South Carolina baseball star Ethan Petry keeps putting on a show for local fans

Summer break got a little boring for South Carolina slugger Ethan Petry.

And that’s understandable, considering the exhilarating highs of his freshman season.

The Land O’ Lakes, Florida native seized a starring role for the Gamecocks early in the 2023 season and never let it go, setting USC freshman records in home runs (23) and RBIs (75) and leading the team with a .376 average. After the USC baseball season ended in the Gainesville Super Regional in June, Petry reeled in accolades and All-American honors from nearly every outlet imaginable, including a national freshman of the year award from Perfect Game.

But after participating at the USA Baseball Collegiate Team training camp earlier in the summer, Petry returned to Columbia itching to play more baseball.

That’s when the Lexington Country Blowfish entered the picture. The collegiate summer league team has just nine games remaining in its regular season, but Petry joined the squad for the stretch run, making his home debut in Lexington on Tuesday night and — fittingly — thrilling fans with a home run in the fifth inning in Blowfish win over the Boone Bigfoots.

“I went down to (Team) USA, and it was pretty fun and I enjoyed it a lot ... but then I went back home and kind of got bored,” Petry told The State, laughing. “Then I came back up here, trying to get some work in, and I got bored again, and I was like, ‘I just want to go out and play.’

“Now I’m on the Blowfish. I’ve met a lot of nice new guys, great teammates, so that’s really fun.”

Part of the appeal for Petry in joining the Blowfish was being able to share a dugout and bus trips with Gamecocks teammates Zander Buchan and Thomas Powell, an incoming freshman. Buchan, who didn’t see game action in his first season with USC, was the one who made the pitch to Petry, asking him to join the team to help the Blowfish as they make a run toward the playoffs.

Petry didn’t need much convincing.

For him, the summer league experience isn’t about working on his swing — his swing is already potent as it is — it’s more about the camaraderie and joy of playing the game.

“It’s a lot of fun playing with the Blowfish,” Petry said. “Just a lot of fun going on the bus trips, meeting new guys from other schools, other conference, other divisions — Division I, Division II, Division II and NAIA. It’s a breath of fresh air, seeing how everyone loves the game of baseball, no matter what level it is.”

The Blowfish are 21-16 overall in the Coastal Plain League and 9-6 in the second half of the season. That’s good enough for first place in the West division standings.

USC head coach Mark Kingston made it a point to rave about how good of a teammate Petry is throughout the season and pointed to his work ethic as a reason why he had such a high level of success. When Petry first arrived at USC, he struggled through fall scrimmages before hitting coach Monte Lee worked with him on his timing and helped him unlock his swing.

The Gamecocks likely wouldn’t have made their super regional run without Petry’s contributions. The freshman after the team’s season-ending loss to Florida said he hopes to grow into a leadership role on the team, alongside veterans like catcher Cole Messina.

“Our ultimate goal is Omaha,” Petry said. “I got my accolades or whatever, but I’m more focused on the next season. I gotta perform the way I did, and I just gotta keep working hard — the way I have been.

“I’ve just got to not worry about accolades and just sit on the accolades and sit on that high. I gotta sit on that happy medium. I can’t be too low. I can’t be too high.”

For right now, Petry is simply having fun.

Blowfish remaining game schedule

July 26: vs. Macon Bacon, 7:05 PM

July 27: at Forest City Owls, 7 PM

July 28: vs. Macon Bacon, 7:05 PM

July 29 (split): at Florence Flamingos, 7 PM

July 29 (split): vs. Catawba Valley Stars, 7:05 PM

July 31: vs. Florence Flamingos, 7:05 PM

Aug. 2: at Florence Flamingos, 7 PM

Aug. 4: at Macon Bacon, 7 PM

Aug. 5: vs. Macon Bacon, 7:05 PM