Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Baseball Recruiting Impressive BY BILLY BAKER Sports Editor USC's baseball program should once again return to the national spotlight next spring as Bobby Richardson has signed some of the best high school and junior college players in the nation. As of August 1, nine athletes had signed to play baseball at USC. Leading the list is Mike Toalson, a southpaw pitcher from Little Rock, Arkansas. He had a 17-3 career record in high school. Six of his wins were no hitters. The son of former Yankee great Phil Rizzuto, Phil Rizzuto Jr., has signed with the Gamecocks. He will play in the outfield. Jim Lewis will transfer from Miami Dade Downtown Jr. College in Miami, Fla. He is a righthanded pitcher. Hal Hutchens, a right hander, has also signed with USC. He is from Wilmington, N.C. Sam Dudevski, from Camilo, N.Y. is a right handed pitcher who signed recently. Bobby Richardson, who batted 600 for his high school team in Asheville, N.C. this past spring has signed with USC. The son of Coach Bobby Richardson attended school at Ben Lippman High in Asheville. He is currently batting over .300 for the Sumter American Legion team. Tom Mixson, of Macon, Ga. will man second base for USC in future years. He is a 5'-10", 150 lb. fresh man. Frank Galloway of Sumter is a right hander with a good curve. He is also presently a member of the Sumter American Legion team. Richard Ness, a catcher from Bamberg, rounds out USC's baseball prospects to date. Frosh Signees BY BILLY BAKER Sports Editor Searching for the answers to USC's football misfortunes is not easy but head coach Jim Carlen has to date signed 27 athletes he hopes will bring success to USC. Twenty-four of the twenty-seven signees are defensive personnel. The Gamecocks were weak on defense in 1974 when they suffered through a disappointing 4-7 year. Carlen is not a part of the past at USC. He feels that under the circumstances he managed a fine year in recruiting circles. His coaching staff visited 12 states to land some of the best linemen in the country. Stuart Armstrong DT, 6-3, 215 lbs. Howard Barrett DE, 6-2, 205 lbs. Steve Bernish LB, 6-5, 225 lbs. Mike Bolden RB, 6-2, 180 lbs. Danny Clancy C, 6-3, 245 lbs. Mike Crowell DT, 6-3, 230 lbs. John Dantonio DB, 6-4, 190 lbs. Fred David MG, 6-2, 230 lbs. Mark Delaney LB, 6-2 200 lbs. Harry Ekaitis LB, 6-3, 210 lbs. Frank Ellis DE, 6-1, 190 lbs. Quay Farr III LB, 6-2, 225 lbs. Jay Feltz QB, 6-2, 170 lbs. Aundra Fusilier MG, 6-0, 215 lbs. Gary Hassen OT, 6-3, 240 lbs. Dave Hojnik OT, 6-2, 240 lbs. Bill Janus LB, 6-0, 220 lbs. Bill Lane DE, 6-2, 230 lbs. Tommy Oliver DT, 6-2, 245 lbs. Kevin Patton DE, 6-2, 210 lbs. Bob Orkis LB-DE, 6-2, 200 lbs. Rick Sanford DB, 6-3, 175 lbs. Scott Segraves LB, 6-1, 185 lbs. Joe Vitagliano DT, 6-2, 240 lbs. Mike Williams RB, 5-10, 175 lbs. W.T. Williams LB, 6-2, 205 lbs. Mark Willoughby LB, 6-1. 190 lbs. Siveral hundred fans greeted the team home from the College World USC Takes 5 BY BILLY BAKER Sports Editor Several hundred fans welcomed USC's baseball team back from their trip to dreamland: the college World Series this past June. The scene at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport was reminiscent of the fan gatherings after impressive USC basketball victories on "Tobacco Road" in the late 60's. On a day after the Gamecocks had a chance to capture the University's first NCAA cham pionship ever fans could be seen smiling, some in tears, as they Baseball '] BY BILLY BAKER Sports Editor For the second season in a row USC's baseball team broke numerous school records on their way to compiling a 51-6 record and a second place finish in the College World Series. All-Americans Earl Bass and Hank Small led the onslaught on the baseball records. Bass, who has signed a bonus contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, set season records for innings pitched, 148; games started, 18, complete games, 9; wins, 17; decisions, 18; and strikeouts, 392. He tied with Greg Ward for career wins with 34. Ward, who is expected to sign with the Baltimore Orioles baseball organization, set a career record of innings pitched, 340 1-3; and decisions, 47; in addition to sharing the record for victories. * From Page ic Cre win it is our victory, but when we lose it's my loss," Carlen said referring to his coaching staff. "I have said it before and I'll say it again, I have the finest staff in America.'' "I can remember years when I just lost one game and do you know which one I remembered the most?" he asked. "That one loss was replayed in my mind hund dreds of times I assure you. "You simply have to work hard," Carlen says. "There are no easy roads. Jim Carlen, the country boyv USC baseball Bass didn't win th Series. Earl the fans turned ouI econd In V greeted the