Parkersburg South’s Ty Davis, left, Dylan Holliday, center and Carter McLain take a picture together following a game earlier this season. The Patriots trio all have collected their 100th career hits this season. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — While Parkersburg South’s Dylan Holiday, Ty Davis and Carter McLain are focused on trying to help the Patriots reach the state baseball tournament, the trio accomplished a rare feat this spring for head coach Bryan Youngblood as they each recorded career hit No. 100.

Although complete historic records aren’t available, the last Patriot to amass 100 hits in their career at PSHS was Reece Fletcher back in 2018.

“All three of them are outstanding players. They’ve been a mainstay in our lineup for the past four years. They put the work in and they were rewarded for their work,” admitted coach Youngblood.

“They’re even better young men and more importantly model students. All of them have a plan for their future and let’s face it, that’s rare in young people today and that’s what we as educators try to execute everyday – be it in the classroom or at the ballpark.”

Holliday was the first to reach the plateau on April 12 at Charleston Catholic while Davis followed on the 21st at Wheeling Central.

McClain collected his via a double during his first at-bat versus Warren on the 24th at Hank Greenburg Field.

When asked if they could recall their first career hit as a Patriot they all replied with a no, but Davis is never going to forget his first at-bat against Hurricane’s Ismael Borrero back in 2022.

“I just remember they had this kid Ish. They called him Ish and he went to some JUCO school in Florida,” recalled the second baseman, who entered the week hitting .467 with 14 RBIs and 13 steals. “He was hitting like low 90s that game and we had gone from fall league, middle school ball seeing, we’d be lucky to see a pitcher throwing 70 and first varsity start we go up and this kid was literally sitting at 91-92 that game and touching 93-94.

“I remember I went up and I don’t remember the whole at-bat, but I remember I hit an absolute hot line drive down the first-base line and I like instantly was so excited. The first baseman ends up laying out completely full Superman in the air and catches the ball. I was like so down. I didn’t even get to step out of the box before he catches the ball. Ever since freshman year we’ve all played varsity. We’ve been together quite some time, especially me and Dylan. We’ve pretty much always played together.”

McClain, who roams center field, entered the week leading the team in batting average (.526), stolen bases (35) and triples (3).

“No, I don’t. It was a long time ago,” McClain admitted of not recalling hit No. 1. “Our coach let us know pretty early on it was something to keep our eyes on.

“I think individually us three have been pretty consistent. We’re looking to make a run in the postseason. We grew up playing together.”

Holliday, who will join McClain on the diamond at Marietta College, not only has a quartet of pitching wins along with a save, but he’s batting .403 with team-highs of eight doubles and 28 RBIs.

“It was a nice line drive over the shortstop. It was an 0-0 count. Fastball right down the middle. Aggressive early. Nice barrel over the shortstop and I finally got,” Holliday said of reaching the century mark.

“I think two games I went hitless. I don’t know. Trying to do much and I finally just got it out of the way. It was a big relief. No chance (of recalling hit No. 1). It seems like forever ago.”

Holliday said he found out on a bus ride back from Morgantown that he was just a hit away from the milestone.

“I was like ‘shoot, I need to get it’ and then Ty got it and Carter got it,” he said. “It’s pretty cool knowing we all grew up playing together and stuff.”

Although McLain was the last Patriot to reach the mark he admitted “it was nice. It was a long time coming.

“I’ve been walked a lot this season and taken out of a lot of at-bats. I think that put me behind a little bit.”

McLain and his teammates play their final regular season at noon Saturday on the road at Warren. After that it’s postseason time.

“I think definitely we’ve been really good,” McLain said of the Patriots’ regular season effort.

“We’ve just got to hit all the way through the lineup and plate more runs.”

Davis also enjoyed the chase to hit No. 100 and is ready to leave it all out on the field as their prep careers soon will come to a close.

“It’s definitely been cool, especially like you almost see it as like, especially with the 100 hits thing, it was kind of like a fun little friendly challenge just to see who gets there first,” Davis explained. “I think Dylan led us by a few hits, but especially me and Carter we were just right there and we’d be back and forth joking around with each other.

“I think it’s just been cool because I think we’ve all played our probably, especially hitting-wise, definitely all of us played our best hitting season our senior year. I don’t like to think that we had a cupcake schedule to do it in either. I mean we’ve definitely put hits up against some of the best teams in the state this year, for sure. To be able to complete that with those guys, especially seeing all of us doing it, that’s what made it the best. It’s just fun.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com