The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 30, 1978, Page Page 12, Image 12
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
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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~
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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