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Crosscutters’ McCoy adapted well to sudden inclusion

Sometimes, the best way to get acclimated to something new is to be thrown right into the frying pan.

Many athletes who joined the MLB Draft League towards the end of June can certainly attest to this. In a portion of the season where agents speak loudest and first half guys are pulled early, teams in the MLB Draft League typically call up second half guys early for much needed roster depth. As a result, these ballplayers are expected to produce from day one rather than receiving time to get acclimated to the league.

This was doubly the case for those joining the Williamsport Crosscutters during this time. Towards the end of June, a multitude of pitchers and position players joined the ball club in the middle of a first half title chase that had just a few games left to capture.

And while it made sense then some struggled, others, including outfielder James McCoy, made diamonds out of the immense pressure.

Prior to his sudden inclusion with the Crosscutters, the Atlanta native applied his trade with Kentucky for his first three years of college eligibility before a senior campaign with Georgia Southern.

In spite of a transfer, McCoy was a stalwart member with the Wildcats with his junior seasons seeing the outfielder hit .286 in 47 appearances with 14 runs batted in and a .448 on base percentage.

But it was his recent season at Georgia Southern when the outfielder really showed out. Despite featuring for an Eagles team that finished just 16-40 overall, including a plum last mark in the Sun Belt Conference with a 7-23 record, McCoy's production didn't falter. When the dust settled, the senior transfer placed second on the team in batting average (.338,) and home runs (9,) while leading the Eagles in doubles (19,) walks (36,) and stolen bases (13.)

McCoy was treated like any other late addition to the team, with the focus more on "Who left?" rather than "Who joined?" So little was said, ultimately, when the Atlanta, Georgia native made his debut as a defensive change on July 2nd's 14-10 win over the State College Spikes.

Little, I'm sure, that the 1,048 in attendance at Historic Bowman Field would know, that would mark the start of one of the most dominant starts to a Draft League career in recent memory.

The next day, with the magic number for Williamsport to win the First Half title at two, McCoy would make his proper debut in the starting lineup at State College. In front of a raucous Medlar Field crowd, the Georgia native provided a middle of the order spark going three for four with a pair of runs brought in and a run scored. McCoy’s last at-bat of the game, an infield RBI single in the eighth inning, extended Williamsport's lead in what would ultimately be a 10-6 victory.

A day later, and the Cutters were First Half champions after a 20-9 thrashing of the Spikes on July 4th at Bowman. McCoy, in his first home start, set the tone early with a bases-clearing three run double in the bottom of the first inning. By the end of the day and with the champagne being brought in, McCoy would finish one for four with four runs batted in and a pair of runs scored himself.

But it was when the second half season began that McCoy's production truly began to shine. In the second half campaign, the outfielder has gone a stellar 10-28 at the plate with six runs batted in, two home runs, 9 runs scored, and a pair of stolen bases for a Crosscutter team attempting to clinch its second MLB Draft League Championship in three years.

The Cutters' second half campaign continues this weekend, with a four-game home stand against the Trenton Thunder and State College Spikes.