News digest, Jan. 17

NCAA council adjusts practice schedule

Kendall Rogers of  D1Baseball.com reports The NCAA Division I Council has approved changing the amount of practices schools can have in the preseason. The new standard, which goes into  effect Aug.1, will allow 27 practices over 35 days. Previously, schools could have 18 practices in 21 days.

Practice 

Swig & Swine Classic Field set

The six-team field for the annual Swig & Swine Classic in suburban Charleston has been set for opening weekend of the season for NCAA Division I teams.

Ball State, Maryland, Mercyhurst, Towson, UAB and UMass Lowell will play four games over three days (Feb. 14-16) at the facility on the banks of the Wando River.

Ball State is coached by former Greenville Braves infielder Rich Maloney. Maryland's roster includes outfielder Elijah Lambros, a transfer from South Carolina.

SWIG & SWINE CLASSIC

Shipyard Park Complex, Charleston

Friday, Feb. 14

Detyens Field

Towson vs. Ball State, 11:30 a.m.

UAB vs. Maryland, 4:30 p.m.

Wando River Field

Mercyhurst vs. UMass Lowell, noon

Saturday, Feb. 15

Detyens Field

Maryland vs. Ball State, noon

UMass-Lowell vs. Ball State, 4 p.m.

Wando River Field

Mercyhurst vs. UAB, noon

Towson vs. UAB,4 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 16

Detyens Field

UAB vs. Ball State, 10 a.m.

Mercyhurst vs. Maryland, 1 p.m.

Wando River Field

UMass-Lowell vs. Towson, 11 a.m.

Clemson's opening weekend on FloBaseball

Based on my research, it appears Clemson's games in the Shriners Children's College Showdown to open season Feb. 14-16 in Arlington, Texas, will stream only on FloBaseball, which costs $29.99 per month.  FloBaseball also offers CAA (College of Charleston) and South Atlantic Conference (Anderson, Coker, Limestone, Newberry) games. That's almost three times the monthly cost of ESPN+.  I've never subscribed, but I've read of people being disappointed with the quality of FloSports productions.

2025 College World Series schedule revealed

The NCAA  on Thursday announced the schedule and TV coverage for the 2025 College World Series June 13-23 in Omaha. The announcement on Omaha.com's website included pictures of previous championship celebrations, including South Carolina's title in 2010. Optimistic fans - make your plans. I've been to Omaha twice as a fan and twice as a journalist. All four trips were wonderful.
CWS

Dissa and data, Jan. 13

As I edit state schedules into a format that works better for the composite schedule, I'm still finding some tidbits I think are interesting. I hope you do, too.

* None of the state's 10 NCAA Division I teams plays every other team in the state. Winthrop (eight) comes the closest, playing every other state team except for Coastal Carolina. Coastal Carolina plays the fewest (two) - Clemson and College of Charleston. Wofford plays five in-state teams, while the remaining six teams play at least six state rivals.

* For the second straight season, Clemson and Georgia are scheduled to play only one time this season (April 22 at Clemson). Outside of the CoVID-shortened 2020 season, the teams played at least twice every year from 1998-2023.

* Clemson has an April 1 game with Georgia Southern at SRP Park in North Augusta. I saw my first game there last year and was impressed with the facility.

* Perhaps The Citadel's hiring of former Clemson player Russell Triplett as coach will lead to more frequent meetings between the teams. They'll play March 18-19 at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The once-regular rivals have played just four times since 2000, the last time coming in 2019. A scheduled home-and-home series in 2020 was wiped out by CoVID. Triplett, formerly at Newberry, replaced Tony Skole after last season.

* USC Upstate (twice) and Presbyterian (once) play host to 2024 Mid-American Conference regular-season champ Bowling Green Feb. 21-23.  That's pretty good for a program that school officials announced it was halting in May, 2020. But a concerted fundraising effort raised $1.5 million in three weeks to save the day. The 2024 success marked the first winning season since 2010. Former Falcons players include major leaguers Doug Bair, Orel Hershiser and Roger McDowell. Furman also announced the demise of its baseball program in May, 2020. Perhaps Paladins officials should look to Bowling Green for some inspiration. #ReviveFurmanBaseball!

* With Spartanburg Methodist's move up to four-year competition, National Junior College Athletic Association Region 10 has tweaked its region schedule. There are six teams in Region 10 Division I: Florence-Darlington Tech, Gaston College, USC Lancaster, USC Salkehatchie, USC Sumter and USC Union. Each will play the other five teams in a pair of three-game series (one home, one away) for a total of 30 region games. I don't know if region rules will allow a rainout in the first series to be made up in the second series.  In past seasons, each region team played one-four game series that counted in the region standings. A full region schedule last year covered 24 games.

* This doesn't involve state teams, but I find it interesting nonetheless: Georgia and Georgia Tech are scheduled to play just once this season - April 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta. If that holds true, it will mark the first since since 1901 that they have played just once in a year. There were no Tech-Georgia games in 1908, 1920-24, 1936 and 1943-45.

