Stephen Phillips learned a lot about his players during his first season as head coach of the Putnam County baseball team.
The War Eagles were eliminated in the first round of the postseason by Washington County. They finished the 2025 season with an 11-16 overall record. However, Phillips knows the future remains bright heading into the second year of his tenure.
“I saw tremendous growth,” Phillips said. “Of course, being my first year here, I didn’t know the kids. The kids didn’t really know me other than seeing me in the school building.
“So, a big part of success is the trust between the players and the coaches, and that’s not generated over a week or two. It’s generated throughout a season, and I feel like towards the middle of the season, the kids started believing in what we were selling and made strides.”
Putnam County faced a challenging non-region schedule against Ola, Lake Oconee Academy, Locust Grove, Eastside, and Athens Academy. Phillips intentionally made that part of the schedule difficult. He aimed to prepare his team for a tough region slate against Lamar County, Jasper County, and Social Circle.
“I did a tough non-region schedule to test them early, and we’re in a good region with Lamar, and Social, and Jasper,” Phillips said. “When you look at the body of work, I feel like we really did some growing, and we’ve got a lot to take into the offseason and continue to build on and get ready to compete again next year.”
Putnam County is losing Jamarion Robertson and Tanner Lukens to graduation. They led the charge that helped the War Eagles secure a 2025 playoff berth.
“The two seniors that I’m losing are huge contributors to what we did this year,” Phillips said. “Tanner Lukens was the three- and four-hole hitter all season. He hit over .400 and was a really solid catcher behind the plate. Tanner’s just such a fine young man. I mean, his character, his work ethic, everything about him. He’s going to go on to the Merchant Marines and do great things. I’m just excited to see what his future looks like.
“Then there’s Jamarion Robertson, a kid who didn’t play a lot of baseball until this year. He was solid on the mound for us, a guy that I could bring in during the late innings,” Phillips continued. “A lot of times, he could right the ship, come in, and shut offenses down to give us a chance to get back into games. Just his personality and his drive to compete, he’s another one that’s going to go off to Clayton State and do great things.”
Still, Putnam County will return with a strong core of juniors next season, including Branan Griffin, Jackson Dodd, Trace Watkins, Wyatt Sims, Wade Johnston, Gates Lanzarone, and Ethan Whatley, who have all been three-year starters.
Phillips believes they will continue to grow in the offseason and hopes his younger players can also step up.
“As for the junior class that’s coming back, I just really love these guys,” Phillips said. “I love their willingness to accept me and their drive to get better. I think if we can continue with that attitude into the offseason, plus some of the younger kids that are coming up from the middle school, I think Putnam baseball will be in really good shape next year.”