How current Gamecocks finished out their seasons as summer baseball wraps up
With a new school year on the horizon, summer league baseball is slowly coming to an end in 2024. This year, South Carolina had a handful of players on various teams throughout the country, with some still playing this week. But for most, their seasons have come to an end.
Let’s take a look into how each Gamecock fared this summer.
Evan Stone
Stone only played 14 games for the Lexington County Blowfish, but he managed to put up good numbers in limited action. He hit .302/.383/.528 with two homers and nine RBI. Of his 16 hits, six were doubles, and he stole six bases in seven attempts. After not playing much at all for the Gamecocks this past season, this is a step in the direction for the now-senior outfielder going into 2025.
Will Tippett
Tippett’s season came to an end on Thursday after the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox fell in the semifinal round of the Cape Cod League playoffs. In 30 games, he hit .204/.339/.333 with two homers and three RBI. He walked 10 times but also struck out 25 while only recording 11 total hits. After starting 48 games at shortstop for South Carolina, Tippett played all three outfield positions as well as both middle infield spots this summer, all without any errors.
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Ethan Petry
It’s safe to say this summer only helped solidify just how good of a player Petry is. The now-junior slugger took home the Pat Sorenti MVP Award, which is given to the best player in the Cape each year. He also won this year’s Robert A. McNeese Most Outstanding Pro Prospect Award.
In 31 games, Petry finished tied for the league lead in home runs with 11, while driving in 25 runs in 100 at-bats. He led the league in both slugging (.760) and OPS (1.240). He hit .360 with 36 hits, seven of which were doubles, struck out 26 times and walked 16.
Talmadge LeCroy
As the third and final Gamecock representative playing with the Red Sox this summer, LeCroy hit .333/.378/.476 with one homer and two RBI in 14 games (42 AB). He struck out 14 times and walked twice. He not only saw time at third base but also caught five games behind the plate and played three games at first base. However, he did make three errors in the field this summer. But all things considered, this was a pretty good stretch for LeCroy that he could carry over into the fall.
Ryan Bakes
In 27 games with the Rockford Rivets in the Northwoods League, Bakes hit .260/.434/.500 with five homers and 18 RBI. The now-sophomore catcher racked up 25 hits in 98 at-bats, while walking 18 times and striking out 28. He was also hit by 13 pitches this summer, meaning he got on base at a pretty high rate.
Ricky Williams
It wasn’t a particularly impressive summer stint for the former transfer right-hander. Williams went 0-2 with a 8.53 ERA in 19 innings. He struck out 18 and walked 13.
Xavier Pelzer
With the Upper Valley Nighthawks in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, Pelzer went 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA in 7.1 innings. He walked nine and struck out three in that time. His last appearance came back on July 1.
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Wyatt Evans
Moving onto the transfers, Evans was with the Frederick Keys in the MLB Draft League this summer. In six games (two starts), the left-hander went 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 12 innings. He’s struck out 11 and walked six.
Ashton Crowther
With Crowther’s summer season now over, he finished 0-2 with a 5.73 ERA in four appearances, two of which were starts. The Miami transfer struck out 10 and walked five while with the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod League.
Nathan Hall
Hall has played in 25 games this summer with the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape, where he’s hitting .333/.400/.413 with one homer and seven RBI. He’s recorded 25 hits in 75 at-bats with a double and triple. He’s spent the majority of the time in right field while also seeing some time in the other outfield spots. Hall is one of the only Gamecocks to still be playing right now, as the Kettleers have another semifinal game on Friday at 4 p.m.
Nolan Nawrocki
Alongside Hall with the Kettleers, Nawrocki’s season is still ongoing. In 29 games, the Clemson transfer is hitting .258/.321/.371 with three homers and 15 RBI. He’s played 26 games at third base this summer, with one additional game at second base. But he has made nine errors at the hot corner, though.
Max Kaufer
Rounding out the transfers, Kaufer played for the Whitecaps in the Cape. In 14 games, the transfer catcher hit .205/.277/.256 with no homers and three RBI. He only had eight hits in 39 at-bats and struck out 12 times with four walks. He started 12 games behind the dish this summer and threw out nine runners.
Gavin Braland
Joining the Gamecocks next season as an incoming freshman, Braland had a very impressive summer stint with the Purcellville Cannons in the Valley League. He hit .339/.432/.387 with no homers and 11 RBI. He struck out 13 times but also walked nine and had an .820 OPS.
Elijah Grant
Another incoming freshman, Grant also played in the Valley League, but with the Front Royal Cardinals. In 27 games, he hit .229/.319/.301 with no homers and eight RBI. He struck out 26 times and walked 10, while also having a pair of doubles and triples at the plate. He stole seven bases in 11 attempts. He also pitched one inning this summer, striking out two.