News digest, Jan. 13

Tanner Field ceremony set for Feb. 15

The ceremony for naming the playing surface at Founders Park for former University of South Carolina coach Ray Tanner will be Feb. 15 prior to a home game with Sacred Heart, the school announced Monday.

Tanner coached the Gamecocks to back-to-back College World Series titles in 2010-11 and retired after a national runner-up finish in 2012. During his tenure, he was instrumental in getting Founders Park built. He recently retired after more than a decade as athletic director at Carolina.

Many former players are expected to attend the event to dedicate Ray Tanner Field. Tanner's No. 1 jersey already on an outfield wall.

The Gamecocks begin their season against Sacred Heart Feb. 14. That marks the first game for Paul Mainieri as USC head coach.

Tanner

Clemson only state team in D1Baseball rankings

Clemson is the only Palmetto State team in D1Baseball.com's preseason Top 25 announced on Monday.

The Tigers are ranked 15th by the Website's staff. Clemson and 15 other members of the preseason top 25 will play games against state schools this season.

Of the state's 10 NCAA Division I schools, only Charleston Southern does not face a preseason Top 25 team. 

South Carolina  plays the most games against ranked teams - 22 - while Clemson plays 15, Coastal Carolina 9 and Presbyterian and USC Upstate 5. Counting other state teams playing Clemson, there are 62 matchups overall.
D1Baseball.com preseason Top 25
1. Texas A&M. 2. Virginia. 3. LSU. 4. Tennessee. 5. Arkansas. 6. North Carolina. 7. Oregon State. 8. Georgia. 9. Florida State. 10. Florida. 11. Duke. 12. Oregon. 13. N.C. State. 14. Wake Forest. 15. Clemson. 16. Vanderbilt. 17. Oklahoma State. 18. Mississippi State. 19. Texas. 20. Dallas Baptist. 21. Arizona. 22. Cal Santa Barbara. 23. TCU. 24. Nebraska. 25. Troy.

Preseason Top 25 games against S.C. teams
1. Texas A&M 3: South Carolina 3.
3. LSU 3: South Carolina 3.

4. Tennessee 3: South Carolina 3.
5. Arkansas 3: South Carolina 3.
6. North Carolina 4: Coastal Carolina 1, College of Charleston 1, Presbyterian 1, South Carolina 1.

8. Georgia 2: Clemson 1, Presbyterian 1.
9. Florida State 3: Clemson 3.
10. Florida 3: South Carolina 3.
11. Duke 3: Clemson 3.
13. N.C. State 5: Clemson 3, Coastal Carolina 1, USC Upstate 1.
14. Wake Forest 5: Clemson 3, Coastal Carolina 2.

15. Clemson 11: South Carolina 3, Presbyterian 2, Coastal Carolina 2,  The Citadel 2, USC Upstate 1, Winthrop 1.
17. Oklahoma State 3: Winthrop 2, Clemson 1.
18. Mississippi State: 3: South Carolina 3.
21. Arizona 1: Clemson 1.
25: Troy 7: Coastal Carolina 3, USC Upstate 3, Wofford 1.

State teams games against preseason Top 25 teams

* Charleston Southern 0:

* Clemson 15: Duke 3, Florida State 3, N.C. State 3, Wake Forest 3, Arizona 1, Georgia 1, Oklahoma State 1. 

* Coastal Carolina 9: Troy 3, Clemson 2, Wake Forest 2, N.C. State 1, North Carolina 1.

* College of Charleston 1: North Carolina 1.

* Presbyterian 5:  Clemson 2, Georgia 2, North Carolina 1.
* South Carolina: 22: Arkansas 3, Clemson 3, Florida 3, LSU 3, Mississippi State 3, Tennessee 3, Texas A&M 3,  North Carolina 1. 
* The Citadel 2: Clemson 2.
* USC Upstate 5: Troy 3, Clemson 1, N.C. State 1.
* Winthrop 3: Oklahoma State 2, Clemson 1.

* Wofford 1: Troy 1.

D1 Baseball

Perfect Game preseason Top 25: 1. Texas A&M. 8. Clemson. 23. Coastal Carolina.
PG

Braves announce preseason telecasts

The Atlanta Braves on Monday announced that 10 spring training games will be broadcast (free) on a network of television stations covering much of their market area.

In South Carolina, the games will air on Palmetto Sports &  Entertainment, a fledgling network with outlets in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Myrtle Beach-Florence. In addition to being available with an antenna, some of the stations may be carried by local cable companies.

PSE is one of several regional ventures by Gray Media, owner of several TV stations across the country. Other regional networks carrying Braves games include Peachtree Sports (Georgia), Tennessee Valley Sports & Entertainment (Tennessee) and Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment (Alabama/Louisiana/Mississippi). 

Braves preseason games on broadcast TV
(available with an antenna)
Feb. 27: at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

Feb. 28: at Miami, TBD

March 6: Miami, 6:05 p.m.

