Prince Edward County High School’s varsity baseball team has already tripled its win total from last season with its 3-1 start to the 2018 campaign.

“We’ve done a pretty good job of not beating ourselves, which I think is the big difference between this year and last year,” Eagles Head Coach Brandon Kenny said.

Last year, Prince Edward finished 1-18 after falling in the first round of the conference tournament to Randolph-Henry High School.

This year, the Eagles opened with a 10-0 home win over Bluestone High School on March 15 and a 4-2 home win over Cumberland County High School on March 16. They suffered a 21-0 blowout loss to host Dinwiddie High School on March 17 but then rebounded March 29 for a 2-1 home win over previously undefeated Central Lunenburg High School.

“We’ve thrown strikes and made routine plays, and (if) you do that, you give yourself a chance,” Kenny said. “So, we’ve been good in that area. We need to hit better, take a little pressure off the defense. The defense isn’t going to be perfect every time out, but overall, it’s been a really good start for us.”

The coach noted that by varsity standards, the Eagles are still a fairly young team. They are made up of three seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and one freshman.

Prince Edward has exhibited strong team defense, with freshman shortstop Mattison Kinne, sophomore third baseman Jeremy Mahan and sophomore first baseman Kaleb Hensley standing out.

Senior Corbett Bowman (2-0) has been the team’s go-to pitcher. Kenny said that in 12 innings, Bowman has walked only one batter and allowed only one run.

On offense, sophomore Isaih Dailey, sophomore Thomas Orange, junior Cody Kitchen, Mahan and sophomore Robert Jenkins are key.

The Eagles visit Nottoway in Crewe on Tuesday.