Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Colorful Fart By Brett L. Friedlander Sports Editor When you think of the Bahamas, clear || water, sandy beaches and brightly colored f i native outfits come to mind...unless you happen t?? be a Gamecock baseball fan. M For the past year and a half, USC suporters have had their own product of the Bahamas to p cheer about in Etienne Farquharson. A native pi of Nassau, the speedy slugger has been as H colorful as his name since coming to Carolina f . after two seasons at Chipola Junior College ? igj and he has been just as successful too. p In his first spason Farnnharsnn IpH thp r team in both hitting and stolen bases; but his p main contribution to the program may have nothing to do with his playing ability. His I. speed and flashy style have made him the I hero of USC fans, who rank in the top ten I nationally in attendence. "Farky" has been R known to play to the crowd by waving to them p during the games and doing other colorful [1 < ^ things. k "1 JUST GO out there and play," he said. "I || might be kind of colorful because I like to ?? wear a lot of wrist bands, but that's about it. I H like the fans support because they are rooting fe for me a nd the tea m." || So far this season, the fan support has had a ? positive effect on both Farquharson and his teammates. After getting off to a slow start ^ because of a leg injury, he has regained his ?j batting eye and is currently the second 1 leading hitter on the squad with a .377 .j average. The team opened the season with 13 ^ straight wins, and now has a 22-6 mark. H Hut despite his personal success at USC, % there is something "Parky" has not ac- ' complished, and that is participate in the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. A year ago, tne business administration major injured his thigh and missed the final seven games while the Gameeoeks slumped down the stretch and failed to get an NCAA bid. As a result of that disappointment, Farquharson has set but one goal for the current campaign ? win. "My main goal is to win," he explained. "I've never been on a major college team that went to the NCAAs . I'd like to get into the tournament, play well and help the team win. The more we win, the better it is for everyone." ONE OF THE sacrifices he has made in order to help the team win is dropping down in t hn KoHinrt Ain/Jnt* f n/\rv% 4 ? HIV, uuiuii^ U1 UUI 11 Ulll IUC ICdUUlI [JUMUUIl IU the third spot. Because of this, Farquharson has not been able to steal as many bases as he would have liked. Last year he stole 36 bases and ranked 10th nationally in that category, but since the first two hitters in the order are getting on in front of him, "Farky" has not had as many opportunities to run. However, batting third isn't all bad according to Farquharson. With runers on in WflH - m HHHHr #? ? Wlik. f :,$ Gamecock hurler Bill Landrum deliveri Landrum owned a 7-2 record going into y quharson is SSI:-?ll?M?%:: $. : HHSfe1 * front of him the versatile Rahamian has seen many more good pitches than if he were still batting first. "I've really been concentrating on my stroke this year," he said. "Batting lower in the order, I've seen better pitches, so I've been making good contact and hitting the ball hard. To be a good hitter, you have to have confidence in yourself. When you have that, you can hit anybody." One problem Farquharson has had since he arrived at USC has been trying to find a position defensively. In junior college he was used as both a shortstop and a center fielder. Ilnnn his arrival at Carolina roarh .Innp Raines announced Farquharson as his regular left fielder, but that lasted just six games. When Tommy Williams was injured and lost for the season, the personable senior became the Gamecocks second baseman. THIS SEASON, "Farley" was moved back to left with the return of Williams and the arival of newcomer Jamie Thaw. Williams and Thaw were inconsistent so "Farky" was hark to thp infiplH whom it hue finally found a home. Because of this, his m ft v V ft m ' ft bl M B vl V. ^,,^^'! - ll <fl .. :>---:V.' - : tl vmjkf :/, ; f Br- f< ? a pitch in a recent Carolina victory, j es terda y 's game against Clem son. I Gamecock sc / ' * L i Versatile Etienne Farquharson slides into ond with a stolen base (Above). "Farky" ' been a sparkplug for the Gamecock <eba/l squad this season. defense has improved noticably. "I like to play infield because I played shortstop as a freshman," Farquharson said. "I didn't have time to work at it like I should have, and I think I was doing real well. As a sophomore they made me a center fielder, but it doesn't really matter. If you put me somewhere, I just want to try to make the 1 best of the situation and play to the best of my 1 ability." 