News digest, Sept. 23

Bruins reinstate baseball

Less than three weeks after announcing it would be dropping its baseball program, Bob Jones University announced it would be reinstating the sport. The release did address the status of Brent Casteel, the coach for the first four seasons. 
Bruins

Commitments

* Carson Adomnik, RHP, South Paulding (Ga) HS, to Clemson, 2026.
* Nick Fallon, C, Fort Mill HS, to Surry CC, 2025.

* Jaxton Harris, RHP/3B, Pierce County (GA) HS, to USC Aiken, 2025.
* Palmer Hornick, IF, Dorman HS, to Virginia Tech, 2026.

* Titus Hutchins, IF, Boiling Springs HS, to Wofford, 2026.

* Chase Kiker, RHP/3B, Metrolina Christian, Indian Trail (NC), to Clemson, 2026.
* Micah Ott, IF, Ben Lippen HS, to Limestone, 2025.

* Jake Owen, RHP/OF, Tampa Catholic HS, to USC Sumter, 2025.

News digest, Sept. 20

Limestone confirms Corn's hiring

Limestone has officially announced the hiring of Jacob Corn as pitching coach. There were social media posts about the move in July.
Corn

Commitments

* Braden Beattie, OF, Gaffney HS, to Catawba Valley, 2025.
* Austin Lavin, IF, Aynor HS, to Francis Marion.
* Evan Matile, OF, East Lincoln HS (NC), to Francis Marion, 2025.
* Jake Santoro, OF, Chapman HS, to USC Sumter, 2025.
* Anthony Smith, RHP, Hickory Ridge (NC) HS, to Coker, 2025.

Decommitment

* Jack Stepp, LHP, Wade Hampton HS, from Clemson, 2026.

Perfect Game recruiting rankings

* NCAA DI: 1. Tennessee. 14. Clemson. 36. South Carolina. 50. Wofford. 63. College of Charleston. 65. Coastal Carolina.

* NCAA DII: 1. Barry. 10. North Greenville. 16. Erskine. 27. Francis Marion. 28. USC Aiken. 32. Southern Wesleyan. 44. Coker. 89. Limestone.

* NAIA: 1. Freed-Hardeman. 12. Voorhees.

* Juco: 1. Georgia Highlands. 73. Florence-Darlington Tech.

Rankings

News digest, Sept. 18

Commitments

* Charlie Bonds, RHP/SS, Richard Winn Academy, to Francis Marion, 2025.
* Tommy Byrne, IF, Lucy Beckham HS, to U.S. Merchant Marine, 2025.

* William Cutshall, IF, Seneca HS, to Ole Miss, 2026.

* Shota Fogus, RHP/IF, Bishop O'Connell HS (Va.), to College of Charleston, 2026.

* Louis Hernandez, SS/3B, Lake Mary HS (Fla.), to Clemson, 2026.
* Taj Marchand, RHP/IF, James Island HS, to Ole Miss, 2026.
* Boone Miller, RHP, Dutch Fork HS, to The Citadel, 2025.

* Jacob Pettit, OF, Fort Mill HS, to Lenoir-Rhyne, 2025.
* John Risk, IF, Fort Mill HS, to Cleveland CC, 2025.
* Leo Vitarelli, RHP, The Stony Brook School (NY), to Winthrop, 2025.

Upcoming fall exhibition games (updated Sept. 19)

I apologize for not posting this earlier.  I compiled a schedule, intended to check a few more sites, and then forgot for a couple of weeks. If you're aware of others (or times for games below), please let me know in the comments section.

Sept. 21
Jim Perry Stadium, Buies Creek, N.C.
Patrick & Henry vs. Florence-Darlington Tech, 12:30 p.m.
Gaston College vs. Florence-Darlington Tech, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 22
Show Time at USC Union, DH 11 a.m.

Catawba Valley at Presbyterian

Patriots Point, Mount Pleasant
Florence-Darlington Tech vs. Diamond Devils, DH, noon & 2:30 p.m.

Sept. 24
Lexington Collegiate at Spartanburg Methodist, 4 p.m.

Sept. 27
The Winthrop Ballpark, Rock Hill
Patrick & Henry vs. USC Union, 7 p.m.

Sept. 28
P27 at Spartanburg Methodist, 11 a.m.

The Winthrop Ballpark, Rock Hill

Gaston College vs. Florence-Darlington Tech, 4 p.m.
Cleveland CC vs. Florence-Darlington Tech, 7 p.m.

Sept. 29
The Winthrop Ballpark, Rock Hill
USC Union vs. Louisburg, 2 p.m.

Fayetteville, N.C.

Florence-Darlington Tech vs. Wake Tech, 12:30 p.m.
Florence-Darlington Tech at Fayetteville Tech, 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 5
Upstate Mavericks at USC Union, DH, 11 a.m.

Wofford at Appalachian State

Keeter Stadium, Shelby, N.C.
Florence-Darlington Tech vs. Patrick & Henry, 1:30 p.m.
Roane State vs. Florence-Darlington Tech, 4 p.m.

