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Nothing short of a regional will do for 2000 Gamecocks by Jeff Romig Sports Editor The goal is set. Anything less than a berth in a regional will be a let down for the USC baseball team that suf ficiently 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. Infielder Jay Lambert is graduated. John 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’s considered to be the strongest piece of USC’s puz zle, anything less than the goal set will be missing the mark for the 2000 Gamecocks. “I came here with hopes of going far in the playofis,” Meyer said. “I think we’ve got the pitch ing 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 role in its success. “Obviously, Carolina fans have noticed Car olina basketball,” Bouknight said. “Why are they a little bit different this year? I’m a fan, and I go watch. I see unity there. I see guys going out there and hustling-diving on the floor. Well, that’s kind of how we are.” Coach Ray Tanner said he’s pleased with the team he’ll 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 differ ence for us. I’m hoping that in the course of this season that experience and maturity is going to make a lot of difference.” 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. “Wfe lost Randy Had den and Jason Pomar, but other than that, every body’s back and has some experience. I think our pitchers are good enough that they can give us a chance to win everyday.” Bouknight will be Tanner’s No. 1 starter, com ing off a 74 record with a 3.86 ERA. He will be 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 agreat 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 undefeat ed in 1999 at 3-0, will be third in the rotation, and JC transfer Ernie Bascuas (8-3,3.00 ERA in 1999) is the leading candidate to be the Gamecocks’ 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. “Any time you can get a player that good to come to school, it certainly means so much to your program,” Tanner said. “He’s a fresh man and I expect him to have some bumps along the way, but he certainly 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 Southeastern Conference. “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 adjusted pretty well.” Dyson returns at first base, as does Shane Nelson in left field. Marcus McBeth, who al so saw time as a freshman, will be Tanner’s everyday center fielder. USC also welcomes back outfielder Nate Janowicz, who led the team in hitting for much of the season last year and anchored a solid de fense. Janowicz, one of the few seniors, will be competing with newcomer Dees for a start ing spot. The Gamecocks will begin the new sea son today with the start of a two-game series against Charleston Southern at Saige Frye Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. 2000 South Carolina Baseball Roster No. Name Pos. B-T Ht Wt Class 1 Chris Plummer 3B R-R 6-0 186 Jr. 2 Nate Janowicz OF L-L 5-10 183 Sr. 3 Matt Riddle OF L-L 5-9 174 Fr. 4 Brett Price P L-L 5-10 155 So. 6 Jamie Poston P R-R 5-11 174 Sr. 7 Drew Meyer SS L-R 5-11 183 Fr. 8 Marcus McBeth OF R-R 6-1 172 So. 9 Marcos Rios C R-R 5-10 185 Sr. 10 Clint Collins P R-R 6-0 203 Jr. 12 Brennan Dees OF R-R 5-10 177 Jr. 13 Steven Bondurant P L-L 6-0 166 Fr. 14 Kip Bouknight P R-R 6-0 201 Jr. 15 Steve Thomas INF R-R 5-11 169 So. 17 Trey Dyson IB L-L 6-4 220 So. 18 Bryon