HONEA PATH — The darkest time for Barrett Phillips in his quest to play college baseball came as a sophomore.

Laziness led to poor grades, and ineligibility, which kept him away from the sport he loves. But two years later, that lost season kick-started a career that motivated him to put in long hours in the weight room.

A year after serving as Belton-Honea Path’s closer, Phillips was the Bears ace this season and showed off a blazing fastball and a keep-you-honest curveball to keep his earned run averaged below one most of the season.

The left-hander struck out 72 in 46 2/3 regular season innings for a 0.45 ERA, allowing just three earned runs in seven regular season starts.

After a couple of rocking playoff outings, Phillips finished 7-2 with two saves on a Bears team that strung together a 24-game winning streak — and an undefeated region season — the longest in school history by 13 games.

“I couldn’t imagine,” Phillips said when asked if this season could have been any better. “It was just a great feeling playing so good for so long. That really helped me out, the team being confident helped me be confident.”

B-HP senior right fielder Cody Gambrell said the natural movement on Phillips’ fastball made his teammate “definitely hard to hit,” which gave the Bears’ defense a lift.

“We all played right behind him,” Gambrell said. “Whenever he was on the mound, I was confident he was going to do his job, and we were going to do our job.”

Always wanting to take over the game himself, Phillips admitted to not relying on his defense as much as he should, and not pitching toward contact enough.

“It’s hard to get that through your head because I’m a ballplayer,” he said. “But I’ve just got to throw strikes and let the hitters do what they do, and let my defense do what they do.”

B-HP coach Steve Williams said that before Phillips’ starts, the team knew it probably needed only a couple of runs to get a win.

While Phillips has always been a power pitcher, his work in the weight room helped him stay on the mound for seven innings, especially transitioning from the closer’s role.

“He is as hard a worker in the weight room as we’ve got,” Williams said. “He really pushes himself hard, he’s taken a lot of pride in getting as big and as strong as he can.”

Work in the weight room also enhanced the speed Phillips has had his entire life. He used that to patrol center field, and track down would-be doubles in the gap.

Looking back on the season he missed, Phillips said it motivated him to work harder, in the classroom and the weight room. He’s raised his grades from Ds and Fs to Bs and Cs, and added 3-4 miles per hour on his fastball, which tops out in the high 80s.

“I was just lazy, I didn’t really do my work,” said Phillips, who was selected to play in the North-South All-Star game. “Just missing being out on the field, I couldn’t take it, I had to play. I’m not as lazy and I still do my work. Baseball was a big factor in my work. That’s the reason I turned it around because that’s my passion.”

Added Williams, “You don’t really realize it until after it happens and you say, ‘Man, I wished I had done more.’”

The carrot that helped Phillips close in on his potential was his dream to play college baseball. Spartanburg Methodist helped him fulfill that dream.

While Williams said the “sky is wide open” for Phillips, it took the player time to realize the opportunity in front of him.

“He’s a better student than he’s shown here, he’s worked at it the last year or so,” Williams said. “He’s woke up the last year or so and realized athletics can get your education paid for if you work at it hard enough.”

Anderson Independent-Mail all-area baseball team

BARRETT PHILLIPS, BELTON-HONEA PATH SENIOR, PITCHER/CENTER FIELDER

The Anderson Independent-Mail and Western 3A region Player of the Year was nearly unhittable in the regular season with an 0.45 ERA while he allowed three earned runs. He finished 7-2 with two saves in 58 1/3 innings.

AUSTIN GAMBRELL, BELTON-HONEA PATH FRESHMAN, FIRST BASEMAN/THIRD BASEMAN

Gambrell hit .366, but was especially clutch in the Bears deep postseason run. Gambrell had three RBIs in the district championship double header against Greer, and was 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs in the second round of the district. The all-region selection had 24 RBIs on the season and a .970 fielding percentage.

MATTHEW MOORE, BELTON-HONEA PATH JUNIOR, PITCHER/SHORTSTOP

Turned in his best outing on the mound when it mattered most: to clinch the district championship against Greer. He threw a complete-game one hitter, struck out eight, and walked three. On the season, he was 7-0 with three saves in 46 1/3 innings and a 1.96 ERA. Also an all-region shortstop, he hit .342.

ANDREW RASH, WESTSIDE SENIOR, PITCHER/SHORTSTOP

The Virginia Tech signee and North-South All-Star hit .434 with seven doubles, a school-record 10 home runs, 28 walks and 32 RBIs. After switching from closer to starter, Rash finished 4-4 on the mound with four saves, a 3.30 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 33 innings.

BRANDON BURTON, PENDLETON SENIOR, PITCHER/SHORTSTOP

The Skyline region Player of the Year was the ace of the Bulldogs’ staff. He was 6-4 with five complete games and a 2.52 ERA. In region play, he was 5-0 with a 1.29 ERA, 36 strikeouts and 15 walks in 38 innings. Led the Bulldogs in walks (24), steals (18) and runs scored (24). Burton hit .312 with an on-base percentage of .458 from the leadoff spot.

KYLE ANDERSON, PENDLETON SENIOR, FIRST BASEMAN

The North-South All-Star selection led the Bulldogs in hits (40), batting average (.404), slugging percentage (.515), and only struck out once in the regular season. Was also an all-Skyline region selection, and had a .958 fielding percentage.

BRAD PARKINS, T.L. HANNA SENIOR, CATCHER

Had the best power numbers on a team that hit 30 home runs, Parkins hit six homers, four doubles, and only struck out six times in 76 plate appearances. He hit .541, slugged .824 with 24 RBIs, and had a .592 on-base percentage.

JOHN LONG, T.L. HANNA SENIOR, SECOND BASEMAN

A team captain and all-Region 1-4A selection, Long hit .431 with four doubles, four home runs, and only struck out six times in 72 plate appearances.

ROSS JACKSON, T.L. HANNA SENIOR, CENTER FIELDER

A North-South All-Star and all-Region 1-4A selection, Jackson hit .438 with seven doubles, five home runs, 17 walks and 20 RBIs. Made the all-tournament team at Hilton Head on spring break, and was voted the team MVP.