Spring 2012
USC BASEBALL PREVIEW 2012
contents
4
Expectations High for Gamecock Baseball Team Has Depth, Experience Entering 2012 Season
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Kerry Powers | kpowers@free-times.com, ext. 128 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Adam Cross | adamc@free-times.com, ext. 134 Ginny Kuhn | ginnyk@free-times.com, ext. 130 Richard Skipper | skipper@free-times.com, ext. 140 CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER: Cale Johnson | classy@free-times.com, ext. 131 CLASSIFIEDS SALES: Katie English | katie@free-times.com, ext. 141 Jason Stroman | jasons@free-times.com, ext. 132
10 Top 5 Series
OPERATIONS MANAGER: Jen Coody | jenc@free-times.com, ext. 124 CIRCULATION: Tammy Figurski | circulation@free-times.com, ext. 152
11 Roster
The Side Line is published by Portico Media SC 1534 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201 PO Box 8295, Columbia, SC 29202 (803) 765-0707 • 765-0727 FAX free-times.com
14 Schedule ON THE COVER Photo by Sean Rayford
2
executive EDITOr: Dan Cook | editor@free-times.com, ext. 133 ASSIGNING EDITOR: David Cloninger production manager: Lisa Willis | lisaw@free-times.com, ext. 121 graphic designers: Joey Ayer | joeya@free-times.com, ext. 150 Wilbert T. Fields | wilbertf@free-times.com, ext. 145 Contributor: Chris Gillespie
Advertisers in The Side Line assume responsibility for the entire content and subject matter of all advertisements. In case of error or omissions in advertisement, the publisher’s sole liability shall be to publish the advertisement at a later date. Notice of error must be made within ten days of first insertion. © 2012 Portico Media SC. All rights reserved.
2012 BASEBALL EDITION
2012 BASEBALL EDITION
3
Expectations High for Gamecock Baseball Team Has Depth, Experience Entering 2012 Season BY David Cloninger
Michael Roth returns to anchor the rotation in 2012. Photo by Chris Gillespie
ay Tanner knew he would be asked about the odds of a third national championship. He smiled when he was asked.
R
“I don’t know about that,” Tanner said as South Carolina opened a three-week training session prior to Friday’s season-opener. “We have expectations in this program. Players have it, fans have it. We’re just going to do the best we can.” The bar has been significantly raised for the Gamecocks’ baseball program, which is natural. A team can’t win two national championships — much less, do it in two straight years — and not expect to have people think it could do it again. But Tanner, preparing to begin his 16th season at South Carolina, won’t have himself or his players thinking like that. The sheer thought of a 56-game regular season, then nearly a
4
month of postseason baseball, is heavy enough. To think that a team could play all of those games, perhaps have a great record and make it to the College World Series — and then have it be considered a disappointment if it didn’t win the national championship — is mind-blowing. There are 300 teams striving to be one of the final eight that make it to Omaha, Neb., for the CWS. The Gamecocks have been one of those eight in each of the past two years, and twice the only one left standing after the two-week dust-up in the Midwest settled. It will be difficult just to make it there again, let alone to win. Tanner knows that. But he also knows that USC, from
players to fans, is at the point where it expects to win instead of hoping to win, and that attitude can carry a team through a lot of rough patches. “We don’t get too far ahead of ourselves,” Tanner said. “I’ve always said, in our league, if you can get through the regular season, get to the regionals, you have a chance, because you’re battle-tested. 2012’s not going to be any different.” Following is a breakdown of where the 2012 Gamecock baseball team stands, position by position.
Catcher After losing the versatile Robert Beary and veteran Brady Thomas to graduation, USC has reloaded with freshman Grayson Greiner. A USC legacy — his father played basketball for the Gamecocks
— Greiner blossomed into one of the best prep players in the state in nearby Blythewood. Tanner labeled Greiner a virtual clone of Landon Powell, a four-year backstop who played in three College World Series, and he will be counted on to play significant time. Dante Rosenberg is back to challenge Greiner, and Tanner will play both during the season.
First Base There’s no question that Christian Walker is the man after two terrific seasons, highlighted by underrated defense and massive power at the plate. Walker has belted the home run that put USC in the CWS for each of the past two years and is hoping to make it three-for-three and call it quits for his college career; he’s definitely a high draft prospect this summer. Freshman slug-
2012 BASEBALL EDITION
2012 BASEBALL EDITION
5
and has torn up fall camp with his bat. Like Pankake, Dantzler will likely play every day.
