Will Sanders ready to pitch in whatever role necessary this weekend

As soon as Will Sanders finished screaming en route back to the South Carolina dugout, he was met with a fist in his chest. 

He looked down and it was the Gamecocks’ catcher Cole Messina, fired up in the midst of a regional final egging on Sanders at the end of a long road back. 

“I just said, ‘Hey man, you got six more outs. Six more outs to take us to it,”’ Messina said. “That’s the clean version.” 

[Special! 50% off of GamecockCentral]

As soon as Will Sanders finished screaming en route back to the South Carolina dugout, he was met with a fist in his chest. 

Sanders had just finished striking out the side in the seventh inning against Campbell, the heart of a Camel order that presented a ton of challenges. 

Instead, Sanders made most looking foolish for the first of three scoreless innings to end the game. 

For the untrained eye, it was just one moment in the midst of an electric atmosphere.

But for Sanders, that was a moment four weeks in the making after missing the last month with a lower-body injury. 

“It was fun because I knew what it took for me to get there. It was maybe the hardest month I’ve ever had to go through. But I knew if I got through it I’d be so much better,” Sanders said.

“There were a lot of nights thinking about it and deciding if I really could accomplish this. Talking to my parents, once I made the decision I was going to do it I haven’t looked back.” 

[Get news from GamecockCentral via email]

It was a dramatic return for Sanders, who gave up just one hit–a single–and a walk over four scoreless innings last weekend. He struck out eight while looking the part of a frontline SEC arm in the process. 

“I mean, that was awesome. You guys saw,” Messina said. “I know how much that kid works and how much that kid cares. It was awesome to see him respond that way. Everyone kind of wrote him off, which is good. I’m super proud of him and happy he’s back.” 

Sanders’ performance was a far cry from his last two outings before being shut down. He allowed 12 earned runs on 14 hits (three homers) against Auburn and Kentucky. 

He missed the Gamecocks’ next two series and the SEC tournament while pushing to make sure he was back when the lights were the brightest.

“This is what I want,” Sanders said. “I told coach Kingston I would not be able to live with myself if I don’t give everything I can to this team right now.”

[Garnet Trust: Become an NIL supporter]

One of Sanders’ biggest goals in what’s likely his last year in college has been getting to the College World Series. And both he and the Gamecocks have that chance this weekend. 

South Carolina travels down to Florida for a Super Regional starting Friday. The first team to win two games gets the honor of heading to Omaha. 

With Sanders’ success against the Gators in his career–2.00 ERA in 18 innings–how he will be used remains to be seen. Mark Kingston mentioned there is a chance they could look at Sanders as a starter. 

“Absolutely. It’s just a matter of what we think is the best way. If we don’t play any extra-inning games there are 27 innings to play,” Kingston said. “So what’s the best way to get our best pitchers throwing the most amount of impactful innings? That’s what we’ll do.” 

[Subscribe to GamecockCentral’s YouTube page]

For Sanders, he doesn’t care how he’s used. He just wants to go out there and pitch and try to will his team to its first College World Series since 2012.  

“If I get the ball, I’m going to get as many outs as I can. The biggest thing is enough time to warm up. That was the thing I stressed to them. And (the coaches) know it’s important I have enough time and not rush and get my full body ready to pitch. If I get that, it doesn’t matter when I pitch or where I pitch. I’m going to get outs.” 

Discuss South Carolina baseball on The Insiders Forum!