Native Wins National Home Run Derby

Daniel Aldrich had a season any college baseball player would envy.

The College of Charleston standout knocked it out of the park 22 times this season, and he got accolades galore, including being named to the All-Southern Conference first team.

But the big one came last week when the Mount Pleasant native captured the 2011 TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby title in front of 20,000 fans in Omaha, Neb.

It’s all pretty standout stuff for the 20-year-old Wando High School graduate. It’s even more remarkable since Aldrich still has three more years of eligibility to play for the CofC Cougars.

"I’m just trying to keep a good work ethic. We still have a lot to prove next year," Aldrich said. "I want to help get us in the playoffs next year and into the post season."

The Cougars finished 18 -12 in conference play this year, but fell to Georgia Southern during the conference tournament. GSU went on to win the Southern Conference title in late May.

But at the Home Run Derby, Aldrich went head-to-head with GSU’s Victor Roache in the Derby finals and managed to topple the fellow slugger.

The win provided some level of redemption, but Aldrich said he was most excited to have his dad there with him. The Aldrich family moved to Mount Pleasant when Daniel was in the fifth grade.

Like many other baseball dads, Charles played catch, practiced batting, and drove his son to summer baseball games for years. Now a retired Army helicopter pilot, Charles still throws with his son, and at the Derby he was on the mound pitching as his son captured the national title.

"He’s just always worked with me," Daniel said. "It was great to have him there."

Charles said he just wants his son to continue focusing on playing good ball each day and not to think too much about wins or losses of the past or to think too far into the future.

"He’s just a great kid with a ton of discipline and an awesome work ethic," said Charles, who had his own remarkable baseball career at the University of South Carolina.

"I don’t want to talk too much about me, because it’s really all about him … but I think the military background helps, because the sport takes so much dedication and discipline."

Daniel said the Derby win was additionally sweet because it brought some attention to his college. Because it’s smaller, the Cougars don’t often get in the media spotlight.

All the personal accomplishments this year, capped off with the Derby win, are nice ego boosts, but Aldrich insists it’s not going to his head.

"My dream is to play professional baseball one day, and it was great to see myself on TV," Aldrich admits. "But I just try to work hard every day. We’re in the gym or on the field daily."

ABOUT ALDRICH
Position: Outfield
Bats: L
Throws: R
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 210
Year: Redshirt Sophomore
Parents: Charles and Luz Aldrich

ACCOLADES:  Honored as the NCBWA National Freshman of the Year, as a Freshman All-American First Team selection and a Second Team All-American pick. He was named the 2011 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year by the Southern Conference Sports Media Association and the league’s coaches, as well as being named to the All-SoCon First Team. The right-fielder led all Division I freshmen in home runs (22), RBIs (73), slugging percentage (.739) and total bases (164). Aldrich also had 25 multi-hit games on the season and had a team-best 17-game hitting streak in February and March.