Key Position Target Acquired

In a significant move ahead of the upcoming season, South Carolina has secured a commitment from eminent centerfielder Dalton Mashore. The former Saint Mary’s outfielder chose the Gamecocks over a number of other interested institutions, narrowing his final options down to South Carolina and Miami.

The Gamecocks Emerge Victorious in the Recruitment Battle Out

There were several factors contributing to Mashore’s decision, but instantaneous interest from South Carolina coaches seemed to play a significant role. “When I entered the portal, Monte Lee was the first one to call me,” Mashore shared. “They showed interest immediately, and that was a big deal to me.”

In addition to the swift show of interest, Mashore was also impressed by the South Carolina campus during his visit. “Going on the visit, seeing the campus, it was beautiful. The weather was great, the baseball facility is top-tier. The atmosphere in Columbia, it feels like a small town with great fans and great people around you. The staff, the new coach – I loved everybody there and it was an easy decision.”

Making Connection With the Coaching Staff

Despite Monte Lee’s initial outreach, Mashore connected well with the incoming head coach, Paul Mainieri. According to Mashore, “Coach Mainieri was awesome,” he said. “He went through his background, talked about the style of coach he is and how he goes about his business. Everything he said, it’s the kind of coach I want to coach me and bring the best out of me. It made my decision a lot easier. His background obviously speaks for itself.”

A Valuable Addition for South Carolina

Mashore, standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing 195 pounds, hit .338 this season with some remarkable statistics: 17 doubles, four triples, and 13 home runs with 41 RBIs. His one year of pending eligibility and accumulated speed, demonstrated by 46 stolen bases over his three-year career, adds significant value to the team.

Shared Philosophy – A Contributing Factor

Sharing a philosophy of hitting with Coach Lee and his father, Damon, Mashore felt like a perfect fit for South Carolina. “Coach Lee reached out to me immediately and told me that I was the kind of player that he wants,” said Mashore. “He said I’m a dynamic player who plays good defense, has speed and can hit, and hit for power.”

The common philosophy showed Mashore the potential ease of his transition to his new team. “I talked to him about philosophy of hitting and going about the day-to-day of hitting, and the philosophies at South Carolina are very similar. It will be easy for me to transition going there.”

First Transfer Portal Commitment

This commitment marks the first position player commitment to the Gamecocks from the NCAA Transfer Portal, although South Carolina has also picked up a promise from junior college utility player Cayden Gaskin.