SMC Diamond: Notes, News, Signings, and Season Week #3
SMC Update:
The Pioneers are 6-2 following a doubleheader sweep of Newberry on Monday. On Saturday, Ben Carlson picked up a win in Game 2 with a complete game, 1 hit shutout against Patrick Henry CC. On Monday, four Pioneers combined on a one-hit shutout in Game 1, with Tyler Wilson throwing 4 innings of no-hit ball. Luke Tollison went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI, and Tyler Jackson went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
SMC Upcoming Games:
- vs. Stanly CC - Wednesday, Feb. 23 - 1 pm
- vs. Surry CC - Saturday, Feb. 26 - 1 pm
- at Patrick Henry (VA) CC - Sunday, Feb. 27 - 1 pm
Recent Signings:
- Bruce Caldwell, IF (Sumter HS)
- Ryan McPhail, C (Dutch Fork HS)
- Domineke Albert, C (Richland Northeast HS)
- Jimmy Lindberg, LHP (Bishop England HS)
- Craig Missigman, RHP (Olympic HS, Charlotte, NC)
- Wes McGuire, RHP (Goochland HS, Richmond, VA)
- Brandon Landrie, RHP (Spartanburg HS)
- Josh Kisamore, RHP (Sumter HS)
- Hiller Huggins, 1B (Irmo HS)
- Daniel Young, OF (Blythewood HS)
College Alumni Update:
John Long, RHP, East Tennessee State – Started opening day on Friday for the Bucs and was solid in his first outing, holding Marist to two runs on four hits and striking out four in his five innings of work, though he did not figure in the decision. The Bucs went on to win the game and the series, two games to one.
Josh Adams, RHP, Georgia Southern – Drew the Saturday start for the Eagles, throwing five scoreless innings to earn the team's first win of the season against visiting George Washington. Adams allowed just two hits and no runs, while walking three and striking out four. Georgia Southern took two out of three on the weekend.
Steve Cochrane, 1B, Georgia Southern – Went five for 11 with a double, one RBI, and two walks, helping the Eagles to a series win over George Washington.
Taylor Black, SS, Kentucky – Went one for 12 with a triple and a run scored while playing errorless defense. The Wildcats went 0-3 in the College of Charleston invitational, with single game losses to the College of Charleston, Marshall, and Miami (OH).
Kyle Owings, RHP, College of Charleston – Pitched four innings of scoreless baseball to earn the save in No. 20 C of C's 6-2 win over Miami (OH) on Saturday. Owings allowed just two hits with no walks and two strikeouts. The No. 20 Cougars went 3-0 on the weekend, picking up wins over Kentucky, Miami (OH), and Marshall.
Marty Gantt, LHP/OF, College of Charleston – Gantt was four for 11 with a triple, three RBI and two runs scored on the weekend as the No. 20 Cougars went 3-0 at the C of C Invitational. He also pitched one inning for the save against Marshall on Sunday, allowing one hit, one walk, and one earned run while striking out two to preserve the 8-6 win.
Rob Harding, RHP/3B, College of Charleston – Pitched one inning over the weekend, giving up two hits, one walk, and one earned run in the Cougars' win over Marshall. He was one for eight with one RBI as the Cougars' third baseman in wins over Kentucky and Miami (OH).
Josh Salay, RHP, College of Charleston – Started on Sunday against Marshall and went 2.1 innings, allowing two hits, one walk, and no earned runs, while striking out three. Salay received a no-decision, but the Cougars pulled out the win, 8-6.
Tyler Vick, RHP, Charleston Southern – Pitched one inning in the Buccaneers' 7-0 loss to North Florida, allowing two hits and one earned run. CSU lost two of three over the weekend.
Zach Godley, RHP, Tennessee – In two appearances, threw four scoreless innings of relief and struck out eight while giving up three hits and three walks to help the Vols to a series win over Milwaukee, two games to one.
Phillip Brannon, RHP, USC Upstate – Picked up the win for the Spartans on Sunday against Iona, pitching 4.2 innings and scattering five hits and two walks with no earned runs and one strikeout. The Spartans won two of three over the weekend.
Marc Rape, RHP, Wingate – Pitched 6.1 innings in a no-decision against Mars Hill on Saturday, giving up eight hits and four earned runs. For the season, Rape is 1-0, 4.30 ERA in three starts covering 14.2 innings for the 11-3 Bulldogs. Wingate lost two of three to Mars Hill over the weekend.
Gray Stafford, 3B, Marshall – Went one for 13 with one RBI as the Thundering Herd won two out of three games at the College of Charleston invitational, beating Kentucky and Miami (OH) while losing to the Cougars.
Nick Ferguson, RHP, Presbyterian College – Made three appearances for the Blue Hose in a sweep over Navy, throwing one scoreless inning on Friday and one on Saturday before a rough outing Sunday. Overall line on the weekend was 2.1 IP, four hits, no walks, two earned runs, and two strikeouts.
Jake Koenig, SS, UNC Wilmington – Went two for 11 with one double, two walks, three runs scored, and three RBI, while playing solid defense for the Seahawks, who dropped two of three to in their series against Jacksonville.
Patrick Mincey, RHP, Francis Marion – Threw one scoreless inning Sunday in the Patriots' win over Benedict. Mincey's four appearances lead the team, and he has earned one save in his four innings pitched, while allowing three hits and one walk and striking out six. The Patriots won all three games over the weekend are currently 7-3.
Pro Alumni Update:
2B Orlando Hudson ('98) goes to Padres spring training after recently signed a two year, $11.5 million contract. The two-time All-Star is entering his 10th season in the big-leagues and has won four Gold Glove awards.
OF Travis Witherspoon ('09) earned his first invitation to big-league camp with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this spring, having been named one of the top 20 prospects in the Pioneer League last summer.
RHPs Heath Hembree ('09) and David Walters ('07) and LHPs Barrett Phillips ('09) and Allen Caldwell (brother of recent SMC signee Bruce Caldwell) head to minor league spring training this month with the Giants, Orioles, Pirates, and Royals, respectively. Hembree is coming off a season in which he was named one of the top 20 prospects in the Arizona League and the No. 11 prospect overall for the Giants.
