Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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sports Pete Feheley Sports Editor With the start of the 1975 major league baseball season just about a week away, the avalanche of preseason preductions is just about finished. However, lest my hours of research go for naught, bear with me for just one more round of predictions. American League East 1. NEW YORK YANKEES - Could 1975 be the year of the Yankees? Many believe the addition of Catfish Hunter and Bobby Bonds will bring the American League pennant back to New York. The Yanks missed by only two games last year without Bonds or Hunter. Hunter joins 19-game winners Pat Dobson and George Medich to give New York a formidable starting ratation. Bonds joins .300 hitters Lou Piniella and Elliott Maddox to form a powerful outfield. Sparky Lyle an chors the bullpen and Thurman Munson is an All-Star catcher. If the Yankee infield holds up, they will be playing baseball in Shea Stadium in October this year. 2. BALTIMORE ORIOLES - The rich got richer in the AL East this winter as the Orioles strengthened themselves in trades. The addition of Lee May and Ken Singleton bring some proven hitters to a Baltimore attack that sputtered last year. Baltimore's outstanding pitching and defense (best in the AL last season) carried them to their fifth divisional title in six years. Mike Torrez came in a trade with Montreal for Dave McNally. Mike Cuellar, Ross Grimsley, and Jim Palmer will combine with Torrez to make pitching the Orioles strong suit. The hitting is the only question mark. 3. CLEVELAND INDIANS - The reign of Frank Robinson, baseball's first black manager, begins amid rumors of bad blood between Robinson and his mound ace, Gaylord Perry. If the two settle their differences and Robinson can find some pitching to back up Gaylord and brother Jim, the Indians might make some waves in the AL East. Buddy Bell, Oscar Gamble, George Hendrick and Charlie Spikes are all solid hitters. Now the Indians need a solid bullpen. 4. BOSTON RED SOX - While many people were conceding the AL East to Bos last July, several factors that led to their ultimate collapse began to emerge in late July. Only Luis Tiant was able to win consistently down the stretch as Bill Lee, Reggie Cleveland and Roger Moret all went into a slump. Rico Petrocelli had a down year and catcher Carlton Fisk and pitcher Rick Wise missed most of the season with injuries. However, if Carl Yastrzemski has another good year left in him and rookies Jim Rice and Fred Lynn develop to offset the loss of the traded Tommy Harper, the Red Six might move up in the standings. 5. MILWAUKEE BREWERS - Any team that has Hank Aaron, for a designated hitter can't be that bad, right? Not bad, but not great either. The Brewers were a weak hitting team last year and except for Billy Champion, pretty weak on the mound also. Jim Colborn hopes to return to his 1973 form that saw him win 20 games. George Scott provides the Brewers with power while Don Money is solid at third and Darrell Porter is a good catcher. Too many ifs for the Brewers this year. 6. DETROIT TIGERS - This franchise has done an about-face since their division title in 1972. Dead last in 1974, the Tigers lacked hitting (.247 as a team), were last in pitching and only Texas fielded worse. But they have a fine manager in Ralph Houk, a man who demands sacrifice from his players. Mickey Lolich was 16-211last year and only Joe Coleman had a winning season among the starters. Willie Horton was Injured most of the season and John Hiller stood alone in the bull n. The arrival of slugger Nate Colbert from San Diego wil merely give him a chance to live in last place with a different team. American League West 1. OAKLAND A's - Can the A's survive the loss of Catfish Hunter and the continued presence of Charlie Finley? Not for much longer. Ken Holtzman, Vida Blue and Rollie Fingers must look to Dave Hamilton and Blue Moon Odom to pick up the slack caused by Hunter's departure. Joe Rudi, Reggie Jackson, Bert Campereris, Sal Bando, Bill North and Gene Tenace are all still around, but unfortunately, so is Finley. Continued on Pnae 14 Carolina Tigers hei BY PETE FEHELEY Sports Editor Carolina's baseball team brought home two victories from Athens, Ga. this weekend to raise their season record to 19-2. On Friday, Earl Bass scattered' six hits and made two unearned runs stand up for a 2-1 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs. The Gamecocks got only five hits themselves, but took advantage of some shoddy fielding by the Bulldogs to score in the fifth and eighth innings. Carolina's Steve Cook singled in the USC fifth, stole second, went to third on the catcher's throwing error, and scored when Georgia centerfielder Larry Littleton misplayed the overthrow. USC scored again in the eighth when Mark Van