Gamecocks expect 15 freshmen to make immediate impact
The story of the 2012-13 baseball season is anyone’s to write.
USC will begin the new campaign without key players that led the team to three straight appearances in the finals of the College World Series.
But as the Gamecocks move through fall practices, which began on Friday, they will look to find roles for returning veterans and incoming freshmen alike.
“This is an exciting time for our team,” said first-year coach Chad Holbrook, who replaced Ray Tanner after he was named athletic director. “This is the first time we’ll be on the field as a group and find out what some of these guys can do.
“We have a lot of new faces. We don’t have one returning hitter that hit over .300. We’re going to have to try to find somebody to fill the shoes of (Michael) Roth and (Matt) Price. Needless to say, this is a very important fall for us. We have some talented players. We’re expecting big things from this team.”
Sophomore outfielder Tanner English may be South Carolina’s best returner at the plate after hitting .298 and starting all but one game in his freshman campaign. English said the team will look to its seniors to lead, but that the sophomores also have a role to play in helping the team’s newcomers.
“We have a lot of older guys, like L.B. (Dantzler) and Chase (Vergason),” English said. “They’re going to be good senior leaders. For [the sophomores], we’re going to have to be leaders. There are a lot of freshmen.”
Vergason, last year’s opening day starter at second base, came to USC from junior college and hit .258 in his first year as a Gamecock.
Dantzler started every game at third base and contributed several key hits during last year’s campaign, including a walk-off RBI single in South Carolina’s 5-4 win over Clemson at the NCAA Regional Tournament. The senior, who also transferred from junior college, embraces the idea of becoming a leader.
“I think I’m ready for [a leadership role],” Dantzler said. “I want to step up and help the new guys. (Michael) Roth and Christian (Walker) helped me last year. So hopefully I can help some of the new guys this year.”
The fall roster features 15 freshmen. Holbrook said the team will look for immediate contributions from all the newcomers, particularly second baseman Max Schrock, who was selected in the 28th round of the MLB draft this summer but opted to commit to USC.
“There could be two or three freshmen in the starting lineup in February, easily,” Holbrook said. “Max Schrock is one of the more gifted hitters that I’ve had a chance to recruit in the last 10 or 15 years ... We have a host of freshman infielders. George Iskenderian is having a great couple of weeks. D.C. Arendas has been good.”
English said the young players’ transition to the team has gone smoothly so far.
“They seem like they’re taking pretty well,” he said. “A couple of guys were here over the summer, and they got used to it. Now on the first day of practice, they all seem pretty excited to get out here.”
Although the baseball team has a new coach and welcomes a number of new faces, expectations are high for the upcoming year. Regardless of the program’s recent achievements, the players approach fall practice hoping to find a way to contribute to another successful season.
“I try not to think about [expectations],” English said. “It’s a new year. The last three years don’t matter. We have to come out here and start getting to work again and see where it goes.”
Note: Throughout the fall practice season, the Gamecocks will have scrimmages on Fridays at 3:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Saturday times are subject to change based on the football schedule. All scrimmages are free and open to the public.