Bucknell

[USC66]

I was impressed overall with the Yardcocks this past weekend. I know Bucknell isn't raising eyebrows around the country but the Yardcocks still impressed none the less. One of the biggest improvements I seen was the patience at the plate. Last year we swung at way too many bad pitches and had a lot of pop ups. This weekend we had a lot of walks and hard line drives. Of course some of that had to do with Bucknell but you can't overlook the fact that we scored 41 runs. This team has power and speed up and down the lineup. They will be fun to watch.

Pitching also looked good. Monty was his usual self. Maybe a little off but still dominating. Crow is going to be a force. He is the real deal. Very calm and efficient on the mound. If i didnt already know, I wouldnt have believed he is a freshman. I wish Coach Holbrook would have left him in till at the least he gave up a hit but I understand the 75 pitch count he was on. Imagine the trivia if he would have pitched a no-no. Some are down on the bullpen but i believe they will be fine. We have some great arms with experience and you know Meyers will have them ready.

Defense looked great as usual. Last year was a little more shaky than we are use to but this weekend i was very pleased with the playing of our defense. Grenier is one of the best catchers in the country. He threw one guy out playing off at second from home. Impressive. Not too many weaknesses on defense. We have another Mooney at SS and he looks natural. English dropped a easy fly for our only error.

I know it was Bucknell but many top teams lost a game or 2 this past weekend. The Gamecocks schedule is not hard out of conference. Clemmons will be our toughest till we get to the SEC but they lost one to E. Michigan and as usual, we have the tiggers number anyway. Look for this team to stay at the top all season and make another run.

 

[Superb Owl]

BTW, glad to see you posting here USC66, Welcome again.

Yeah, excited to see a sweep this weekend.  Nice way to open the season, we should roll vs. Presbyterian Tuesday...

 

[USC66]

Thanks Raptor.

Baseball can be humbling. Presbyterian could start someone and they pitch a game like no other. We should roll like you say though. I'm excited about this team. If they can come together with the right chemistry it's going to be hard to beat them.

 

[Superb Owl]

Well, look at College of Charleston, I bet the UNC fans never thought they would be in the position they are in right out of the gate.

 

[ShepCock]

Thanks Raptor.

Baseball can be humbling. Presbyterian could start someone and they pitch a game like no other. We should roll like you say though. I'm excited about this team. If they can come together with the right chemistry it's going to be hard to beat them.

We have struggled with PC in recent years on the diamond, even losing to them once if I recall.

But usually we win 2-1 or 4-3 or something like that.

Can't overlook anyone in South Carolina really.

 

[ShepCock]

I was impressed overall with the Yardcocks this past weekend. I know Bucknell isn't raising eyebrows around the country but the Yardcocks still impressed none the less. One of the biggest improvements I seen was the patience at the plate. Last year we swung at way too many bad pitches and had a lot of pop ups. This weekend we had a lot of walks and hard line drives. Of course some of that had to do with Bucknell but you can't overlook the fact that we scored 41 runs. This team has power and speed up and down the lineup. They will be fun to watch.

Pitching also looked good. Monty was his usual self. Maybe a little off but still dominating. Crow is going to be a force. He is the real deal. Very calm and efficient on the mound. If i didnt already know, I wouldnt have believed he is a freshman. I wish Coach Holbrook would have left him in till at the least he gave up a hit but I understand the 75 pitch count he was on. Imagine the trivia if he would have pitched a no-no. Some are down on the bullpen but i believe they will be fine. We have some great arms with experience and you know Meyers will have them ready.

Defense looked great as usual. Last year was a little more shaky than we are use to but this weekend i was very pleased with the playing of our defense. Grenier is one of the best catchers in the country. He threw one guy out playing off at second from home. Impressive. Not too many weaknesses on defense. We have another Mooney at SS and he looks natural. English dropped a easy fly for our only error.

I know it was Bucknell but many top teams lost a game or 2 this past weekend. The Gamecocks schedule is not hard out of conference. Clemmons will be our toughest till we get to the SEC but they lost one to E. Michigan and as usual, we have the tiggers number anyway. Look for this team to stay at the top all season and make another run.