Bever beat out a bunt, and moved over to third on a wild pickoff throw. Van Bever scored on an error one out later. Bass put down a Georgia rally in the ninth as he fanned Jim Viviani with the tying run on base. Bass struck out nine and walked one in raising his record to 5-0. On Saturday, Carolina whipped Georgia 6-0 behind the five-hit pitching of lefty Tim Lewis. Lewis, who tossed a no-hitter in his last start against Old Dominion, struck out five and walked only one to win his fifth game of the season without a loss. The Gamecocks played long ball as David Small, Jim Pankovits and Garry Hancock all homered for Carolina. After Pankovits' sacrifice fly gave Carolina their first run in the fourth, Small made it 2-0 with a home run leading off the USC fifth. Gary Hancock led off the USC Charles ton BY LIZ ISH ER WOOD Of The Gamecock staff The women's tennis team split two matches as they downed Charleston on Thursday and then lost to North Carolina on Friday. The Carolina Women's tennis team emerged victorious 5-4 in a close match against the College of Charleston Thursday. The Chicks won three of the singles .matches. Sue Smith number two player, won in straight sets 6-4, 6-1 over Jeannie McGrath. Mary Moorman posted a win after a tough match again'st Patty Anastollo 6-0, 0-6; 6-2. Dee Dee EasIer number six player, split sets with Suzette Capitano and then dominated the third set winning 6 0, 1-6, 6-1. The Chick's number one player, Sue Stoll, was defeated by Peggy Bohne. Susan Tinsley lost to Claire Reeves 6-4, 6-0, while Peggy Fowler fell to Susan Infinger 7-5, 6 0. The match was tied three-all going Into the doubles competition. USC's number one doubles duo of whips Ga. 1 7e Wednes Earl Bass sixth with his first home run of the season. Ray Lavigne reached on an error and Pankovits followed with his fifth home run of the season to give Carolina a S-0 lead. Mark Van Bever scored Carolina's final run of the game in the ninth on a fielder's choice. Clemson had been recognized as the best baseball team in the state prior to Richardson's arrival in 1970. The Gamecocks now hold claim to that title and have ex tended their domain throughout most of the Southeast. Coach Bobby Richardson's squad will play Howard University tonight and tomorrow night in single games beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Enright field. Carolina's biggest home field challenge to date comes Wed nesday night when the Clemson Tigers come to Columbia for a single game at 7:30 p.m. Howver, both Carolina and Clemson are enjoying outstanding falls to Chi Stoll and Smith tried to come up with a win but lost 6-2. 6-0. The number three doubles team of Fowler and EasIer won easily 6 3, 6-1 to tie the match at four-all. Tinsley and Moorman won a close South Carolina Women's Fast-Pitch Softball April 2 USC-Spartanburg at Carolina 4:00 p.m. April 3 Carolina at Winthrop 4:00 p.m. April 8 Coker at Carolina 4:00 -p.m. April 11 Winthrop at Carolina 4:00 p.m. April 14 USC-Spartanburg at Carolina 4:00 p.m. April 18-19 Hinds Collegetown Tournament at Mississippi TBA , April 22 Carolina at Coker 4:00 p.m. April 25-26 State Tournament at Rock Hill 2:00 p.m. Home Games Rex Enright Athletic Center twiee day Greg Ward seasons. The Tigers have a 16-4 record going into today's game with St. Johns. The Tigers also have a game Tuesday with Western Carolina before their trip to Columbia. Clemson is led by centerfielder Denny Wallking who is hitting .461 with 25 RBI's despite missing five games with an injury. Catcher Tony Eckerl is hitting .350 while shortstop Kurt Seibert is hitting .318. Clemson will probably use either Chuck Porter (4-2) or Randy Quintrell (4-0) against the Gamecocks. Richardson will have the ace of the staff, Earl Bass, ready to start against the Tigers with Greg Ward ready in relief, if necessary. If Thursday's attendance at the Marshall game is any indication, Carolina's fans should arrive early Wednesday night as a standing room only crowd is expected to watch the Gamecocks meet their arch rivals. cks first set and then came on strong to wrap up the match. Coach Porter felt "great" about their big win. Porter said, "It was a tough match because we lost to Furman 9-0, while the College of Charleston lost 6-3. The match could have gone either way but the doubles team pulled it out." The Chicks traveled to University of North Carolina Friday where they suffered their second loss of the season dropping record to 5-2. A very powerful UNC beat Carolina 9-0. Coach Porter was pleased with Carolina's performance. Porter said, "UNC is a tough team to beat with some of their players on scholarship and ranked nationally. Porter was especially pleased with Smith's performance. Smith played extremely well and lost a close match 6-4, 6-4. The next home match will be Tuesday at 2:00 against Coker College at the PE Cter. courts.