Chase Vergason Photo by Chris Gillespie
Left Field There are lots candidates, and they’re all good. With Evan Marzilli expected to move to center field, Jake Williams could resume his spot in left or play designated hitter. Freshman Tanner English is a speedy player who can disrupt games offensively, but he’s struggling to get on base and the coaching staff might not want to put him out there until he can consistently make his speed work for him. Marzilli could resume his spot in left field if English takes over in center and Williams is designated hitter, but for Opening Day, it will likely be Williams in left field. ger Kyle Martin will back up Walker, and might see a lot of time as designated hitter.
Second Base For the first time in four years, there will be no Scott Wingo at second base. It will be a strange sight, but Tanner feels he has the capability to replace Wingo’s defensive brilliance. Junior-college transfer Chase Vergason will likely be the starter, but there are several new faces to compete with him. TJ Costen is a talented freshman who can play infield and outfield, while Connor Bright and Tanner Lovick have also been brought in to challenge for the position.
Bright, Lovick and Costen can also play short if Pankake is unavailable, but the plan is to have him out there for every game.
Third Base Adrian Morales will be missed, for his bat, his glove and his fearless attitude. Mo-
rales, who was drafted as a senior last summer, was the coach on the field, calling out defensive adjustments and keeping everybody inspired. Junior college transfer LB Dantzler can replace Morales’ glove and bat, but the mantle of defensive captain mantle is yet to be decided. Dantzler is very good at playing the short field
Center Field After Jackie Bradley Jr. departed for the majors, Marzilli will probably get first crack at replacing him with English right behind. Marzilli is a proven fielder, a good hitter and can bat leadoff with his speed, but if English turns his bat around and can get on base,
Shortstop The Gamecocks will deploy their third shortstop in three years, but they feel that this will be one that sticks for the next three years. Joey Pankake, a multi-tooled athlete from Easley, took the spot on the first day of fall practice and he won’t be moved. A standout hitter who is also great defensively, Pankake has shown that he can be counted on to pitch an inning if need be, too.
6
Matt Price Photo by Chris Gillespie
2012 BASEBALL EDITION
2012 BASEBALL EDITION
7
he could be that guy. Each will play, and Marzilli will start, but the roles might be switched as the year progresses. For now, it’s Marzilli’s spot.
Right Field Adam Matthews should be the starter at right field and remain there for the majority of the season. It’s his spot: He’s played there off-and-on for four years, and as a senior captain, he’ll be rewarded. Matthews is very good defensively and was having a terrific year in 2011 before pulling his hamstring, an injury that cost him the last half of the season except for spot duty. The other two outfield spots will be mixed and matched, but Matthews should remain in right all year.
Designated Hitter USC will have a lot of options, but the best bets thus far seem to be Williams as a right-handed DH and Martin as a lefty. Both are sluggers, and both need to be on the field, but there aren’t a lot of options for everyday play. Other players who might get a shot include Brison Celek, Patrick Harrington and Sean Sullivan.
Starting Pitchers Michael Roth returns to anchor the rotation after a come-out-of-nowhere season in which he became an AllAmerican and a hefty part of a national championship. The left-handed junk-baller may not have devastating stuff, but he knows what to throw and when to throw it, and he has never buckled to pressure. He’ll be backed up by Matt Price, moving from closer to starter as a reward for his past two years of lock-down duty. Price will now have a chance to showcase himself more than just one inning per game. Colby Holmes, a solid Saturday man last year, will move into the Sunday role. The mid-week roles — and potentially any replacements in the starting rotation — will
8
Joey Pankake Photo by Chris Gillespie
come from a crop of freshman hurlers. Evan Beal and Joel Seddon were each highly ranked prospects who turned down draft selections to come to school, and Jordan Montgomery comes to USC from Sumter, where Price cut his teeth. Tyler Webb, Patrick Sullivan, Adam Westmoreland and Nolan Belcher have experience on the mound and will also get looks, while Drake Thomason will challenge after spending last year on the mend following Tommy John surgery. Without a John Taylor (50 appearances) to rely on, USC will seek middle relief and setup roles from Hunter Privette, Ethan Carter, Logan Munson and Vince Fiori.
