JOHNSTON - Following the conclusion of the current baseball season, Strom Thurmond’s Brent Wilder will be stepping down as head baseball coach of the Rebels and moving to Saluda High.

Wilder reportedly wanted an opportunity to get back into coaching football as well as remaining in baseball, so he has decided to make the move to Saluda. Current Athletic Director, Doug Painter, says Wilder will be an assistant baseball coach and an offensive lineman coach at Saluda.

No decision has been made as to who will take over for Wilder.

Mr. Wilder, a native of Swansea, was unavailable for comment because he was preparing to take his team to Pageland SC (Central High), for the first round of the SC AA Baseball Playoffs.

First pitch is at 6 p.m. tonight and Strom Thurmond will take on either Broome or Liberty tomorrow night at 6 p.m., on the road. This is the first year, in the last 5 or 6 years, that the Rebels have made the baseball playoffs. They are a fourth seed.

CORRECTION: In a previous article in The Citizen News, Doug Painter was identified as being the new Athletic Director and head football coach at Saluda High. He will be the Head Football Coach, only. The Citizen News regrets the error.