New head baseball coach Mark Kingston stands on the mound, surrounded by his team, as spring scrimmages wrap up. The anticipation that has been building up over the past seven months is almost here, and he knows the next time his team meets like this will be for Opening Day.
"I'm anxious, these kids are anxious to get out there, we're all anxious to show all the work that's been put in over the last seven months," Kingston said during the final week of scrimmages. "We're a week away now but we're probably even more anxious to get out there and get on the field as a group."
Kingston was hired by athletic director Ray Tanner in June, and he started putting the work in right away. Between a stock of new arms and plentiful options to fill the infield, the Gamecocks have been busy making all of the pieces work.
"I just think right now, my hope is that we're a complete team," Kingston said. "That on most days we pitch well, we hit well, we play good defense. I want to be a well-rounded team and I think we have the chance to do that."
Kingston has been satisfied with the overall work his group has put in during spring practices. To start the final weekend of scrimmages, Kingston was very pleased with his team's effort and feels confident that they have become the well-rounded team that he wants them to be.
Kingston is entering a baseball community that is passionate about their team. He recognizes how important having a successful program is to this community but is ready for the pressure that he may face.
"We want to win at a very high level, and when you do that here the support you have is unbelievable," Kingston said. "They have high expectations and that's OK, we do too."
With both fall and spring scrimmages open to the public, fans have been able to get an early look at the team and meet the new head coach. From just what he's seen and who he's met so far, Kingston feels an even deeper connection to why he decided to call Carolina home.
"Well it's clear that there's a passion for baseball here and that's one of the big reasons why I wanted to come here, why I want this to be my last stop in college baseball," Kingston said. "They have the same passion for the game that I do, that my staff does. I've dedicated my whole life to this sport and it's great to be in a community they have the same passion."
Kingston has faced many challenges and made many decisions since practices started but feels he has handled the pressure well. Coming into this environment can be tough, but with the support of the fans and team, he feels like they are ready for this weekend.
"As a coach, you make sure you're on top of everything," Kingston said. "I wouldn't say anything concerns me at this point, we just want to make sure we stay on top of the things that are important. And that's how you prepare, it's them taking care of themselves from a nutrition standpoint, from a sleep standpoint."
As Kingston walks off the field to wrap up spring scrimmages, he feels ready for whatever is thrown the team's way. He's worked with the team, figured out a rotation, played with different lineup possibilities and can see the excitement building from the Gamecocks.
As he looks at the field from the dugout, that anticipation continues. The next time he stands there, sporting his garnet and black, Founders Park will be filled with thousands of fans ready for baseball. And as Adam Hill takes the mound under the lights, fans will hopefully get what they've been waiting for and get back to those winning ways, as the Mark Kingston era will be officially underway.