Closer Forrest Koumas, who blossomed into the Sunday starter as a freshman last year and started Game One of the national championship series, will take over as Price is moved into the rotation. Koumas delivered every time he was placed into a pressure situation last year and it’s why it was a natural to move him to the role that Price was so
Coach Ray Tanner Photo by Chris Gillespie
dynamic in. Tanner loves his mentality, mentioning Koumas’ former days as a highschool option quarterback, which helped his toughness. And if for some reason Price or Koumas don’t fit into their new roles, they can always re-switch.
The 2012 Gamecocks bring experience and depth along with versatility and a crop of fresh faces. After 11 straight wins in Omaha, and 16 straight postseason wins, it wouldn’t be wise to count the Gamecocks out when the calendar flips to June.
2012 BASEBALL EDITION
2012 BASEBALL EDITION
9
Top 5 Series BY David Cloninger
S
outh Carolina will again bring some of the country’s best teams to Columbia in 2012. Here are five series you shouldn’t miss.
VMI
(Feb. 17-19)
It’s opening weekend at Carolina Stadium, offering a chance to see how the Gamecocks will replace the missing pieces from a two-time defending national championship squad. The pitching staff remains intact, but USC must replace its middle infield. Junior-college transfers Chase Vergason and LB Dantzler, plus freshman Joey Pankake, will be put to the test as they see firsthand how tough it will be to replace Adrian Morales, Peter Mooney and the magnificent Scott Wingo.
Clemson (March 2-4) A switch this year, as the teams will begin the series in Charleston, then play in Columbia on March 3 and finish in Clemson on March 4. These two teams didn’t like each other to begin with, but the rivalry has been raised in the past two years. First, USC beat Clemson twice on the way to the 2010 national title, then Clemson coach Jack Leggett accused USC of bat-tampering during last year’s USC series win. The Gamecocks haven’t forgotten, despite their wins: Many of the players have cheerfully stated how they feel OK about losing to anybody except the Tigers.
Florida
(March 22-24)
This is the first home SEC series of the season, and what a doozy — the preseason No. 1 Gators against the Gamecocks, who beat Florida for the national championship in June. USC took four of five games from Florida last season;
10
the Gators only lost 15 other games all year. Florida is dealing with intense pressure: The team knows that unless it wins the national championship, the season will be judged a failure. The Gamecocks played pressure-free all last year and that shouldn’t change, even with a Thursday-night start and an ESPNU audience for the first game.
Alabama
(April 26-28)
The Gamecocks beat the Crimson Tide to claim the SEC regular-season championship last year, winning on the final day in Tuscaloosa to do it. Perhaps that hasn’t sat well with Alabama, which saw its football team win another national title last year. Alabama’s baseball team has some work to do to start equaling its former success, but it has a strong legacy to build on.
LSU (May 17-19) The SEC’s rotating schedule has prevented these two teams from meeting in each of the past two regular seasons, a curious case where the Gamecocks were obviously the best but didn’t prove it against the heavyweight. The Tigers are six-time national champions, winning their last in 2009, just before USC took off on its run of two straight. LSU has had a couple of rough seasons, but it now has rebuilt and should again challenge for supremacy. The Tigers might get a chance to play for an SEC title on this weekend. Full schedule, page 14.
