The Putnam County baseball team will start its 2026 season next week, with a roster heavily made up of seniors.
The War Eagles return nine seniors — Jackson Dodd, Parker Thomas, Trace Watkins, Gates Lanzarone, Wyatt Sims, Ethan Whatley, Wade Johnston, Edwin Collins, and Christian Cox — who are expected to lead the way this year.
“This is definitely going to be a senior-led team. We’ve got a lot of seniors coming back, and this is their team,” Putnam County head coach Stephen Phillips told The Eatonton Messenger. “How far we go is going to depend on how well they hold each other accountable and how much they push each other to get better every day.”
Phillips enters his second season at the helm after guiding the War Eagles to a playoff appearance in his first year. He said the offseason has been encouraging, particularly because players were able to see the team’s growth as last season progressed.
“The offseason’s been great,” Phillips said. “After last season and the kids being able to see the growth we made from game one to the last game of the season, the buy-in is starting to be there.”
The team began offseason work back in August, focusing on fundamentals, mechanics, and overall consistency. Phillips noted strong attendance and effort throughout the offseason, both on the field and in the weight room.
“The turnout’s been great. The kids are excited, and they’ve worked hard in the weight room,” he said. “Now it’s where the rubber meets the road. Once we start playing, we’ll see how much we’ve grown since August.”
Pitching remains a major area of emphasis entering the season. While Putnam County showed improvement as last year went on, free passes proved costly early in the year and often put the War Eagles in difficult situations.
“Pitching is going to be the key,” Phillips said. “Last year, free passes were kind of an Achilles’ heel for us early in the season. We were having to work ourselves out of bad situations. The pitchers have worked really hard this offseason to hone those skills and get better each day.”
Offensively, Phillips believes the team made strides a season ago and hopes to build on that production. Still, consistency on the mound will ultimately determine how competitive the War Eagles can be throughout the year.
“Our goals are to limit the free passes, throw more strikes, and make teams earn what they get,” Phillips said. “Offensively, I thought we had a pretty good year last year, and we want to continue to build on that. On the mound, we’ve got to be more consistent and stop giving away runs.”
Beyond the physical side of the game, Phillips believes the team’s chemistry and leadership give it a chance to take another step forward in 2026.
“I think the camaraderie among these guys is probably our biggest strength,” he said. “They’ve played together for a long time, and now they’re seniors. This is their team.”
With a veteran core that has grown familiar with Phillips’ approach, expectations are higher heading into year two.
Still, the message remains simple. “Our identity is to play until the last pitch,” Phillips said. “Never give up, never give in, and just continue to compete until the very end.”
The War Eagles will begin their season on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 5:30 p.m. at home against Oglethorpe County.