David Marchbanks (2001-2003) came to the South Carolina Gamecocks out of Mauldin High School in Greenville, SC. As a senior in high school in 2000, Marchbanks led the Mavericks to a AAAA State Championship while being named South Carolina's Mr. Baseball, Statewide Player of the Year, and First Team All-State. In the summer prior to Marchbanks' first fall in Columbia, he was a member of the South Carolina Diamond Devils, a nationally recognized AAU program based in Charleston. Despite his commitment to play for the Gamecocks, Marchbanks was a 40th round draft pick of the Anaheim Angels in the 2000 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
In three years at Carolina, Marchbanks participated in two College World Series (2002, 2003). As a junior in 2003, he was named SEC Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-SEC, and Collegiate Baseball First Team All-America. For his efforts, Marchbanks was selected 203rd overall (7th round) by the Florida Marlins. In addition to his skill on the mound, David Marchbanks exhibited the qualities that all managers look for in their players. He was a true student of the game.
What is your favorite personal moment in a Gamecock uniform? My favorite personal moment at Carolina is probably winning two games in one day against Mississippi State at Sarge Frye. Our Friday night game was suspended after 6 innings due to rain and we resumed the game on Saturday. I pitched the last 3 innings and got the win against Jonathan Papelbon in the first game, and then threw 7 2/3 innings the second game and got the win for that one also. Mississippi State was a top 10 team at the time so it was a huge series win for us.
What is your favorite moment from your entire baseball career - from little league on? My favorite moment would have to be taking the mound for the first time in Omaha. That’s something every baseball player dreams about and works hard for, and I’m blessed to have gotten that opportunity.
What team moment at Carolina stands out the most to you as you look back today? Without a doubt, beating Clemson twice to advance us to the National Title game is a memory that will be special for the rest of my life. Any time you can beat Clemson on the biggest stage in college baseball in an elimination game it’s a huge accomplishment. It was also a milestone win for our program to win that game and give us the opportunity to play for a National Championship.
Which player or person most inspired you to be the best baseball player you could be? The person that inspired me the most is definitely my dad. He always had time to throw the ball around in the back yard after work, and he always took the time to coach about every Little League team I played on growing up. When I think back on my entire career, I think he only missed two games that I started from Little League all the way through my college career. He was always there to support me in any way possible, and I would have never had the opportunity to accomplish what I did without him.
What did it mean for you for Carolina to win the 2010 National Championship, and do you wish the 2002 CWS offered the opportunity for a best of 3 against the Longhorns? Watching Carolina win the National Title last year was very special from the standpoint that a lot of players had a hand in winning that Championship. We have a very tight knit group of baseball alumni, and we feel like Carolina Baseball is a family with a very proud tradition. The teams that came before us in 2002 and 2003 laid the ground work to allow us to accomplish the things that we did, and I feel the same way about the 2010 team. A lot of Championships, hard work, and dedication from a lot of players, coaches, and fans went into winning that National Title so it was very special to see. I do wish we had the opportunity for a best of 3 series against Texas because I feel like we had the better team on paper. Fortunately, the NCAA finally got it right by changing the format to include a three game series because that’s the only way to truly find out who the better team is.
What are you doing these days? When I retired from baseball, my wife and I decided to settle down in our hometown of Greenville, SC. We’ve lived here for the last five years and we have a 20 month old son that keeps us pretty busy. I’m also the Sales Manager at Gossett Concrete Pipe Company here in Greenville and we manufacture and supply storm drain pipe for commercial, residential, and DOT projects.
*A special thanks from Skulls and Spurs and GABA to David Marchbanks for this interview.