Dusty Blake Joins Baseball Coaching Staff
8/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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SPARTANBURG, S.C. – After four seasons as an assistant coach at Wofford, Dusty Blake has joined the USC Upstate baseball program and will serve as the team's pitching coach while assisting with recruiting efforts.
Prior to arriving at Upstate, Blake served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for the Terriers. He was responsible for the development of pitcher John Cornely, a 15th round draft pick by the Atlanta Braves in the 2011 MLB Draft. Cornely led the 2011 team with a 1.85 ERA and was also the team leader in appearances (23), saves (9) and opponent batting average (.169). Cornely struck out 49 batters in 39 innings of work and posted a 2-1 record.
As a whole, the 2011 Wofford pitching staff held opponents to a .297 batting average, which was the lowest total since the 2000 campaign (.293). The team also owned a 5.12 team ERA which was the best mark in more than 25 seasons (1985, 5.04). The Terriers struck out 381 batters, a total that ranks third-best in program history.
In 2009, the Terriers had seven freshmen pitchers in the mix as the team posted an 8.49 ERA with the fewest hits allowed since 2004. In his first season with the Terriers, the team earned run average was 7.12, the lowest since the 2004 season. In addition, the Terriers allowed nearly 100 fewer hits and 60 fewer runs than in the 2007 season.
Before making the move to Spartanburg, Blake was the pitching coach at Catawba College for two seasons. In 2006, the Indians led the South Atlantic Conference with 49 wins, an earned run average of 3.44 and an average of 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings. During the 2007 season, the Indians posted a 4.88 earned run average as the team went 32-19. The pitchers averaged 5.8 strikeouts per nine innings and only allowed 31 homeruns in the season.
In the summer of 2007, Blake served as the head coach of the Asheboro (N.C.) Copperheads of the Coastal Plain League. Blake previously had served as an assistant coach with Gastonia of the CPL in 2005.
Blake began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Pfeiffer University in 2004-05. At Pfeiffer, he assisted with the pitching staff and worked with the outfielders. He also worked with recruiting and designing a strength and conditioning program for all players.
He has also worked extensively at clinics and camps. Blake was the director of the Catawba College baseball camps and has worked additional camps at Clemson, Appalachian State, Pfeiffer and Best of Virginia.
Blake earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Appalachian State in 2003. He helped lead the Mountaineers to a fourth place finish in the Southern Conference in 2001. During the summers, Blake pitched for the Salisbury Pirates in the Southern Collegiate League where he set team records for career wins and innings pitched. He also earned a masters degree in organizational development and business from Pfeiffer University.