Oct. 6
Legacy at USC Union, DH, 11 a.m.

Newberry at The Citadel

Mount Olive, N.C.
Florence-Darlington Tech vs. Fayetteville Tech, 1 p.m.
Florence-Darlington Tech vs. Louisburg, 4 p.m.

Oct. 8
Columbia International at Spartanburg Methodist, 3 p.m.

Oct. 11
Florence-Darlington Tech at North Carolina, 5 p.m.

Oct. 12
Cleveland S. Harley Park, USC Upstate
Gaston College vs. USC Union, 4 p.m.

Cleveland CC vs. USC Union, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13

Carolina Combat vs. USC Union, DH, 11 a.m.

Florence-Darlington Tech at High Point, 1 p.m.

Oct. 19

Carolina Prospects at USC Union, DH, 11 a.m.
Florence-Darlington Tech at College of Charleston, 1 p.m.

USC Salkehatchie at Spartanburg Methodist, 1 p.m.
Coastal Carolina at The Citadel

Erskine at Davidson, DH

Lander at USC Upstate

Oct. 20

Carolina Combat at Florence-Darlington Tech, 11 a.m.

Upstate Mavericks at USC Union, DH, 11 a.m.

Legacy at Florence-Darlington Tech, 4 p.m.

Oct. 25
USC Union at North Greenville, 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 26
Ontario Blue Jays at Florence-Darlington Tech, DH, 1 & 3:30 p.m.

USC Union at Spartanburg Methodist, 1 p.m.
Air Force at South Carolina, 4 p.m.

Charleston Southern at Coastal Carolina.

Winthrop at Georgia Southern

Nov. 3
Coker at Winthrop

Nov. 7
Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, Charleston
College of Charleston vs. South Carolina, 6 p.m.

Nov. 9
Clemson at Alabama

USC Upstate at Georgia Southern

News digest, Sept. 15

Commitments

* Slaide Burd, OF, Hilton Head Christian, to Georgia Southern, 2026.

* Gavin Byrd, IF, Lakeland (Fla.) to South Carolina, 2026.
* Matthew Cody, IF, Blacksburg HS, to Limestone, 2025.

* Zach Crisler, RHP/3B, Dothan (Ala.), to Southern Wesleyan, 2025.

* Dylan Jimenez, C, Hanahan HS, to Montreat, 2025.

* Chance Kennedy, IF, Powdersville HS, to Limestone, 2025.
* Gavin Kent, OF, Centerville (Ohio), to Southern Wesleyan, 2025.
* Easton Thorpe, 1B, Ashley Ridge HS, to USC Sumter, 2025.

Transfer

* Tristan Salinas, IF, South Carolina, to North Greenville.

News digest, Sept. 12

Gamecocks detail league schedule

A home series against defending national champion Tennessee and a road series against College World Series runner-up Texas A&M are on South Carolina's Southeastern Conference schedule for 2025.

USC, in its first season with Paul Mainieri at the helm, also faces 2024 CWS participants Kentucky (away) and Florida (home) on consecutive weekends.

The conference has abandoned divisions, so normal East Division rivals Georgia, Missouri and Vanderbilt are not on the schedule.

In addition to Florida and Tennessee, home series are against newcomer Oklahoma, Ole Miss and LSU. Completing the 30-game conference slate are series at Arkansas, Auburn and Mississippi State.

All series are currently listed as Friday-Sunday except for the Ole Miss,which is Thursday-Saturday because of Easter. Game times and possible date readjustments (to Thursday for TV) will be announced later. The nonconference schedule, including the annual series with Clemson, will be announced at another time.
South Carolina's 2024 SEC series schedule
Times TBA, dates subject to change
March: 14-16: Oklahoma; 21-23: at Arkansas; 28-30: Tennessee.

April: 4-6: at Mississippi State; 11-13: at Texas A&M; 17-19: Ole Miss; 25-27: at Kentucky.

May: 2-4: Florida; 9-11: at Auburn; 15-17: LSU.
SEC

Commitments

* Ryker Butcher, C,  Conley (NC) HS, to Winthrop, 2025.
* Garrett Nyurd, RHP/C, North Lenoir (NC) HS, to Winthrop, 2025.
* Chris Jackson, MIF, Ashley Ridge HS, to USC Sumter, 2025.
* Grayson Ledford, LHP, Laurens HS, to Limestone, 2025.

* Riley Matthews, SS, Marvin Ridge (NC) HS, to Anderson, 2025.
* Jake McCracken, LHP/1B, Conway HS, to Francis Marion, 2025.

* Dune Staniszewski, C/IF, South Aiken HS, to Augusta, 2025.

* Will Watson, OF, Pinewood Prep, to Wofford, 2026.

News digest, Sept. 9

Commitments 

* Preston DeNapoli, RHP/1B, Lucy Beckham HS, to Barton, 2025.

* Zach Kehn. RHP, Woodruff HS, to Erskine, 2025.

* Sully Mellor, LHP, Metrolina Christian, to Erskine, 2025.

* Ethan Offing, SS, Dutch Fork HS, to Clemson, 2026.