2012 BASEBALL EDITION
opinion Can It Happen Again? t’s a strange word, “expectation.” Especially at South Carolina, where expectations often far surpass reality. Coming into 2011, after the Gamecocks won the 2010 national championship, I’m not sure if many people “expected” USC to repeat in 2011. It was a possibility, of course, and it had to be mentioned — but realistically, it was a long shot. The Gamecocks’ vaunted pitching staff was decimated, and the team was gambling that a spot-starter in the College World Series would become a serviceable pitcher. And then there was the most obvious reason: It’s hard to get to Omaha. A team has to play 56 regularseason games, avoid injury and heavyweight opponents, and then survive the gauntlet of a conference tournament, a round of regionals and a round of Super Regionals. And if it does all that, there are still eight teams competing in Omaha, where there is no home-field advantage. I think some folks expected USC to at least get back to Omaha in 2011, and maybe a few expected another title. But the number of people with such lofty expectations decreased as the season progressed and the Gamecocks lost player after player to injury, even while the pitching staff was coming together under improbable ace Michael
I
Roth and two unlikely others — sophomore Colby Holmes, who had never pitched against an SEC opponent, and true freshman Forrest Koumas. On April 23, all seemed lost when USC lost to Mississippi State and Jackie Bradley Jr. tore a ligament in his wrist. The dream looked to be on its deathbed. But Ray Tanner got his veterans together, told them the year wasn’t over and to get back to work. “Win anyway,” he said, repeating a mantra that he had told his previous 15 teams at USC. And suddenly, they did. The Gamecocks finished the year on a 25-7 spurt, winning their first SEC regular-season championship since 2002 along the way, and won their final 10 games. It didn’t really sink in until Matt Price stood on the mound at TD Ameritrade Park, staring at the final Florida batter and inducing an easy fly ball — one that Bradley Jr., miraculously healed, caught for the final out. “Win anyway” became “backto-back,” as the Gamecocks constantly found ways to win and refused to lose. When it was over, and the second trophy was safely secured, Tanner naturally faced high expectations once again. This time, with his pitching staff back and a crop of newcomers that was labeled the best recruiting haul in the country by Collegiate Baseball, the expec-
2012 BASEBALL EDITION
BY David Cloninger tations are heavier — but also perhaps a bit more realistic. The Gamecocks did it once, did it twice: Can they become only the second team in history to threepeat, and the first since Southern Cal won an unprecedented five straight championships from 1970-74? “It’s not something we think about,” Tanner says. “That’s a lot of pressure to live up to. These guys handle pressure, but we can’t play the whole season thinking like that.” “Of course it’s on our minds,” says Price, the lights-out closer who will move into the starting rotation this year. “We want to get it, and we know that we have the team to get it. But we know it will be hard.” The usual SEC schedule awaits, led by Florida, the consensus top-rated team in the preseason and the one that has almost all its players returning
from a squad that USC beat for the national championship. The Gamecocks have veterans in their pitching staff and outfield, but they are replacing their infield with a mix of junior-college talent and freshmen. Tanner likes the chemistry already, noting the cool confidence of his experienced players and the brash cockiness of his newbies. The talent is clearly there, but there is a long season ahead — the Gamecocks know that they can win due to talent alone, but it takes more than talent. There’s no way of knowing if every ball that bounced their way last year in Omaha will do so again. All that’s left to do is play, and strive for championship No. 3. Expectation is great. But after last year, when slight expectation became reality, the Gamecocks feel good that greater expectation can become greater reality.
11
ROSTER 2012 (Note: Roster was not finalized at press time. The final roster will be cut to 34 players by Feb. 17.)
No. Name
Pos.
Yr.
3 Tanner English
OF
Fr. Murrells Inlet
4 Connor Bright INF 5 Patrick Harrington 6
Hometown
Fr. Mt. Pleasant
OF/C RFr. Virginia Beach, Va.
Joel Seddon RHP
Fr.
St. Clair, Mich.
8 TJ Costen INF
Fr. Virginia Beach, Va.
9 Joey Pankake
Fr. Easley
SS
10 Drake Thomason RHP RFr. 11 Sean Sullivan
OF
13 Christian Walker
1B
14 Evan Beal RHP 15
Nolan Belcher
Greenville
Sr. Columbia Jr.
Limerick, Pa.
Fr.
Fairfax Station, Va.
LHP RJr.
Augusta, Ga.
16 Chase Vergason
2B
Jr.
Orlando, Fla.
17
OF
Fr.
Lewisville, N.C.
Seth Constable (RS)
18 Dante Rosenberg C RJr. Coral Springs, Fla. 19 Tanner Lovick INF
Jr.
Winterville, N.C.
20
LB Dantzler
Jr.
Winter Haven, Fla.
21
Grayson Greiner C
3B
Fr. Blythewood
22 Matt Price RHP RJr.
Sumter
23 Vince Fiori
LHP
24 Brison Celek
1B RSo. Charleston
Fr. Ramsey, N.J.
25
Adam Westmoreland
LHP RJr. Cayce
26
Adam Matthews
OF
27
Forrest Koumas RHP
Sr.
Lexington
So. Elgin
29 Michael Roth
LHP
Sr.
30 Erik Payne
3B/C
So. Richmond, Va.
Greer
31 Evan Marzilli
OF
Jr. Cranston, R.I.
32 Ethan Carter
LHP
Jr.
Newport News, Va.
33
1B
Fr.
