Nov. 15, 2002
Columbia, S.C. – The University of South Carolina baseball program held its 2002 Fall Banquet, Thursday evening at the Zone at Williams-Brice Stadium. The 2002 USC baseball squad was honored after posting a 57-18 record in the spring and finishing as National Runner-Up at the College World Series. Over the past three seasons, no other team in Division I college baseball has won as many games as South Carolina (162).
Many of the Class of 2002 were on hand for the banquet and among the recipients of this year’s awards. Now playing in the Atlanta Braves organization, Yaron Peters earned 2002 Most Valuable Player honors. Peters was the 2002 SEC Player of the Year and a first team All-American. Peters set a single-season record for home runs at USC with 29 and was batting champion with a .377 average for the Gamecocks. Peters also took home “The Fighting Gamecock Award.” Last year’s nation leader in saves and captain Blake Taylor earned the Outstanding Pitcher Award. Taylor saved 21 games setting a school record and also earned first team All-American honors. Taylor is now a member of the Cleveland Indians organization. The Fred Brinkman Award (inspirational award) went to Trey Dyson, the 2002 SEC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year and the Tom Price Award (improvement, dedication & work ethic) went to Steve Thomas, who set a single-season record for doubles at USC with 26 this past year. For the second consecutive year Drew Meyer earned the Brian Roberts Stolen Base Award after earning 39 stolen bases. The first round draft pick of the Texas Rangers also earned the Gold Glove award as the top Gamecock defensive player.
Several players returning to the Gamecocks for the 2003 season also picked up awards. Junior All-American candidate Landon Powell earned the Iron Man Award for the Gamecocks after starting 73 of 75 games at catcher. Sophomore Aaron Rawl earned the Kip Bouknight Award given to the outstanding first-year pitcher from the previous season. Rawl compiled a 7-2 record that included a complete game victory over Georgia Tech in the College World Series. Senior LHP Steven Bondurant and sophomore infielder Kevin Melillo each also picked up the Irby Raines Award presented by the Gamecock coaching staff. Bondurant and Melillo each stepped for the Gamecocks in the 2002 season as key ingredients in the Gamecock success. Third baseman Brian Buscher picked up Rookie of the Year honors after setting school records for most putouts and assists by a USC third baseman.
Earning 2002 baseball team awards for the fall was Melillo, who earned the award for Returning Player of the Fall. Melillo demonstrated the top work ethic in fall practice and batted .375 in intrasquad games this fall for USC. Earning Newcomer of the Fall was junior college transfer Bryan Triplett. Triplett batted .360 with two home runs in fall intrasquad games. Triplett attended Spartanburg Methodist Junior College the past two seasons.
Head Coach Ray Tanner also announced the three captains for the 2003 season. Senior LHP Steven Bondurant, 3B Brian Buscher and C Landon Powell will serve as USC’s captains. USC opens up the 2003 season on Friday Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. vs. Charleston Southern at Sarge Frye Field.