Great writeup. Wish I could high five it twice!

Great to have you over here.

 

[Superb Owl]

You are right J2K, cannot underestimate anyone.  However, the showing this weekend hopefully makes us feel a little more confident..

 

[ShepCock]

Gamecocks more dominating than usual in opening baseball series
February 17, 2014 by Neil White - The State
 
For the fifth time in the six seasons at Carolina Stadium, the South Carolina baseball team swept its opening series.
 
But the dismantling of Bucknell by a combined score of 41-6 surpassed what the Gamecocks had done in previous seasons against the likes of Duquesne, Santa Clara and VMI, which left everyone with a couple of questions.
 
Is South Carolina really that good? Or is Bucknell simply in for a really long season? Maybe it’s both.
 
The Gamecocks moved up two spots to No. 5 this week in the Baseball America Top 25 after steamrolling the Bison.
 
The defense made only one error on a dropped fly ball in center field. The starting pitchers, Jordan Montgomery, Jack Wynkoop and Wil Crowe, threw well, especially the freshman Crowe in his collegiate debut. Nine relievers combined to finish off the three games, and only one of them allowed any runs.
 
The offense banged out 39 hits, including 10 doubles and four homers, for a .368 average, with 21 walks helping push the on-base percentage to .493. Of course, it helps when the batting order is loaded with veterans such as juniors Grayson Greiner, Joey Pankake, Kyle Martin, Tanner English and Connor Bright, as well as sophomore Max Schrock.
 
“We can be pretty old with the lineup that we put on the field as far as experience,” coach Chad Holbrook said. “Coach (Ray) Tanner always told me that you win a lot more games with 21 and 22-year olds than you do with 18 and 19-year olds. You need to be old in this league.”
 
Holbrook had a good idea that his starting rotation would be top-notch, but he got a better handle on the potential of his bullpen, after witnessing strong outings from juniors Joel Seddon and Cody Mincey, sophomores Vince Fiori and Curt Britt, and freshman Taylor Widener. Junior Evan Beal didn’t throw over the weekend due to a sore back.
 
Citing both the depth and balance in the bullpen, with its mix of right-handers and left-handers, Holbrook said the options will help his team finish games.
 
“We have a number of guys who we can go to after our starters, hopefully, get us to the sixth inning,” he said. “We can pass the baton from kid to kid to kid depending on the opponent.”
 
Also, the infield defense looks as if it will be much improved. Greiner already was a stalwart behind the plate, as was Schrock at second base, but plugging in Martin at first base and transfer Marcus Mooney at shortstop should make a big difference this season.
 
It’s not certain if Pankake or DC Arendas will become a fixture at third base, but both have the capability of anchoring the hot corner. Pankake played one game at third and two in left field against Bucknell, while Arendas played third the other two games. Both had some good moments offensively.
 
Holbrook said he plans to let that situation play itself out.
 
“I want Joey to play more third base,” he said. “He’s not going to be our everyday left-fielder. I’m not ready to say that. He’s an infielder by trade, and he’s become a darn good third baseman.”
 
But when Pankake goes to the outfield, Holbrook is able to get Arendas’ defensive skills into the infield and get another big bat in the lineup at designated hitter.
 
With a Tuesday game against Presbyterian and a weekend series against Eastern Kentucky at Carolina Stadium this week, Holbrook should continue to find the answers to his early-season questions.

 

[ShepCock]

Crowe Named SEC Pitcher of the Week
February 18, 2014
 
Freshman right-hander Wil Crowe has been SEC Pitcher of the Week as announced by the league office on Tuesday.
 
Crowe had an impressive debut as he hurled 6.1 hitless innings in his first career start. Crowe walked just one and hit one batter while finishing with five strikeouts to earn his first career win in a Gamecock uniform. Bucknell had just one runner reach second base and none reach third base while Crowe was on the mound. Crowe retired 13 consecutive batters in a row before coming out of the game as he reached his pitch count total.