Richard Gray Sports Complex - USC Beaufort

General Admission

History

Located in Hardeeville, South Carolina, Richard Gray Sports Complex is about 45 minutes from Beaufort and is the home of USC Beaufort baseball. The home of Sand Shark baseball since the program's start in 2009, Richard Gray has been home of playoff baseball and also ushered the Sand Sharks through the move to D2 in 2023.

Atmosphere

For Hardeeville to be so far from Beaufort, there was still solid fan support, though most seemed to be parents of players rather than students. Admission is free, and there is bleacher seating though most folks bring lawn chairs and line up behind the backstop or in the shade by the restrooms - there is no shade near the actual stands. Parking is also free, making USC Beaufort a great cheap baseball spot in the Lowcountry.

Concessions

While there is a small concession stand, it was not open the day I was there. Unsure if that's permanent or just while there are no other games being played in the neighboring fields (including the USCB softball field, if you want to try to do 2 in 1). There was a local food truck set up, though, with ballpark basics as well as Mexican food like tacos and tortas. Prices were affordable, and it felt good to support a local business.

Access

Hardeeville is not far from Savannah, roughly 20 minutes down I-95, and that is the best option for hotels close to Hardeeville. Parking is free at Richard Gray with plenty of spots even if the other fields are having games, which is a welcome change from some parking situations at other parks.

Final Thoughts

USC Beaufort feels old school and classic. Even at a college level game, it feels like a night at the ballpark watching little league; with the amount of parents in the crowd, especially, those of us that grew up around baseball will feel a bit of nostalgia. While I hope that eventually USC Beaufort will get an on campus stadium, Richard Gray is a beautiful spot to bring baseball to the Lowcountry.