[5/5/03]There’s a silent killer roaming the outfield for Porters Chapel Academy.

It comes into games quietly, leaves a swath of destruction through opposing pitching staffs, and exits without saying a word.

Its name is Chase Towne, the latest “silent assassin” from his family, and one of the major reasons why the Eagles are in the South State championship series this week against Franklin.

Game 1 of the series is Tuesday night at Franklin at 7 p.m. Game 2 is set for 4:30 p.m. Friday at PCA, and Game 3, if necessary, will follow.

“I’ve been coaching the kid for two years, and he’s probably said 50 words total,” PCA coach Randy Wright said with a laugh. “He’s the best outfielder I’ve had in the eight years I’ve been here.”

Towne shies away from the spotlight, but it’s hard to escape it when he’s played as well as he has the last two seasons.

In 2001, Towne led the Eagles with a .457 average, scored 42 runs and stole 20 bases. This year, he’s leading the team again with a .445 average and 13 stolen bases.

Towne’s power and run production have also increased this season, with 13 doubles, three home runs and 31 RBIs. Last season, he had two homers, 28 RBIs, and only four doubles.

“It’s easier to hit somebody when the whole team is hitting, and he barely strikes out. I’m always hitting with somebody on,” said PCA third baseman Josh Rush, who bats behind Towne in the lineup. “He’s been real clutch.”

He’s also been real quiet. Like his brother, Brent, a former Warren Central star who now plays at Hinds, Chase Towne rarely speaks about himself or anything else. Brent Towne was dubbed “the silent assassin,” and it seems his brother has been built in the same mold.

“He’s real quiet. The only time he does talk, he talks (noise). I do most of the talking in the outfield,” PCA left fielder Wes Massey said with a laugh. “He definitely helps the club a lot. There’s nothing he can’t do. He does it all … He doesn’t talk much, but he doesn’t have to. He backs it up on the field.”

Towne has been nearly as good in the field has he has at the plate this season. He’s committed only two errors, and has tracked down a countless number of fly balls that seemed destined for the gap.

His speed, range, and arm give the Eagles a valuable weapon in center field, and given the team’s other outfielders more confidence in their defense.

“Anything hit my way, I know he’s going to be there to back me up,” Massey said. “Me and (right fielder) Gerald (Mims) know we don’t have to cover as much ground because he can get so far.”

Because of his ability and demeanor, Wright and most of Towne’s teammates said the center fielder is a leader by example. Towne downplayed that role, though.

“I just go out and try my hardest,” Towne said.

That’s just fine with Wright, who has seen Towne ably fill a void left after PCA’s state runner-up finish in 2001. Towne transferred from Warren Central and immediately stepped in for another ex-WC player, Kyle Ehrhardt.

Ehrhardt was a little more vocal then Towne, but Wright has been more than happy to swap a few words of encouragement for applause from the crowd over another big hit or great catch.

“When (Towne) came in, we needed somebody to take over the center fielder role,” Wright said. “He has come in and just been phenomenal since he’s been here.”