Simpsonville
Fr.
Sumter
Kyle Martin
34
Jordan Montgomery
LHP
35
Logan Munson
LHP RSr. Columbia
36 Hunter Privette RHP 37
Josh Knab RHP
38 Tyler Webb
LHP
Jr. Hartsville Jr. Conway Jr.
Nassawadox, Va.
39 Patrick Sullivan RHP RJr. Columbia 40
Jake Williams
OF
Sr.
Greer
42
Ahmad Christian INF
Fr.
Jacksonville, Fla.
43
Al Hentz RHP
Jr.
Lexington
44 Colby Holmes RHP
Jr. Conway
45 Robert DeCosmo(RS) RHP
Fr.
47
Thomas Little RHP RJr.
Agawam, Mass. West Columbia
* (RS) — Constable and DeCosmo are likely to redshirt the season due to injury. They will not count toward the 34-man roster limit, meaning four of the above will not be on the Opening Day roster.
12
2012 BASEBALL EDITION
2012 BASEBALL EDITION
13
Baseball SCHEDULE 2012
Date
Opponent
Feb. 17 VMI
Time
3 p.m.
Feb. 18 VMI
3 p.m.
Feb. 19 VMI
1:30 p.m.
Date
Opponent
March 21 WOFFORD March 22 FLORIDA* (ESPNU)
Time
Date
Opponent
7 p.m.
April 26
ALABAMA* (ESPNU)
Time
7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
April 27
ALABAMA*
7 p.m.
March 23 FLORIDA* (CSS)
7 p.m.
April 28
ALABAMA*
1:30 p.m.
Feb. 24 ELON
3 p.m.
March 24 FLORIDA* (CSS)
1 p.m.
May 2
DAVIDSON
7 p.m.
Feb. 25 ELON
1:30 p.m.
March 27 at The Citadel
7 p.m.
May 4
at Arkansas* (ESPNU)
8 p.m.
Feb. 26 ELON
1:30 p.m.
March 30 at Vanderbilt*
7 p.m.
May 5
at Arkansas* (ESPN2)
March 31 at Vanderbilt* (CSS)
4 p.m.
May 6
at Arkansas*
April 1
at Vanderbilt*
2 p.m.
May 9
FURMAN
7 p.m.
April 4
at College of Charleston
6 p.m.
May 11
at Georgia*
7 p.m.
April 6 TENNESSEE*
7 p.m.
May 12
at Georgia*
3 p.m.
April 7 TENNESSEE* (ESPNU)
8 p.m.
May 13
at Georgia*
Feb. 28 PRESBYTERIAN March 2
4 p.m.
vs. Clemson 6 p.m. (at Joe Riley Park, Charleston)
March 3 CLEMSON
2 p.m.
March 4
2 p.m.
at Clemson (ESPN3)
March 7 UNC ASHEVILLE
7 p.m.
March 9 PRINCETON
7 p.m.
March 10 PRINCETON
4 p.m.
March 11 PRINCETON
1:30 p.m.
March 13 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
7 p.m.
March 14 APPALACHIAN STATE
7 p.m.
March 16 at Kentucky* (CSS)
7 p.m.
March 17 at Kentucky*
2 p.m.
March 18 at Kentucky*
1 p.m.
March 20 vs. Furman (at Fluor Field, Greenville)
7 p.m.
14
April 8 TENNESSEE*
1:30 p.m.
April 10 THE CITADEL April 11
1 p.m. 2:05 p.m.
2 p.m.
May 15 USC UPSTATE
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
May 17
LSU*
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
May 18
LSU*
7 p.m.
April 13 MISSISSIPPI STATE*
7 p.m.
May 19
LSU*
7 p.m.
April 14 MISSISSIPPI STATE*
4 p.m.
May 22-27 SEC tournament (Hoover, Ala.)
April 15 MISSISSIPPI STATE*
1:30 p.m.
at Francis Marion
June 1-4
NCAA Regionals
April 17 COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 7 p.m.
June 8-11 NCAA Super Regionals
April 20
at Auburn*
7 p.m.
June 15-26 College World Series (Omaha, Neb.)
April 21
at Auburn* (SportSouth)
4 p.m.
April 22
at Auburn*
2 p.m.
Home games in CAPS *SEC game
2012 BASEBALL EDITION
2012 BASEBALL EDITION
15