Jan. 12, 2010
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina senior right-handed pitcher Jay Brown and senior catcher Kyle Enders have been selected as captains for the 2010 baseball season. Both players earned the honor after a vote by their teammates. The Gamecocks open the 2010 season on Friday, Feb. 19 hosting a three-game series with Duquesne.
After missing the 2008 season, Brown returned to the mound last year and was 3-0 with a 3.35 ERA in 48.2 innings pitched with 35 strikeouts and 23 walks allowed. Last season, Brown was recognized for his community service work off the field as he was named to 2009 SEC Baseball Community Service Team. In addition, he earned the athletic department’s prestigious President’s Award at the Gamecock Gala. Brown is a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member. Brown has already earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration.
Enders is a fifth-year catcher with the Gamecock program. Last season he shared duties behind the plate with Justin Dalles, appearing in 37 games. He hit .261 as a junior and compiled a .260 batting average in his sophomore season in 2008. He has fielded an impressive .994 in his career with just three errors behind the plate. He is a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member as well. Enders is an accounting major.
Both Brown and Enders served as team managers in the fall during the Garnet & Black World Series.
South Carolina owns the longest current streak of NCAA Regional appearances among the 12 SEC schools with 10 straight trips to the tournament dating back to the 2000 season. In that span, Carolina has seven NCAA Super Regional appearances (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007) and three trips to the College World Series (2002, 2003, 2004). South Carolina is one of only seven schools in the nation to make at least seven NCAA Super Regionals in the last 10 years and one of only eight schools in the country to have reached the NCAA Regionals every season in this decade. The program’s 10-year total record of 468-201 is the fourth highest win total among NCAA Division I schools.
South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner is entering his 14th season at the helm with the Gamecocks and his 23rd year as a collegiate head coach. Tanner’s career record is 975-439-3 (.689) with a 580-266 (.686) mark at South Carolina. The .686 winning percentage is third highest in SEC history.