Jeffcoat INF R-R 6-1 189 Jr. 19 Rico Bravo C L-R 6-1 203 Fr. 20 John Wesley P R-R 6-6 225 So. 21 Brandon Pack C S-R 6-3 212 Jr. 22 Jeremy Plexico P L-L 6-4 196 Fr. 23 Lee Gronkiewicz P R-R 5-11 183 Sr. 25 Chris Spigner P R-R 6-1 202 So. 26 Tim Whittaker C R-R 5-11 207 Jr. 27 John McHenry 2B R-R 5-10 174 Jr. 29 Shane Nelson OF L-L 6-1 205 Sr. 32 Ernie Bascuas P R-R 6-1 187 Jr. 34 Steven Whetstone P R-R 6-5 177 So. 36 Scott Barber P R-R 6-4 203 Jr. 38 Peter Bauer P R-R 6-7 247 Jr. 41 Bo Mobley C R-R 5-11 224 Fr. 43 Tripp Kelly IB R-R 6-2 221 Jr. 46 Matt Wilson P R-R 6-0 183 So. Hometown (HighSchool/CoIlege) Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. (Okaloosa-Walton JC) Atascadero, Calif. (Cuesta JC) W. Columbia, SC (Brookland-Cayce) Batesburg, SC (Batesburg-Leesville) Lugoff, SC (Lugoff-Elgin) Charleston, SC (Bishop England) Enoree, SC (Woodruff) Hayward, Calif. (Chabot JC) Bamberg, SC (Bamberg-Ehrhardt) Montgomery, Ala. (Chipola JC) Matthews, NC (Providence Day) Gaston, SC (Brookland-Cayce) Tampa, Fla. (Plant) Columbia, SC (Spring Valley) W. Columbia, SC (Lexington) Evans, Ga. (Lakeside) Westbury, NY (Brevard JC) Salt Lake City, Utah (Cypress JC) Chapin, SC (Chapin) Lancaster, SC (Spartanburg Methodist JC) Columbia, SC (Cardinal Newman) Conway, SC (Conway) Sparks, Nev. (Carra Cosa JC) McIntyre, Ga. (Young Harris JC) Miami, Fla. (Lake City JC) W. Columbia,SC (Brookland-Cayce) Belton, SC (Belton-Honea Path) Silver Spring, Md. (Paint Branch) Waverly Hall, Ga. (Columbus) Florence, SC (W. Florence) Belvedere, SC (North Augusta) Sean Rayford Gamecock Sports Peter Bauer will be the Gamecocks No. 2 starter. Bauer was 5-3 with a 5.09 ERA in 1999. 2000 USC Baseball Schedule February 4 Charleston Southern 3 p.m. 5 Charleston Southern 1:30 p.m. Franklin Life Classic (Charleston, SC) 11 Old Dominion 1:30 p.m. 12 East Carolina 5 p.m. 13 The Citadel 5 p.m. 18 Delaware State 3 p.m. 19 Delaware State 1:30 p.m. 20 Delaware State 1:30 p.m. 22 Campbell 3 p.m. 25 College of Charleston 3 p.m. 26 College of Charleston 1:30 p.m. 27 College of Charleston 1:30 p.m. March 3 Radford 3 p.m. 4 Radford 1:30 p.m. 5 Radford 1:30 p.m. 8 Furman 7 p.m. 10 at Auburn 7 p.m. 11 at Auburn 3 p.m. 12 at Auburn 2:30 p.m. 14 UNC Asheville 7 p.m. 17 Florida 7 p.m. 18 Florida 4 p.m. 19 Florida 1:30 p.m. 22 Wofford 7 p.m. 24 at Louisiana State 8 p.m. 25 at Louisiana State 5 p.m. 26 at Louisiana State 2 p.m. 28 at College of Charleston 7 p.m. 29 Elon 7 p.m. 31 Alabama 7 p.m. April 1 Alabama 4 p.m. 2 Alabama 1:30 p.m. 5 The Citadel 7 p.m. 7 Mississippi State 7 p.m. 8 Mississippi State 3 p.m. 9 Mississippi State 1:30 p.m. 12 atClemson 7:15 p.m. 14 at Vanderbilt 8 p.m. 15 at Vanderbilt 3 p.m. 16 at Vanderbilt 2 p.m. 18 Davidson . 7 p.m. 19 Clemson 7 p.m. 21 at Kentucky 6 p.m. 22 at Kentucky 2 p.m. 23 at Kentucky 2 p.m. 26 at UNC Asheville 3 p.m. 28 Georgia 7 p.m. 29 Georgia 4 p.m. 30 Georgia 1:30 p.m. May 5 at Arkansas 7:30 p.m. 6 at Arkansas 7:30 p.m. 7 at Arkansas 2 p.m. 10 at Duke 1 p.m. 12 Tennessee 7 p.m. 13 Tennessee 4 p.m. 14 Tennessee 1:30 p.m. 17 at SEC Tournament (Birmingham, Ala.) 18 at SEC Tournament (Birmingham, Ala.) 19 at SEC Tournament (Birmingham, Ala.) 20 at SEC Tournament (Birmingham, Ala.) 21 at SEC Tournament (Birmingham, Ala.) 26 NCAA Regionals 27 NCAA Regionals 28 NCAA Regionals June 2-4 NCAA Super Regionals 9-17 College World Series (Omaha, Neb.)