The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 22, 1976, Page Page 8, Image 8
USC's Pai
By Billy Baker
USC's Jim Pankovits has fielded
93 per cent of his chances from
third base and has a career batting
average of .282, but he is one of few
starters on the baseball team
never drafted by a professional
baseball team.
However, Pankovits is expected
to get his chance this June when
the professional draft is conducted.
"I am definitely anxious to get
started with a pro career," he said.
"I'm 20, and still young baseballwise.
I feel I've had the equivalent
of at least two years professional
ball here."
Pankovits said that because he
has another year left he has
bargaining power. "It helps you in
terms of money or what round
you're drafted," he said. Pankovits
also said he would prefer playing in
the East, where his family could
kpp him nlnv mnrp
"I definitely thought I had
something to prove when I came
here," Pankovits said after USC's
16-5 win against Baptist College
Tuesday night. "Especially being
the only freshman starter on the
team."
USC finished 48-8 in Pankovits'
first year with the Gamecocks in
1974. Miami of Florida defeated
Correction
This year's spring football game
will be played at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday at Williams-Brice
Stadium, not at Spring Valley
Stadium as earlier reported by The
Gamecock.
The AstroTurf at Williams-Brice
Stadium was replaced earlier this
spring, and officials said the game
would be played at Spring Valley if
the stadium was not nvnilnhlo
The Gamecock regrets the error.
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Jim Pankovhs
USC 1-0 in the championship game
of the South Regional. "We had a
lot of older players that year,"
Fankovits said. "I looked up to
them and it helped my attitude
towards playing."
As a sophomore Pankovits
developed into a talented player.
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He hit .315 and set a school record
for doubles with 18 in helping the
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NCAA title.
-"^Playing in Omaha was the
greatest memory I have of my
career at USC," Pankovits said.
"When I left the field after we lost I
was thinking that we still had
something to prove. I made two
errors in that game (Texas won 51)
that contributed to their win
ning.
"I vowed to come back and prove
myself as one of the best third
baseman in college baseball, and I
think I have," Pankovits said..
Bobby Richardson, USC's head
baseball coach, believes Pankovits
is a top player. "He is one of our
better players, but I'm not so sure
he's at the right position for
professional baseball. He's a great
player. I hate to lose him this June,
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Pankovits said his pro future
may be in the outfield instead of at
third base. "I don't have a lot of
speed, but I'm quick and that is the
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Ctbmiia. S.C.
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on Referrals
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talk with someone who
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Pankovits used USC centerfielder
Steve Cook as an
example. "Cook is not that fast, but
he is as quick a centerfielder as
you'll see," Pankovits said. "He
can cover just as good as a guy
with 9.9 speed."
Pankovits has been playing
organized baseball since he was
seven. He attributes most of his
qiipppcs tr? hi? fnthnr "Mv fathpr
played professional baseball in the
Boston Braves' organization," he
said. "He encouraged me to play
baseball, and he used to help me
pitch and field when I was growing
up."
For the past two summers
Pankovits has played summer
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he hit .290 while playing in the
Shenandoah Valley League. Last
summer he hit .358 on a semi pro
team in Grand Junction, Col.
"I don't know what exactly has
contributed to my improvement,"
Pankovits said, "It could be the 50
games we play in the spring and
the 50 games I play in the summer,"
he said. "All I can say is that
since I was very young I've lived,
eaten and slept baseball."
Pankovits would like to catch
another dream before departing
USC for professional baseball. "We
would all like to get the chance to
go back to the world series again
because we came close last year,"
he said. "We are all concerned
about our chances now, but I think
we'll make it."
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