1 While he did not play organized baseball s until he recieved his scholarship to junior college, Farquharson was highly regarded by 1 the Carolina coaching staff. According to the | slugger, that is one of the reasons why he ' chose to continue his career at USC. 1 i FROM THE VERY beginning, he has had a good relationship with Raines and assistant 1 1- * _ 1 - WWJ ... r cuacn jonnnie riunion. ine pair nave been more than coaches to Farquharson and the 1 rest of the players. This could be the reason * for the Gamecocks great success over the ^ three seasons Raines has been at the helm. i i, 4v? i?? 1 * - ivaiuca is me uuss, anu ll 5 our JOU lO \ listen to him because we're on scholarship," I Farquharson said. "If he savs iumo. we iump r Late errors h Zlemson take BY Stove Riddell foutth ? Asst. Sports Ed,tor Gameco Th n\ nmonri r???? ' - - * vivniouii ngcis stuicu six unearned nghthar uns in the bottom of the eighth inning to reak a 3-3 tie, and went on to post a 9-3 IN Til ietory over the Gamecocks at Clemson alive. C uesday afternoon. came ai Two errors by USC relief pitcher Bobby center fi .ish opened the gates for the Tigers. Kish third b 'alked the first batter in the eighth inning putting nd when the next hitter laid down a bunt stopGre etween third base and the mound, Kish with a s elded it and threw it past first baseman Hollinsv im Curl into right field. Kish then gave up a In the ase hit and made another error on a pickoff take the tteir.pt allowing the winning runs to come Tommy ome. and thei CLEMSON jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the single b; irst inning. The Tigers added another run in But CI he third when a Billy Weems single was at three allowed by a single by Tim Teufel putting a walk c unners on the corners with one out simnnc Greg Guen, who knocked in Clemson's bases. IV irst run, then slapped a ground ball down to Gamecc ,'url at first. Curl made the putout at first straight zith Weems scoring, and then threw to third Kish th o double Teufel, who had rounded the base rally, oo far. Kishs USC's Bill Landrum began to bear down to 3-2, w fter yielding the two runs in the early with the [oing. Meanwhile, Clemson hurler Mike this aftc Jrown breezed to the sixth inning. (5-0) ? >aul Hollins touched him for a single in the Kenyon tarkplug io ~ Ja **?/ : i4^%rlW?Mv - * ' ^ , / _' o ^^WoV. y> $&P Q le's like a father to us also, because he's been real good to us ill. That is what makes this team ;o good." As the 1980 season begins to hit he home stretch, Farquharson's *oal of making the NCAA playoffs appears to be well within reach. But after the season ends, he is still jncertain of what his future holds. >ince he is not an American :itizen, the second baseman does lot have to be drafted by a paricular team to play baseball >rofessionally. Both the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners have expressed nterest in the Carolina star, but vhether or not he makes it in the >ros, "Farky" has already left his nark on Gamecock fans. urt U5C, n ?...? 5 7-u ujin ining, but that was the only hit the cks could manage against the tall ider. iE SIXTH the Gamecock bats came url walked to open the inning and 'ound to score on a double to deep ield by Hollins. After two were out, aseman Hod Carraway walked runners on first and second. Short>g Jonson came through in the clutch olid single to left field knocking in vith the tying run. seventh inning, Carolina scored to ffir thf> firct Urmi iti (hn <f??? ? ?/? ....,1 ... HIV, fSOWJV,. Williams singled to start the rally i stole second. He later scored on a / Hollins. lemson came back to knot the score in the home half of the inning. After md a Johnny Lemaster double, Neil was walked intentionally to load the lartin Small came on in relief for the >cks and gave up a walk on four pitches to force in the tying run. en replaced Small and ended the uffered the loss, dropping his record hile Brown improved his mark to 6-2 win. The two teams will meet again irnoon at p.m. with Dennis Lubert joing against Clemson's Bobby