best Bobby Richardson team to date. However, Texas was a better club in 1975. The Longhorns, a team with eight pro draft picks, had taken advantage of several USC errors and a sterling pitching per formance from Richard Wortham to defeat the Gamecocks 5-1 in the championship game. Texas registered eight hits off ace pitcher Earl Bass who finished out his career at *USC with a recored of 34-4. Bass later signed with the Tulsa Oilers, a "AAA" farm club of the St. Louis Car dinals. Peam Broke Small, who signed a bonus contract with the Atlanta Braves set a school record for hitting (based on 100 at bats) with a .390 average. He had school records with 78 hits, 19 home runs, 150 total bases and 66 runs batted in. He established career marks for games played, 191; at bats, 692; runs scored, 155, hits, 245; total bases, 433; singles, 156; doubles, 38; home runs, 48; runs batted in, 184; and batting average, .354. Also, Small's 48 career home runs established a new NCAA record. Bass and Small were both named first team All-Americas by the nation's collegiate baseball coaches. Jeff Grantz, shortstop, set USC records for most games played in a season, 58; and at bats, 219. Third baseman Jim Pankovits had a record of 18 doubles and tied the mark for triples with five. Has Big Challenge rom Cookville, Tenn., is still a new tame to most South Carolinians. -le can sometimes be seen around solumbia driving his 1932 red and slack Chevrolet coupe. He's othing fancy, but he gets the job lone as well as any coach with the ame amount of talent. "I guess I'm selfish bec~aue I only vant USC to win," Carlen said. "I vant people to support the >rogram. The worse thing that ould happen is to have students let down on the football players. rhere is no need to because they vill be playing as hard as they an." E big game against Texas but still to shake his hand and others. Torld Series Hank Small was the only bright spot for USC in the championship game. He hit a 390-foot homer over the left-center-field fence in the fourth inning to give the Gamecocks their lone score. The Gamecocks made it to the championship game with im pressive wins over Seton Hall, Eastern Michigan, and Arizona State twice. Both their losses were to Texas. Three USC players made the All Tournament team. They were Bass, second baseman Mark Van Bever and centerfielder Steve Cook. Records As a team, the Gamecocks established records for games played, 58; wins, 51; winning percentage, .888;' at bats, 1,949; runs scored; 389; hits, 579; total bases, 870; runs batted in, 334; team batting average, .297; fielding percentage, .975; double plays, 39; innings pitched, 503; complete games pitched by one pitcher, 26; and tied the team record for home runs in a season with 57. Following Small in the hitting department was Garry Hancock with a .351 average, outfielder Steve King, .341; third baseman Jim Pankovits, .315; and outfielder Steve Cook, .302. Averages of other regulars included designated hitter Jim Fleming, .293, second baseman Mark Van Bever, .288; catcher Greg Keatley, .276; and Grantz .237. Jayvee Football Schedule Georgia, Athens, Ga. Sept. 29 Georgia Tech, Columbia Oct. 13 Clemson, Clemson Oct. 27 "The key is to recruit good athletes," Carlen claims. "I'm not a gimmick man. I don't have a bunch of witty sayings. Hard work will always pay off." Richardson Happy At USC Although USC's baseball coach has received numerous coaching offers since he guided the Gamecocks to a second place finish in the College World Series this past June he is content with remaining at USC. "I have such an ideal situation at Carolina," Richardson said July 15. "In a way I'm living at home here. My kids are satisfied with the schools they attend and the church and everything. "I'm not going to say I'm cemented in but I do plan to coach a while here," he said. "The fans are just now becoming interested in our program. There is still much left to do." Richardson said that he is all for USC rejoining the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). "I feel good about it," he said. "I'm for whatever the Trustees want." "It wouldn't be any harder to get a berth because the second place team in the ACC received an in vitation this year," he said. "If we got back into the ACC it would help our scheduling." Coach Richardson said he would be making his seventh appearance in the annual New York Yankee Old Timer's game Aug. 2, in New York. "I played in my first game at the age of 32," he said. "I don't believe I have ever made any errors, but you have to remember I'm playing against some guys 50 and 60 years old." Richardson believes USC will be stronger "team wise" next year. However, he says it will be im possible to replace Earl Bass, Greg Ward, and Hank Small with high school or junior college players. stAs..a4