Columbia County Trio Off to a Hot Start in the College Baseball

Columbia County has long been a hotbed for high school baseball talent. Year in and year out, the county produces college signees and highly rated players. The last couple of seasons have been no different.  
 
In 2023 Trystan McCladdie hit .480 and led Harlem to their first state title in 37 years. McCladdie signed with Clemson and, after playing sparingly as a freshman, had an outstanding off-season and has a starting role in his second season with the Tigers. 
 
Last season, the top two players in the county were Hunter Thompson and Jamie Daly. Thompson was outstanding on the mound and at the plate for Evans, earning Region Player of the Year honors. Luckily for University of South Carolina-Aiken head baseball coach Michael Holder, Thompson really wanted to stay close to home and chose to play for the Pacers. Greenbrier’s Jamie Daly seemed to get better with every at bat. He had a number of Division I Programs showing interest and decided on Davidson College in North Carolina.  

Each of these talented young players are showing they belong after terrific starts to the 2025 season. 

Tryston McCladdie (Harlem High School / Clemson University) Infield 

Games/Game Started: 6/6 
Batting Average: .400 (second on the team) 8-for-20 
Doubles: 2 
Home Runs: 1 
RBIs: 8 (second on the team) 
On Base %: .480 
Stolen Bases: 4-for-4  

Hunter Thompson (Evans High School / University of South Carolina-Aiken) First Base 

Games/Game Started: 15/15 
Batting Average: .367 (second on the team) 22-for-60 
Doubles: 5 (leads team) 
Home Runs: 3 (second on the team) 
RBIs: 16 (second on the team) 
On Base %: .426 

Jamie Daly (Greenbrier High School / Davidson) Outfield 

Games/Game Started: 7/7 
Batting Average: .429 (leads team) 9-for-21 
Doubles: 2 
Home Runs: 1 
RBIs: 6 
On Base %: .571 (leads team) 
Only three strikeouts in 28 plate appearances 
 
These are just three of the dozens of players from the local area playing at the collegiate level. I will definitely be following them all and will continue with updates throughout the season.