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Meyer opts for garnet over green Shortstop turns down LA., comes to school by Jeff Romig Sports Editor Drew Meyer turned and watched as the ball soared out of Sarge Frye Field. Wbuld that be that last home run he would ever hit to the railroad tracks? Would he ever wear the Gamecock gar net and black? He didn’t want to decide at that point. He wanted to enjoy winning the MVP of the North-South all-star game. He wanted to enjoy playing for the U.S. junior national team. He wanted to enjoy his summer. He wanted to experience college. So that’s what he did. He turned down Tommy Lasorda and he turned down the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he showed up for his classes Aug. 19. Now he’s penciled in as Ray Tanner’s start ing shortstop. The difference is, Meyer is part of a team now. It doesn’t matter that he was drafted in the second round. It doesn’t matter that he was offered six figures to play baseball. What matters is the impact he can have on his team. “I’ve realized how team unity really has to work in college baseball,” Meyer said. Whs there a grudge held by his new team mates about his draft status or signing bonus? “No. Not at all,” Meyer said “There’s been no hatred shown or anything like that. I’m pretty good friends with everybody on the team. It’s worked out well.” Meyer wasn’t so sure that’s how it would be when he joined the Gamecocks. “I wasn’t worried about it,” Meyer said “But I was curious about it. It ends up not even being an issue. It’s been really good.” With that out of the way, Meyer was able to settle in as a college student just as every other USC freshman did, even though people might see him as different from other fresh men. “I still hear it when I go to class,” Meyer said. ‘“Oh, you’re that guy who turned down all that money. ’ It’s not like I dwell on it now. “If I have abad day, it’s not like I say, ‘Oh, man, I should have signed.’ I’m happy with the decision I’ve made.” With all that in the past, Meyer is ready to focus on his and the team’s future. “I hope to eventually make it to Omaha,” Meyer said. “I think this is the year we can do it. I want to get there and leave a mark on Rosenblatt Stadium.” Before Meyer steps into the batter’s box at Rosenblatt as a Gamecock, he’ll have to do so at Sarge Frye. With all the buildup of Meyer’s potential, does he feel pressure to perform immediate ly? “A little bit,” Meyer said. “I think people are going to say, ‘Wow. This is the guy who was drafted. He should be hitting .400 with 15 home runs and steal 60 bases right away.’ “I know that’s not going to happen. That’s going to have to come with time.” Time, hard work and learning. “You just have to be a student of the game,” Meyer said. “I just have to work on it every day, and hopefully one day I can do that, but I know that’s not going to happen this year.” One thing that Meyer has worked on is getting to know his double play partner, John McHenry, who also is in his first year at USC. “Wfe’ve done a lot of work,” Meyer said. Each day this fall, Meyer and McHenry hit the field, each taking 100 ground balls and then turning 30 double plays. “I think that’s going to help a lot,” Mey er said. “I think we both adjusted to each oth er well. It’s going to be a success in the fu ture.” Meyer and McHenry will get their first test today against Charleston Southern. The Gamecocks also will face the College of Charleston and The Citadel this season, giv ing Meyer the opportunity to face off against his hometown teams. “It’s (Efferent to move away and play against a city,” Meyer said. “It’s going to be fun. I know a lot of players from each of those teams, so it’s going to be great to see my old friends and compete against them.” Meyer’s family is still in Charleston, but won’t watch him play only when he comes back home. In fact, it will be very rare if the Meyers miss a game at all. “My dad’s made a lot of preseason travel plans,” Meyer said. “They’re going to fly to LSU when we play them.” And it would almost be unheard of for the Meyer family to miss a home series at Sarge Frye. “They’re going to be up here for just about every home game,” Meyer said. ‘T think there’s only one or two conflicts with my little broth er, who plays high school baseball at Bishop England.” Meyer’s father, Frank, has been working overtime to prepare for his son’s first season in garnet and black. “He’s already figured the prices, gas mileage and food,” Meyer said. “He’s got the whole package figured out already. It’s pretty funny.” Special to Gamecock Sports Freshman shortstop Drew Meyer is expected to bolster the Gamecock infield after Brian Roberts was drafted last season. Meyer was the LA. Dodgers’ second-round pick last year. Bishop England H.S. Defensive Player of the Year All Region (7AA Conference) 1996 Lower State AA Championship Team Bishop England H.SsJ^essjvePlayer of the Year fol All Region (7AA Conference) East Coast Professional Baseball Showcase USA Today All-American Honorable Mention SC-AAU Junior Olympic Team High ScbdS Sports Report State AA Player of the High Schott! Sports Report All-State Team | Post-Courier All Lowconntty Team >' All Region (7 A A Conference) Bishop England H.S. Offensive Player of the Year ■ State AA Championship Team