* Ryan Roggin, IF, Lucy Beckham HS, to Emory, 2025.

* Cooper Williamson, OF/LHP, Knoxville Catholic HS, to Charleston Southern, 2025.

Decommitments

* Bradley Anderson, RHP, Fox Creek HS, from South Carolina, 2025.

* Cameron Austin, RHP/IF/OF, Barnwell HS, from South Carolina, 2025.

* Clayton Hicks, RHP, Evans (Ga.) HS, from South Carolina, 2025.

News digest, Sept. 6

Fricks joins Clemson support staff

Clemson has hired Carter Fricks as director of video and technology. Fricks is a graduate of Daniel High and played at Toccoa Falls for two seasons before transferring to Clemson and working as a bullpen catcher and graduate manager.

Fricks

Commitments

* Aaron Dierks, RHP, West Springfield (Va.) HS, to South Carolina, 2026.
* Cross Yarborough, C, P27 Academy, to Charleston Southern, 2025.

Bob Jones axes baseball program after four seasons

Bob Jones has pulled the plug on its baseball season after four seasons for financial reasons, as reported by WYFF TV.

"These actions were necessitated by an anticipated $5.5 million loss in revenue over the next two years," Courtney Montgomery, the school's public relations director, is quoted as saying in the WYFF report.

"The University has no debt, and our cash position remains strong. While difficult, these corrective actions are necessary to ensure the University’s ability to deliver our mission into the next century," Montgomery said, according to the WYFF report.

WYFF reported the school made the decisions on Wednesday after a review of budgets.

The fundamentalist Christian school in Greenville went many decades without intercollegiate athletics before adding them several years back.

Brent Casteel was the coach all four seasons, compiling a 35-110 record as he built the program from scratch after being hired in 2018

The Bruins went 8-26 in their inaugural season in 2021. They were 10-31 in 2022, 4-27 in 2023 and 13-26 in 2024. They advanced to the National Christian College Athletic Association playoffs all four seasons. 

BJU

News digest, Sept. 5

Liriano-Hernandez, Smith join PC staff

Presbyterian coach Elton Pollock has added Darrion Smith to his staff as director of pitching development and former Newberry player and one-time PC assistant Bryan Liriano-Hernandez as pitching coach.
Blue Hose

Commitments

* Benjamin Applebee, RHP/IF, Sugar Hill (Ga.), to Southern Wesleyan, 2025.

* Mason Myers, RHP/OF/SS, Gibbstown (NJ) to Coastal Carolina, 2026.

News digest, Sept. 4

Schedule set for Clemson's Texas sojourn

The schedule has been announced for Clemson's 2025 season-opening appearance in the Shriners Children College Showdown in Arlington, Texas. Coach Erik Bakich's Tigers will play Oklahoma State at noon (EST) Feb. 14, Arizona at noon Feb. 15 and Ole Miss at 3:30 p.m.  Feb. 16 in Globe Life Field. Games will stream on the FloBaseball subscription service. Tickets go on sale Thursday.
Arlington

Commitment

* Riley Ballard, RHP. Hanahan HS, to The Citadel, 2025.

* Evan Joiner, RHP, Ware County (Ga.) HS, to USC Aiken, 2025.

* Adam Lipscey, OF/RHP, River Ridge (Ga.) HS, to Coker, 2025.

* Candler Morden, OF/IF, Dutch Fork HS, to Francis Marion, 2025.

* Seth Pettett, C/IF, Sequoyah (Ga.) HS, to Southern Wesleyan, 2025.
* Banks Wickersham, RHP/Util, Fort Dorchester HS, to College of Charleston, 2026.

Decommitment

* Emory Horton, RHP, Boilings Springs HS, 2025, from South Carolina.

News digest, Sept. 3

Beckley's hiring announced

The Citadel has officially announced the hiring of former standout player David Beckley as an assistant coach. Seth Eisberg of WCIV-TV  reported last month that the move was coming.

Beckley

Commitments

* Declan Duffy, C/1B, Hopewell HS (NC), to Limestone, 2025.

* Scout Gilfillan, RHP/IF, Gaffney HS, Spartanburg Methodist, 2025.

* A.J. Jefferson, Lugoff-Elgin HS, to College of Charleston, 2026.
* Kellen Karr, LHP, North Lincoln HS (NC), to Coastal Carolina, 2025.

* Banks Knight, OF, Summerville HS, to USC Lancaster, 2025.

* Larson Montgomery, RHP, York HS, to North Greenville, 2025.

* Joshua Parson, Util, Sumter HS, to Coker, 2025.
* Jackson Proctor, OF, Florence-Darlington Tech, to The Citadel.

* Will Rissmiller, RHP, Bishop England HS, to Newberry, 2025.
* Leo Vitarelli, RHP, The Stony Brook School (NY), to Winthrop, 2025.

* Aiden Vorlick, RHP, Summerville HS, to The Citadel, 2025.
* Jayden Williams, OF, Spring Valley HS, to The Citadel, 2025.
* Jackson Wyatt, LHP, Dorman HS, to Lander, 2025.