South Carolina, the defending college baseball champions, will be without outfielder DeSean Anderson and rising sophomore catcher Greg Brodzinski. Both have decided to leave the Gamecocks baseball team.
Anderson leaves due to “grade issues” that he seemed to not be able to sort out even after his suspension earlier in the season for similar reasons. When an injured Jackie Bradley Jr. needed a replacement, the true freshman was there. Anderson started 13 games this past season and appeared in 21 games overall. Anderson hit .191 and had 5 RBI’s and was 1-for-1 in the stolen base department. There’s no word on where Anderson is looking at transferring as of yet but still a big loss for USC as Anderson had upside.
Greg Brodzinski is transferring from USC in search of more playing time and is likely to end up at Coastal Carolina. The freshman from New Jersey will have to sit out the 2012 season but will have three years of eligibility beginning with the 2013 season. USC has given him his release. Brodozinki, like Anderson, will be missed as he too had upside. Brodzinski played in 10 games, started two, hit .333 in 12 at-bats with two RBIs for the Gamecocks.
So the Gamecocks will have work to do to claim a third title but just like last year the belief is there. With some taking part in Summer League play and six new guys taking part in classes, the march back to CWS has begun and the chances are strong again.
