BIGGER THAN BASEBALL: A community rallies around Batesburg-Leesville’s state title run

BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, S.C. (WJBF) – There’s not a lot of rah-rah in Rob Bouknight – at least when he’s talking to media.

He’s not an over-the-top, emotionally-led quote machine chatterbox of a coach. But he also doesn’t really do a lot of generic coach-speak either.

What he is is steady. Straight-to-the-point. Matter-of-fact.

We’re talking about a coach who, seconds after getting his on-camera interview interrupted with a Gatorade ice bath after beating Strom Thurmond for the South Carolina High School League’s Upper-State title, shook off the excess moisture and stepped back in front of the camera immediately in ball coach mode once again as he talked about his club’s chances at a state championship.

Call him stoic. Call him steely. But don’t you dare say he’s not passionate about the kids he coaches in the Batesburg-Leesville baseball program and about trying to deliver something to this program it hasn’t seen in almost 80 years.

After knocking off Philip Simmons 3-2 in a win-or-else game back in Batesburg Wednesday evening, there was some fire in the coach’s eyes as he spoke about the biggest motivation that kept his Panthers from calling it a season in the final series of the year.

“We didn’t want another team celebrating on our field,” Bouknight said after Wednesday’s win. “So, we had to hold serve, and now we go to game three, and anything can happen.”

That right there is called hometown pride. And it radiates from the coach down to his players.

And here’s where we get to talk about why the stage is now set for that potential “anything” to happen Saturday.

Batesburg fell 5-3 to the Iron Horses Saturday in Charleston. It was a tight game despite the three defensive errors and eight walks the Panthers surrendered. But Batesburg-Leesville’s secret weapon Wednesday night was, well, Batesburg-Leesville — as in the community that surrounds, supports and undergirds this program.

I’ve been covering high school sports for 20 years in the South, and while it’s always cool to cover those big-named prospects and programs in large classifications in big, metropolis cities, I’m a sucker for a good small-town environment.

Few things trump a Friday Night Lights on the gridiron at one of those South Georgia powerhouse programs such as Valdosta or Lowndes or Camden County or in a rural South Carolina locale where literally the entire town shuts down in time for kickoff.

Or how about the basketball scene in a packed Augusta gymnasium with rivalry bragging rights on the line? Chef’s kiss.

I’m officially adding the environment at Panther Field in Batesburg-Leesville to that list. From the moment I first stepped onto those digs, not only was I met with a genuine appreciation for just being there to cover the team, I could feel the energy of their support in my chest.

My first live hit on camera there two weeks ago probably had choppy sound because the home crowd’s “loud” was on 10. There wasn’t a quiet hiding spot to be found there. Some say there’s no such thing as a home field advantage in baseball. I say places like Batesburg-Leesville soundly debunk that notion.

When Strom Thurmond came to town both times, the Panther faithful were right on top of the action. If you could somehow be transported to Panther Field with a blindfold and stand there with only the ability to hear, you’d think you were in a college baseball atmosphere. 

It’s the kind of place with the kind of people that make you want to put your best foot forward for them at all times. 

“It’s an awesome town behind us, and they can show up and show out for us,” Carter said. “We’re trying to do something that hasn’t been done here in a lon time, and it just feels good to have a great team, great coaches and to have a great community behind us.” 

How long has it been since Batesburg-Leesville won it all? You’ll have to go back 76 years to May 28, 1949. That’s when B-L baseball edged Hartsville 4-3 for the Class A baseball title played in Sumter. 

A touch of that 1949 squad’s legacy was recognized on the field during Wednesday’s win. Peggy, the sister of former lefty hurler Pickens Riser, was in the building and was met with a healthy ovation.

“Pick,” as he was affectionately called, played his two lone seasons of high school baseball on back-to-back state championship teams in 1948 and 1949. He went on to play at Newberry College where, in 2004, he was inducted to its hall of fame. 

When you’re able to call up that kind of tradition from history’s dugout, you know you’re dealing with a special place.

What will make it even more special is if this bunch can bring home a third state crown — the first in 76 years. 

To do it, they’ll have to solve Philip Simmons senior lefty Nolan Clifford. The same pitcher who gave Bouknight’s crew fits in the Game 1 loss. And they’ll also have to do it outside the friendly confines of their baseball home. 

But, as the old adage says, home is where the heart is. And you can bet that Batesburg-Leesville’s collective heart will be front and center at Founders Park in Columbia Saturday at 6 p.m. 

As journalists, we’re not supposed to root. But places and people like what you’ll find in that small South Carolina town of about 5,500 make it so hard not to. 

One thing’s for sure: Win or lose, the Batesburg-Leesville community will be proud of their boys Saturday night. And those boys are gonna give their community a heartfelt show.

Gabriel Stovall is the Weekend Sports Anchor and Reporter for WJBF NewsChannel 6. He can be reached at gstovall@wjbf.com.