Myrtle Beach Sun News: Cunningham answers the call for Chanticleers
BY RYAN YOUNGÂ [email protected]
OMAHA, NEB. – Speaking the night before, Coastal Carolina baseball coach Gary Gilmore was unsure what the Chanticleers were going to do on the pitcher’s mound Saturday evening in their College World Series elimination game with TCU.
He and pitching coach Drew Thomas both talked about maybe throwing one of the team’s lesser-used pitchers – and fresher arms – to start before leaning on the available veterans in the later innings.
But when it came down to a final decision, it was no surprise to see the Chants send out junior right-hander Alex Cunningham on just three full days of rest.
“Drew and I talked about it this morning or a little bit before lunch. Not that the other kids couldn’t have gotten the job done, it’s just for me, the confidence level of him going out on the mound versus somebody else, for all the guys involved positionary wise, I think it just sent a huge message that, ‘Hey, we’re going to send our best guy out there,’†Gilmore said. “And if he can’t go but three innings, so be it, whatever.â€