re: Baseball Recruiting Discussion

Another article written up on TBS on 2 future Gamecocks:
2013 Commitment: "Wil Crowe - Pigeon Forge - (Pigeon Forge, TN) - SP/6-3/235"
&
2014 Commitment: "Bradon Murray - Hobart - (Hobart, IN) - SP/6-3/180 "

quote:

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Class of 2013 right-handed pitcher Wil Crowe (Pigeon Forge, Tenn./Pigeon Forge) was in the Palmetto State with his high school team when his future college team was back in his home state of Tennessee. Pitching in the Mingo Bay Classic last week, Crowe allowed one hit and struck out 13 before high-tailing it back to Tennessee to watch the Gamecocks play twice against the Volunteers.

In the same game, Crowe, who bats cleanup for his team, also hit a grand slam in the 4-0 victory. He provided all of the offense his team would need and also put together a dominant pitching performance. In the above video interview, Crowe discusses how his season has gone so far and what he wants to improve on before getting to Columbia in the fall.

High school regular seasons are winding down in South Carolina but they’re just getting started in other areas of the country. Class of 2014 two-way player Brandon Murray (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) is only 10 games into the season but he’s off to a great start both on the mound and in the field.

A pitcher and first baseman, Murray caught the eye of South Carolina coaches because of his game on the mound. In two starts this season, the right-hander is 1-0 allowing only one earned run over 11 innings. He has 23 strikeouts, which includes a complete game shutout with 15 Ks in his last start.

At the plate, Murray is hitting .468 with 10 doubles and a triple on the season so far. Murray says he’s playing pretty well so far this season but isn’t at his best. Entering the season, he had some areas of his game he wanted to improve upon and feel those areas are coming along.

“My self discipline at the plate,” Murray said. “Sometimes I go up there a little too anxious. I need to relax and let the game come to me. I’ve noticed lately I’m going up to the plate trying to make things happen too fast and not let it come to me. Pitching, I need to work some on command. I find myself getting behind sometimes. My main goal pitching is to get ahead and stay ahead. If your pitch count stays low, that means you can pitch more innings.”

Murray’s arsenal on the mound includes a fastball, slider, and circle changeup. His fastball runs in on the hands of right-handed hitters and is upper 80s and into the low 90s on a good day.

“I really wanted to have all three of my pitches mastered so I can throw any of them for a strike in any situation,” Murray said. “I want to trust every single pitch so I can keep hitters guessing with what I’m going to throw.”

Murray was recruited with the promise that he will be given an opportunity to play both ways at the college level. There haven’t been many who have been able to accomplish that feat at South Carolina but freshman Curt Britt is proof that players will be given the opportunity to do both.

“I know being a two-way guy at the college level will take a lot of work and a lot of dedication,” Murray said. “But I love the game so much, I want to be involved in each and every inning of each game and contribute to the team as much as I can. I want to contribute as much as I can. I know it’s going to be a lot of work but I think it will pay off.”

Murray picked South Carolina over schools such as Michigan, Indiana, Purdue, and some others in the Midwest.

“South Carolina was always like a dream school for me,” Murray said. “The baseball and facilities are second to none down there. I just feel like it will put me in my best position to develop as a player and prepare for the next level. Once I went down and got to see everything, it all clicked and I knew it was where I wanted to be.”

One of the main reasons Murray is a Gamecock is because of his relationship with pitching coach Jerry Meyers. Murray’s high school coach, Bob Glover Jr., and Meyers graduated from high school together, which is how South Carolina came into the picture.

Murray camped at South Carolina in the fall and Meyers liked what he saw from the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder. Murray liked what he saw from the South Carolina pitching coach and everything came together shortly after the camp.

“The pitching staff is always top notch,” Murray said. “You look at what he’s done with players like Michael Roth and the rest of the pitchers that come through the program. I have no doubt that coach Meyers is going to develop me.”

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