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_Gamecock Sports_ _ Outlook positive for USC baseball team in 2000 by Jeff Romig Sports Editor The goal is set. Anything less than berth in a regional will be a let down for the USC baseball team that sufficiently filled its holes from last year. Brian Roberts leaves a void at shortstop. Drew Meyer, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ second round pick in last year’s draft, steps in. , Jay Lambert is graduated. Adam McHenry brings a .425 average and 40 stolen bases from Cerra Coso Junior College in California to second base. Brandon Pack solidifies a shaky catching slot with good defense and a .360 JC average. Chris Plummer brings solid JC credentials to the hot comer, as does Brennan Dees to right field. When combined with a pitching staff that is con sidered to be the strongest piece of USC’s puzzle, any thing less than the goal set will be missing the mark for the 2000 Gamecocks. “I came here with hopes of going far in the play offs,” Meyer said. “I think we’ve got the pitching to do it and I think we’ve got the team to do it.” Kip Bouknight thinks the team’s unity will play a major foie in its success. “Obviously Carolina fans have noticed Carolina basketball,” Bouknight said. “Why are they a little bit different this year? I’m a fan, and I go watch. I see uni ty there. I see guys going out there and hustling - diving on the floor. Well, that’s kind of how we are.” Coach Ray Tanner is very pleased with the team he will be fielding this spring. “I like this team,” Tanner said. “There’s a lot of kids on this team who have been around for a little bit and I think that’s going to make a difference for us. I’m hoping that in the course of this season that ex perience and maturity is going to make a lot of dif ference.” Tanner’s pitching rotation will be an integral part in any success the Gamecocks might.have. “Certainly on paper, pitching seems to be where we’re strongest,” Tanner said. “We lost Randy Had den and Jason Pomar, but other than that, everybody’s back and has some experience. I think our pitchers are good enough that they can give us a chance to win everyday.” Kip Bouknight will be Tanner’s No. 1 starter com ing off a 7-4 record with a 3.86 ERA. Bouknight is followed by fellow junior Peter Bauer, who was 5-3 in 1999. “Kip has done a tremendous job since day one of his freshman year,” Tanner said. “Pete had a great year his freshman year and a lot of experience last year. They’re certainly as experienced as you can have in college baseball as juniors.” Sophomore Chris Spigner, who was undefeated in 1999 at 3-0, will be third in the rotation and JC trans fer Ernie Bascuas (8-3,3.00 ERA in 1999) is the lead ing candidate to be the Gamecock’s fourth starter. Tanner is as high on his pitching staff as he is on Meyer, whose decision to pass up Dodger blue to come to college came down to the wire. “Anytime you can get a player that good to come to school, it certainly means so much to your pro gram,” Tanner said. “He’s a freshman and I expect him to have some bumps along the way, but he cer tainly has the talent to step in and play.” Sophomore Trey Dyson, who also started for most of his freshman year, knows what adjustments have to be made from the high school level to the SEC. “One thing about Drew is he’s definitely not scared,” Dyson said. “He’s going to come out here and play as hard as he can everyday. I think he’s ad justed pretty well.” Dyson returns at first base, as does Shane Nelson in left field. Marcus McBeth, who also saw time as a freshman, will be Tanner’s everyday centerfielder. USC also welcomes back outfielder Nate Janow icz, who led the team in hitting for much of the sea son last year and anchored a solid defense. Janow icz, one of the few seniors, will be competing with newcomer Brennan Dees for a starting spot. The Gamecocks will begin the new season on Feb. 4 against Charleston Southern at Sarge Frye Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Amy Goulding Photo Editor Junior pitcher Kip Bpouknight willb e the No. 1 starter for the Gamecocks this season, as they try to repeat last yar's SEC Eastern Division championship. ■ '■■■■ ■■ | —■ i 2000 Gamecock Baseball Schedule , ———•—- -—--—— — ...——— Feb. 4-5 Charleston Southern at Franklin Life Classic (Charleston, S.C) 11 Old Dominion, 12 East Carolina 13 The Citadel 18-20 Delaware Slate 22 Campbell 25-27 College of Charleston March 3-5 Radford 8 Furman | 10-12 at Auburn 14 UNC-Asheviiie 17-19 Florida 22 Wolford , ■ 24-26 at Louisiana Stats ; 28 at College of Charleston 39 Hon " 31 Alabama April 1-2 Alabama 5 The Citadel 7-9 Mississippi State 12atClemson 14-16 at Vanderbilt 18 Davidson 19Ciemson . . ,v 26 at UNC-Asheville 28-30 Geoigia Mfisr 5-7 at Arkansas 10 at Duke 12-34 Tennessee' Welcome Back T@C Bio/opticor/s (Formerly Bayer) Welcomes back USC Students and We make the following offer: Students can donate plasma with Sera-Tec and Earn Cash in Z donations m Open F\-F 1916 Taylor Street 25*1-6683 ^. .O MEGA TANNING SALONS WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL TANNING BEDS State Of The Art Giant Mega Beds • High/Medium Pressure Beds Super 10 Minute Beds • Giant 20 And 30 Minute Beds Ruva Beds And Stand Up VHR Booths CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE TOP TEN SALONS IN THE COUNTRY! 275 Harbison, next to Columbiana Mall (803) 732-5949 NO APPOINTMENT OPEN 7 DAYS 25 GIANT BEDS r “First Time Customers Only” Buy one session- i i GET A FREE BOTTLE OF LOTION | $14 Value Expires 3-18-00 3001 Broad River Road (formerly Hot Rods) For more information, call 551-5522 iWii^ BUYONE, SET (ME \ Dorito? | }4dZtet~~~—6 oz. - 9 oz. 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