In his first start to open up the 2025 Cape Cod Baseball League season, Harwich Mariners pitcher Jake McCoy accomplished something that he did not achieve during his sophomore year at South Carolina.

He went an entire outing without giving up a walk.

Sporting his Gamecock sweatshirt, McCoy grinned upon hearing the feat. He knew his pitching coach will be excited with his hot start.

“ Coach (Terry) Rooney at South Carolina will be very happy to see that,” the South Carolina native said. “So yeah, it's cool.”

In Harwich’s 7-5 win over the Bourne Braves on Saturday night, McCoy saw how great he can be when he stayed in the strike zone. In four innings of work, he struck out 10 batters, including the first five batters he faced, and did not give up an earned run.

Right from the get-go, Harwich field manager Steve Englert was impressed with how McCoy battled.

“Early on, he would fall behind, but then he just got right back into the zone,” Englert said. “When he was in the zone, he was electric. That was a really good outing for him."

No stranger to the missed bats, McCoy finished 19th in the SEC in strikeouts, and his 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings ranked in the top 40 in Division I. During Harwich’s Opening Night, all he needed was the fastball, blowing pitch after pitch past Braves hitters.

“ I think it was just the heater up in the zone,” McCoy said. “I mean, these guys’ timing is a little off for not playing for a few weeks. Wood bats, a little cold outside.  So if I can fill up the zone with the heater, that's all that matters. And then (the slider) on two strikes can be good, too.”

The Braves mustered just three hits against McCoy.

The rising junior came to the Cape wanting to “tighten a few things up.” While he racked up the strikeouts down in South Carolina, facing SEC competition proved to be a weekly battle for him and the Gamecocks. With 10 teams ranked in the top 25, there were no easy victories.

McCoy finished the season with a 6.90 ERA and gave up the second-most walks in the conference, meanwhile, his team went just 6-24 in conference games.

“ SEC is pretty grueling,” McCoy said.

The break allowed McCoy to reset and come into the summer ready to compete. Facing some hitters for the first time, he kept his approach simple, and rewarded Englert for handing him the ball on Opening Night.

”Thanks, coach Englert, for giving me the nod on Game 1,” the lefty said. “I thought it was really good. Just went out there and filled up the zone. That's all you can do on Opening Day.”

Much like the SEC, there will be no easy nights on the Cape for McCoy.

For a pitcher who has had some command issues in the past, starting the summer with a great performance can build confidence and set a foundation to build off.

“That’s so big,” Englert said about McCoy's zero walks. “When you can eliminate the free passes, especially down here, you are going to have some good success.

“He’s going to be a good one.”

McCoy continues charity work for the summer

In May, the SEC named McCoy to its Baseball Community Service Team. Over the course of the school year, he worked with several charities, notably partnering with Purple Heart Homes, a veteran charity that assists veterans in housing challenges they may face.

“ I think it's just a huge honor, honestly, to be selected for it,” he said. “I think it's so important to give back. People sacrifice so much to give the chance to come out here and play baseball, so I think it's the least I can do to give back a little bit.”

McCoy began a fundraiser before the season called “Strikeouts for Veterans,” promising to donate $23, his jersey number, for every strikeout he records.

With a goal to reach $23,000, the Fort Mill native hopes to receive outside donations and work with other organizations to contribute to the cause.

“ The people over there are awesome,” he said. “I mean, they've done nothing but good things for me, and I've always been very passionate about the military and veterans.”

McCoy plans to keep contributing to Purple Heart Homes no matter where he is playing, including the Cape.

And after a 10-strikeout game, McCoy knows he won’t be the biggest winner of the night.