Joanna Hornets at home in 2nd season vs. Flying Monkeys

Sunday’s 2026 home opener for the Joanna Hornets was neither when nor where it was expected.

Even so, the result was a 9-2 win over the Greenwood Flying Monkeys at Presbyterian College’s Elton Pollock Field, the Hornets’ temporary home as team principals continue renovations on Joanna’s historic ballpark, an endeavor known as “The Joanna Project,” which also includes a museum honoring the 20th-century textile leagues while providing a home for the summer league wooden-bat team.

“This isn’t travel ball for guys to get reps,” said Joanna Project President Michael Riefsnyder. “We’re trying to produce something for the community that they can be proud of, too, and once we get to Joanna Stadium, I think that’s only goin gto improve things.”

The extensive renovation project at Joanna Stadium, though ongoing, may not be concluded before the tightly packed Blue Ridge League season is over for the Hornets, meaning a likely opening date for the facility in 2027.

Joanna’s season-opening weekend, set for home games on May 30-31, was rained out. The Hornets have since gotten off to a 2-2 start and have about 30 more games to play between now and the season finale on July 25.

The Blue Ridge League is in its first year of operation, and the Hornets joined after spending 2025 in a loose assemble teams. The Blue Ridge League has already added teams such as Greenwood Flying Monkeys and the Spartanburg County Peaches.

Riefsnyder said more teams in South Carolina are expected as the league continues to expand, creating natural rivalries and cutting down on travel.

Around 300 people attended Sunday’s home opener at PC, and Riefsnyder said he was happy with that number, many of whom were wearing Hornets jerseys, shirts and caps.

Carson Glenn, who helped pitch Clinton to a state title in 2023 before heading to Spartanburg Methodist, started on the mound Sunday for the Hornets. Members of his family played in the textile leagues in Joanna, so he has a connection not only to this team, but to those teams as well.

“It’s a great thing for the town,” he said. “After high school, there hasn’t been much around here during the summer, so it’s a great thing to have this out here. It’s great for the college players for development, and it’s great for the town. We had a decent turnout today. I think it’s a very entertaining thing for a lot of people to come out and enjoy their evening.”

Glenn and his former Clinton teammate, Zane McLendon, currently at Newberry College, are on the Hornets roster along with former Laurens standouts Jaedon Goodwin (USC Union/Claflin), Connor Rice (Brevard), Owen Pridgen (Southeastern Community College) and Josh Hughes (Erskine).

Hughes was expected to start Tuesday night’s game against Greenwood.

Riefsnyder said the team has a comaraderie formed because so many of the players are from the general area and know one another, either as teammates or competitors from high school or college.

Goodwin, who graduated after two years at USC Union and will continue his career at Claflin, said the Hornets are coming together with two straight wins following an 0-2 start.

“You know a lot of the guys, growing up playing baseball with them or against them,” he said. “Coming together to win games – that’s always a good feeling, and you can trust these guys. They’re going to fight until the end and make sure they try to get a win.”

Goodwin and Pridgen are returning for their second seasons with the Hornets, while Rice, Hughes and Glenn are rookies with the team.

Pridgen graduated from Southeastern and is looking for a new baseball and academic home, preferably at USC Beaufort, he said.
He said the tough junior college travel and schedule prepares players for a hot summer with the Hornets.

“It will punch you in the mouth, for sure,” Pridgen said. “There’s no days off. You’ve got to be ready to go every day.”
Pridgen led the Hornets last season in batting (.448) with two home runs and shared the team lead in RBI with 13 in 20 starts.

With such a tight game schedule, players have to find ways to stay sharp on their own, and Hughes said he and Rice, former Raiders teammates, work out together at LDHS. Hughes spent his freshman year at Erskine’s JV squad, while Rice is working himself back into form following Tommy John surgery.

“Especially for the pitchers, it’s about taking care of your arm and stuff, so Connor and I get together on the off days and get our work done.”
Rice figures to come out of the bullpen this summer and hopes the busy schedule will get him back into game shape for his sophomore year at Brevard. He didn’t play in the home opener, but knows his innings will come.

“Hopefully Tuesday, I’ll get an opportunity,” he said.

Joanna used four pitchers in its 9-2 win over Greenwood.

Liam Davenport picked up the win in relief after Glenn allowed one run over five innings, walking four and striking out eight in the no-decision.

Eight different Hornets got one hit apiece. Shortstop DuBose Rembert  drove in two runs from the lead-off spot and went 1-for-2 with two walks.

Greenwood catcher Harrison Moore, one of Glenn’s teammate from Clinton’s 2023 state championship team, went 1-for-3 at the plate, touching Glenn for a single in the second.

Moore has spent the past two years at Montreat, but is in the transfer portal with eyes on a move to Lander. He said the  summer experience with the Flying Monkeys, who share Legion Stadium with American Legion Post 20 in Greenwood, has been rewarding so far.

“The environment has been amazing,” he said. “I think we had, like, 1,500 people (for our home opener). We’ve got a good group of guys who haven’t played together a lot, but we’ll gel together.”