July 14, 2006

Columbia, S.C. – Several members of the South Carolina baseball team are staying busy participating in summer baseball leagues across the United States. Carolina has 17 returning players currently including eight players in the Coastal Plains League and a school record six players in the Cape Cod League.

Among the highlights this summer includes the duo of Reese Havens and Justin Smoak, who both earned Player of the Week honors in late June as members of the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape Cod League. Smoak is also currently among the league leaders in offense with a .324 batting average (22-for-68) as well as four HR and 12 RBI. Also playing with Havens and Smoak at Cotuit is right-handed pitcher Mike Cisco, who is 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA and 13 strikeouts to just one walk in 14.2 innings pitched.

Left-handed pitcher Will Atwood is also having success on the mound with a 2-0 record and a 1.83 ERA in 19.2 innings pitched with 14 strikeouts. He is playing in Brewster with Gamecock teammate catcher Trent Kline. Also in the Cape Cod League playing at Hyannis is infielder James Darnell.

Among the eight players in the Coastal Plains League from Carolina include four players on the inaugural Columbia Blowfish right near the campus of South Carolina. Right-handed pitcher Brandon Todd has been solid with a 2-0 record and a 1.25 ERA in 21.2 innings pitched with 26 strikeouts as well. He is joined by outfielder Adam Crisp, infielder Andrew Crisp and outfielder DeAngelo Mack.

Catcher Kyle Enders is playing well this summer in the CPL thus and has earned All-Star honors batting .327 (36-for-110) with two HR and 14 RBI with seven doubles at Gastonia. Catcher Phil Disher has also rode the success he had in the 2006 postseason to the summer as he is batting .444 (12-for-27) with two HR and four RBI. Also playing in the Coastal Plains League for Spartanburg are Alex Farotto and Jacob Wallace.

Carolina outfielder Cheyne Hurst has delivered in the first half of the summer for the Keene Swamp Bats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Hurst is hitting at a .362 clip (25-for-69) and has been disruptive on the base path with 12 stolen bases. Left-handed pitcher Craig Thomas has two victories at Luray in the Valley League and right-handed pitcher Dan Luczak has picked up a pair of wins at LaCrosse in the Northwoods League.

CAPE COD LEAGUE
Brewster
Will Atwood
Trent Kline

Cotuit
Mike Cisco
Reese Havens
Justin Smoak

Hyannis
James Darnell

COASTAL PLAINS LEAGUE
Columbia
Adam Crisp
Andrew Crisp
DeAngelo Mack
Brandon Todd

Florence
Phil Disher

Gastonia
Kyle Enders

Spartanburg
Alex Farotto
Jacob Wallace

NEW ENGLAND COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
Keene
Cheyne Hurst

NORTHWOODS LEAGUE
LaCrosse
Dan Luczak

VALLEY LEAGUE
Luray
Craig Thomas