt Lynn • Outfielder/first baseman/pitcher Jacob Mackara “The leadership and performance of our seniors will determine the success of our season,” Darnell said. “It is always the case, but this year all of them play major roles in our everyday lineup. It is very important that they are leaders both on and off the field.” PHILIP SIMMONS IRON HORSES So far, Josh Kubisz is the only head baseball coach that Philip Simmons has ever had. He has led the Iron Horses to seven straight state playoff appearances. Entering the 2025 season, he and his team will be looking to make their way to the school’s first-ever state title game. “We have a mix of returning talent and a strong work ethic that promises to deliver an exciting year for fans and players alike,” said Kubisz, whose team will compete in Region 6 AA. “The team is poised to compete at a high level.” They will face a road filled with high hurdles, as Woodland, Andrews and Academic Magnet high schools will present stiff competition. “These matchups will be crucial in determining where we place in the standings and serve as valuable tests for the team’s development,” Kubisz said. Unlike other Lowcountry teams which are loaded with returning seniors and starters, the Iron Horses will have to rely on the strength of relatively few veterans, who include: • Senior catcher Pierce Mullen – A reliable and consistent presence at the plate, Mullen finished 2024 with a .327 batting average, and became known for his ability to hit, score and drive in runs in clutch moments. • Senior middle infielder Charlie Helms – Demonstrating exceptional skill at the plate, Helms led the offense last season with nine doubles, a .371 batting our sports Will Rissmiller throws a strike for Bishop England. Charlie Helms readies to get a hit for Philip Simmons.
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