A memorable performance in a baseball game against Purnell Swett in late March provided a big hint that Pinecrest’s Matt Eddy was on his way to an all-state caliber season.

The senior went 3-for-5 with a double, two home runs and six runs batted in the Patriots’ 12-11 comeback win over the Rams in nine innings. His grand slam completed a five-run game-tying rally in the eighth. His double in the ninth set up the winning run.

Eddy has been named to the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association 4A all-state team. The first baseman previously earned All-Southeastern Conference recognition. He batted an SEC high .471, smacked seven home runs and drove in 33.

Pitched around more often as the season went on, he drew 25 walks, contributing to an on-base average of .624. He joins Taylor Norfleet (2005), Seth Maness (2006), Chais Beloso and Josh Haley (2008), James Baldwin III (2010) and Dillon Maples (2010, 2011) among other Patriot players that have received the honor in recent years.

“When you think about the all-state guys we’ve had, they all worked hard and had something they were very good at,” Patriot coach Jeff Hewitt said after a recent summer league game. “It’s no secret Matt’s ability to hit and arrive on time against good pitching gave him the opportunity to get this honor.

“People who were here at the Purnell Swett game, where he really stepped up for us, understood Matt was an all-state hitter.”

The son of Ben and Caroline Eddy of Southern Pines was a regular on the star-studded 2011 squad that was one of the best in the history of baseball at Pinecrest.

“This year I knew I had to step up and be a leader because I knew those guys were gone,” he said on Thursday. “I wanted to be the kind of a leader that would bring the team up.”

Eddy is still in the process of making a decision between going to Brevard College to play baseball in the Division II South Atlantic Conference or attending UNC Charlotte and possibly trying to make the team as a walk on. A good student at Pinecrest, he plans to major in business.

After helping a revamped Patriot lineup finish 16-9 and tie for second place in the SEC this spring, the postseason honors are a nice reward.

“I was really excited when I heard I made the all-state team,” he said. “It made me feel like I really accomplished something big.”