March 9: at Boston, TBD

March 15: Minnesota 6:05 p.m.

March 16: Tigers Prospects at Braves Prospects, 4:05 p.m.

March 19: at NY Yankees, 6:35 p.m.

March 22: at Detroit, 1:05 p.m.

March 24: at Chicago Cubs, 4:05 p.m.

March 25: at Chicago Cubs, 4:05 p.m.

Braves

Spartans head south again

Once again this season, Michigan State will play several early season games at Greenville's Fluor Field.

Greenville Drive owner Craig Brown is a MSU alumnus, and has invited the squad down to sunnier  climes for the past several years.

This year, the Spartans will play eight games in Greenville between Feb. 28-March 9: Harvard (Feb. 28-March 2), Western Carolina (March 5), Cornell (March 7), UAB (March 7 & 9)  and Western Carolina (March 9).

Michigan State

Dissa and data, Jan. 10

Based on the schedules I've received, the 2025 college baseball season begins for South Carolina teams two weeks from today when USC Salkehatchie plays host to Walters State at 4 p.m. Jan. 24!

I've spent the past few days tracking down schedules and am in the process of editing them into the calendar shown at the bottom of the page.

I have the majority of games for every team except Bob Jones, which has yet to post a schedule on its Website. It hasn't officially announced the promotion of Kyle Morrison to head coach, either, but does have it listed on the roster.

The SEC hasn't revealed starting times for its conference games, and College of Charleston and USC Upstate haven't seen fit to announce any of their first pitch times with just 35 days until NCAA Division I teams start their seasons.

Here are a few nuggets  I've found so far. I'm sure there will be more, and I'll note them as I come across them.

* As announced last year, Clemson opens its season at the Shriners Children's College Classic in Arlington, Texas, playing Oklahoma State, Arizona and Ole Miss Feb. 14-16.

* The Tigers play host to the Clemson Invitational Feb. 21-23 with VCU and North Carolina A&T in town.  A&T is coached by former Clemson player and student assistant coach Ben Hall. One of the Aggies' assistants is former Coker pitcher Forrest Arnold.

* North Greenville plays four games in Hawaii Feb. 6-9, playing Hawaii Pacific three times and Chaminade once.

* Claflin has tournaments for its first two weekends: the HBCU Battle of the Divisions Jan.31-Feb. 2 in New Orleans and the Willie Mays Rickwood Classic in Birmingham Feb. 7-9.

* Spartanburg Methodist begins its first season as a four-year school, competing in NAIA. It has a Feb. 7-8 series at Abraham Baldwin, which also has transitioned from junior college status for 2025.

* Coastal Carolina again opens its season hosting the Baseball at the Beach Tournament with St. Joseph's, Kansas State and Washington Feb, 14-17. The following weekend,  the  Chanticleers compete in the Jax College Baseball Classic in Jacksonville, joining Alabama, Ohio State and N.C. State.

* South Carolina plays North Carolina at Truist Field in Charlotte March 25. The Gamecocks make their lone appearance at Fluor Field in Greenville March 1 in the middle game of the Clemson series.

* Former Wofford coach Todd Interdonato brings his Boston College squad to Spartanburg to open its season against USC Upstate Feb. 14-16.

* In  case you're wondering, no, Furman is not fielding a team again this season. Millions of dollars to renovate Timmons Arena for basketball, but it can't find enough to restore baseball.

Morrison to coach Bob Jones

Kyle Morrison played four seasons at Brevard
 College and has been on staff at Bob Jones. (BJU photo) 

It's was a tumultuous off-season for Bob Jones University's baseball program. It will be Kyle Morrison's assignment to bring some tranquility to it.

In early September the school announced it was dropping the sport, citing low revenue projections. Less than three weeks later, the school announced the sport was being reinstated. Neither announcement addressed the status of Brent Casteel, who was named head coach in 2018 to establish the program and field a team beginning in 2021. Casteel coached the Bruins to a 35-110 record and appearances in the National Christian College Athletic Association postseason during four seasons.

When looking for 2025 schedules today, I found Morrison listed as the head coach, but could find no release from the school. An Internet search did not reveal any news of Casteel's departure.

Morrison served as an assistant under Casteel all four seasons.

A native of Jamestown, N.C., in the Piedmont Triad, Morrison played four seasons at NCAA Division III Brevard College, compiling a .298 career batting average.

Jim Rulapaugh is listed as Morrison's assistant coach. He also served four years on Casteel's staff.

There is no schedule listed on the school's Website. Most teams begin their season in late January or early February.

News digest, Nov. 15

Cougars, USC to play at Segra Park

College of Charleston and South Carolina will have a regular-season meeting at Columbia's Segra Park on March 18, 2025.

It is the first official meeting between the teams since May 9, 2018, also at Segra Park. The teams played an exhibition game in Charleston earlier this month.

Cougars

Wofford announces signing class

Wofford coach J.J. Edwards has announced a 17-player signing class for the 2024-25 season. Three of the signees are from South Carolina.

Terriers