Kingston updates weekend rotation, names closer

Mark Kingston updated the status of some hotly contested positions after Friday’s baseball scrimmage a week away from opening day.

He officially named Adam Hill the Gamecocks’ opening day starter and filled in the probable rotation after that.

Cody Morris is likely the Saturday starter with Ridge or Logan Chapman following on Sunday.

Morris pitched three innings Friday, giving up two runs with his fastball hovering anywhere from 94 to 96 miles per hour. He was in the conversation for the closer spot entering preseason scrimmages but separated himself enough to potentially lock down a weekend spot.

“Morris needs to look at himself like a dominator because that’s how we’re going to make sure he feels about himself,” Kingston said. “He has the stuff to be an elite pitcher.”

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With Morris out of the running for the closer spot, Kingston said Friday JUCO transfer Eddy Demurias will handle that to start the year for the Gamecocks.

Demurias was up to 92 miles an hour on his fastball and has a wipeout slider, all of which the coaching staff enjoys.

“He’s going to come at you,” Kingston said. “He has the make up. He has the stuff to be a closer. He’s going to get the ball as our closer.”

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As for the defense, that’s a little more unsettled.

Kingston said the outfield competition will continue into next week with a few guys separating themselves. He said both TJ Hopkins and Carlos Cortes are elite players and Jacob Olson has been solid in right field.

The infield is a little more set with the main competition at first base. Noah Campbell will be in the lineup somewhere, Jonah Bride at third and a combination of Madison Stokes and LT Tolbert at short.

With four vying for the spot at first base, freshman Jordan Holladay is firmly entrenched in that competition. He’s battling alongside Tolbert, Riley Hogan and Matt Williams.

Holladay’s shown he can hit for power with four homers in the spring, including a moonshot in Friday’s scrimmage.

“You earn what you get, and you get what you earn. He’s earned to the opportunity to be considered for our first baseman,” Kingston said. “He hasn’t won it by any stretch but when you hit four homers in a short period of time and you play as hard as he does and he’s as mature as he is for a freshman, he’s going to be considered for our first baseman.”

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As for the bullpen, that’s still being worked out and roles are still getting sorted through. One pitcher that will see innings, Kingston said, is John Gilreath.

Gilreath is a mid-year enrollee and is in just his first semester with the team. He pitched Friday and got out of a few jams.

“Gilreath’s going to get the ball. Gilreath’s come in and done really well,” Kingston said. “We’re not going to be afraid to use him. He’s earned the right to get the ball.”

The baseball team will continue scrimmaging this weekend with Saturday’s outing scheduled for 2 p.m.