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sports Junior coll 1 . TTOn JJOOSl By CHRIS MYERS Asst. Sports Editor Carolina baseball has undergone a change in strategy in recruiting in recent years, particularly this year. After USC's strong showing in the 1977 College World Series, Coach June Raines found himself with a skeleton of a team, when only five of his top 14 players returned. Instead of dipping into the high school system, as was done in previous years, the main recruiting was done at the junior college level. The Gamecocks, after a very slow 10-5 start, have come on to win Analysis six straight behind the performances of third baseman John Marquardt, pitcher Jeff Twitty, and relief ace Hal Gaalema, all of whom are junior college trasnfers. In the Gamecock line-up six of the 10 regular starters have played junior college ball, along with four of the top six pitchers. THE SWITCH of emphasis from high school recruits to junior college recruits can be explained in several ways. First, the junior college ball player has had at least one more season under his belt to develop into a big time college player. This is important since the high school ball player is recruited after his junior year and in the beginning of his senior year, and the big college has to often take a chance with him. Second, the level of competition in most high schools is not exceptional, and the ball player may have some abilities which shine ^ " ^ ' * i^^^pHy ' ^} J^? Catamount first baseman K< streches for the toss from second doable play In the bottom of tl ege recruits nrn* o dill when actually he is mediocre. The junior college player has another team to make, more games to play and better competition. The third reason for the switch in tactics is the fact that the junior college player is "seasoned" like me major league player who has gone through the minor league system. He can play right away, while the freshman usually sits waiting for experience. THE CHANGE of strategy in recruiting is a good idea, and hopefully will continue. Recruiting junior college players can chop off almost two years for a team that is rebuilding, as Carolina was after last year. Although the change was initiated by former Carolina coach Bobby Richardson, Raines has developed the strategy into a science, which is paying off well. Junior John Marquardt's nine homeruns and more than 30 RBI's puts him as one of the top hitters in the country. Former USC players who have through the junior college system include Mookie Wilson, who signed with the N. Y. Mets after last season, premier base stealer Mark Van Ppvpr Ullin ie ?r? Hin ?1" V V j ffliv AO All 11!^ WJL IU1C farm system, and pitcher Jim Lewis of the Seattle Mariners. The junior college recruiting system is not a new one, but is a good one. It brings out good ball players, and players who have already played college ball. With this strategy, Coach Raines has changed a rebuilding year into a year in which Carolina can once again contend for the national championship. eith Ebersole throw beat Can to complete a step as Randy I lie third. The ' USC coach June Raines points the way home for Jim Curl as he rounds third in fifth inning action with two outs. The run didn't count as Winning streak exl as clutch hitting pi By BRETT FRIEDLANDER faithful home Gamecock Staff Writer night, Marquardt eighth inning to Coming back from a seven run However the t deficit, the USC baseball team won game Tuesday wj a thrilling twelve inning 12-9 vie- Marquardt. With tory over Western Carolina and two out in the TiiPsHnv at thp Rov tr?-??*;?-?v.* ^ 1? ?j ?? ...v UM115111 uic uamecocRS Baseball Field. Westbrook came For the second straight night, the pinch hit double winning margin was provided by clear the base third baseman John Marquardt. Westbrook's nintl The junior college transfer bats this season, powered a long home run to centerfield, to send the Gamecock "ITFELTGOC uses HOPK! WmBm'- SE hauTthenTntl -scored two runs c ^Mike Toalso Dave Roback-'THB GAMECOCK Cflshcd in On V i , m ..,.,11 . . pitcher Rick Ads ?Una's Tom Williams by only a fen hlm in the ^ ?AMSM. * J " " ? tv?s cuv uown at secoflw. Using five walks Carolina scored i " ' 1 I 11 . D?V? RobacK-THE GAMECOCK Western Carolina's Wayne Tolleson settled under Randy Rogers' pop-up for the third out. Carolina won the 12 inning thriller 12-9. ended to six games Tnc Tiar* *u 1~ xiio vjuVj UlIUULgll happy. Monday the game into extra innings. ; connected in the While Toalson, who collected his beat Stetson 3-2. second win of the season, held the >iggest hit of the Catamounts off the scoreboard, as not provided by USC threatened in both the tenth the bases loaded and eleventh innings. Unable to eighth inning and come up with a clutch hit, the trailing 7-3, Wes Gamecocks left four runners on ; through with a base during the two innings, to center field to Finally, in the bottom of the s. It was only twelfth, leadoff hitter Tommy h hit in over 45 at Williams walked. Greg Johnson followed with a bunt to relief pitcher Hill Muse. Instead of getting kn ?/v i- - ? w tumnuuie 10 tne sure out at first, Muse tried to Westbrook said. cut down the lead runner and sal slow, but this failed, putting Gamecocks on first le road to a good and second with no one out. On a one ball-no strike pitch, ks, who scored Marquardt then unloaded a high ; seventh, eighth, drive to center field to seal the fth innings, fell comeback victory. It was his ninth because of the homerun of the season. ting pitcher Bill "He surprised me," said the USC hitting star. "I was looking for a ler from Spring curve ball, but he gave me a tiool walked five fastball ud and over the nlate t lother in only two knew it was gone when I hit it." innings as the Coach Raines was very pleased ^ -i team's comeback. "As a xtended that lead coach, I've got to be proud of the Li; <*** TTS ?? a? way they played. Any time you elief pitcher Mark come back from 7-0 late in the .. .- game to win, it helps your conghth, after three fidence." runs, Marquardt Long singled and THE GAMECOCKS, who saw url walked to set their record imnrnvp to ir-^ HnH double by West- twelve hits in the three and a half e western lead to hour marathon. They were also helped by thirteen walks and three a - ... , Catamount errors, r J2 ?? However, while the five USC iimmed in the top pitchers also gave up twelve hits ?s tne visitors and thirteen walks, Raines >n Jamie Chakales remained optimistic. "Even n to make it a 9-6 though a couple of our guys got into .. ^ , some trouble, we're pretty solid on ?2L?ie the mound right now," he said. Western s starting Aaron Scott struck out nine ?.r'against Stetson and Gaalema and >ttom of the ninth. Toalson were super in relief and a wild pitch, todav " three runs to send