The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 27, 1981, Page Page 8, Image 8
USC faces Ba
Ba<
By Richer
Sporta
After spending the past mo
scrimmaging, Carolina's baj
season today with a 3:00 p.m.
"Right now, I think we're
selves," said June Raines, be
coach. "We've been working
The weather has been excepl
practice outdoors a lot more
mentally tired right now."
USC will be out to top las
enabled Carolina to reach tl
Gamecocks were eliminate
Clemson. Carolina lost five
eluding three .300 plus hittei
drum (10-2,2.91 ERA).
BUT RAINES feels confide
a pre-season poll, has the tal
mark. "We've got the exper
young depth," Raines said,
potential, it can go a long way
Landrum was the only pitc
^^4
Ife,
Senior southpaw Bret B
Carolina's top pitcher, act
their mound staff shapes up as
several years.
"The pitchers all have anotl
Raines said.44 And I'm very pie;
But we still need a star ? a guj
fourth or fifth day and beat the
a complete game. Hopefully,
through for us."
Raines is hoping senior lefth
be the pitching ace he is lookir
ball as well as anybody we hav
say there's been one player wl
although I think it (the talent)
Rrr?t !' VP ripvor coon tiim fV-1 ?>?
it now. It seems like he's hung
year, and that's what I'm lookii
BAYNHAM CHALKED up ?
2.93 ERA. Originally a fo
Baynham owns a lifetime 14-31
Although Raines hasn't sele
he indicated that Baynham, 1
Joe Kucharski, Mark Calv<
probabii receive the majority <
Lubert, a 6-2 junior southps
posted a 6-2 mark with 55 str
year despite being sidelined fc
However, he has experience
elbow in practice, according to
Gordon also suffered arm '
junior registered a 0-1 mark ir
season.
A OOR rvA?mrl
* a v ?/, pUUHU OU^UUIIIUI I
Md., Kucharski was 4-2 in IS
Marylander Mark Calvert not(
30 strikeouts and a 4.40 ERA at
year.
BABEL IS a 6-3, 195-poum
pitched his Boyertown, Pa., /
World Series runner-up spot vv
Boyertown Area High he was 1
Bobby Kish and Martin Smal
Gamecock's top relief sp
righthander, was the bullpen j
the third highest total in the
was 4-2 with a 1.77 ERA and 43:
Cmill 11/00 O n uiith ? 1 CO L'l
uuiuii wao ^ v wiiii ? i .?; ) 1^1
never lost a game at Carolina
for the Gamecocks.
Two other players who eoult
Ross Bledsoe and Ekldie I^opa
Bledsoe, a 6-3 sophomore fi
iptist College to
N *!! I
iebal
d Moyers
Editor
nth and a half practicing and
lf>hAll tf?nm nruinc thoir 1QQ1
w-VV.a a a V* IVft t AtA/1
contest at Baptist College,
a little tired of playing our(ginning
his fifth year as head
hard and running quite a bit.
.ional, and we've been able to
than usual. I think we're just
t season's 39-11 mark, which
le NCAA playoffs, where the
d by losing two games to
starters from that team, in*s
and pitching ace Bill Lannt
his ballclub, ranked 14th in
ent to improve on last year's
ience and the depth, but it's
"If this team plays up to its
ner me uamecocks iosi, ana
S -: X Xx If S&S? ? A\\ii &?*
S: x- Av -.sV\V >WVT
* s ?
> . -^ssgsi,
^ V. v "' I I |
aynham shapes up as
cording to June Raines.
one of their best on paper in <
tier year under their belt," ]
ased with the pitching depth. <
r who can go out there every i
real good teams and give us
one of the guys will come
ander Bret Baynham could
lg for. "Bret is throwing the
e." Raines said "Tf I had tr?
io has really impressed me,
has always been there, it's
w the ball like he's throwing
ry to be the top pitcher this
ngfor." m
i 6-2 mark last year, with a
otball scholarship athlete, 1
nark at Carolina. ||
cted a starting rotation yet, J
Dennis Lubert, Don Gordon,
ert and Jeb Babel would
ii i - ^
ui ine siarung assignments. j
iw from Johnson City, N.Y., &
ikeouts and a 1.89 ERA last p!
>r a month with arm trouble.
Ki some problems with his
> Raines.
trouble during 1980. The 6-1
i only 21 innings for USC last
? righthander from Clinton, j
180 with a 4.67 ERA. Fellow
;hed a perfect 5-0 record with i
; a freshman righthander last
dl freshman lefthander who
\merican I^egion team to a
ith a 19 1 slate As a senior at
3-0 with a 0.61 ERA. j
II once again appear to be the
ecialists. Kish, a junior
ace in iy?u witn eight saves,
JCAA. In 20 appearances, he
strikeouts in 56 innings.
IA. The senior southpaw has
in the two years he's played P
1 provide additional help are %
rd.
rom West Columbia was 2-0 L
day
*JA H vi >'A y* ^ ^ b
MMHWMOMiai 4 ?5r 'A 4 T
1 sea
'We've got the e;
depth, but it's yot
team plays up to h
go a long way.'
last year with 21 strikeouts in
But Bledsoe will be unable to pi
a tender shoulder.
LEOPARD IS a four year
baseball for the first time at
placekicker for USC, he missed
1980. "Eddie's throwing the ba
he can kick it over," Raines qui
Co-captain Jim Curl will
baseman for the third consecui
senior from Albany, Ga., led t
slugging percentage (.597), i
batting .326 last season. A
American, Curl was named
dependent team.
THE SECOND base job wi
Jamey Thaw or senior Tcm "Te
A switch hitter. Thaw earne
through last season, but hit or
excellent defensive performanc
Williams hit .183 in a reserve
been plagued by injuries, and li
USC. He was awarded an extr
NCAA in 1979 after he Dlaved
J ^
suffered a knee injury.
Either John Sullivan or Art
Jonson as shortstop. Sullivan, {
the Oakland A's last June. He
Grand Island High School in Ne^
"John's got the ability and th
feet on the ground and impr
learning to relax," Raines said
they think they have to do somel
FINLEY, A SOPHOMORE f
year after transferring from R
teville, N.C.
Senior co-captain Rod Carra
year at third base. Carraway 1
average on last year's team an
stroked 17 doubles and five hor
3ases in ten tries.
Backing up Carraway is Har\
West Columbia who played at Bi
"He's a real good right han
>aid. "I think he can step
graduates. We've also been worl
Senior Rob Lowery probabl
competition to handle the catchi
"We have two freshmen catc
Fox) backing up Rob, and Rob
didn't do a lot of catching. Ev<
doesn't have that much experiei
THE LEFT HANDED hitting
1980 with 13 RBI in 29 games.
Boyle hit .518 as a senior at Y
had a .489 American Legion batl
"Chris is going to be a rea
leaves Carolina," Raines said,
hustle and ability behind the j
some with the bat."
Fob. 27~at 8aptf?t<3 PM)
28?Pomtwok# State (2 PM? 4
Mar. ; "li~at Qeoroie Sttte (3 PM> ;
2?Georela State (1 PM)
5?at Funneh Ift Mft
?~Atder?cn-Broedu'?
7?North Carolina (2 PM)
8?North Carolina (2 PM)
11??t Ereklne (3 PM)
12?Howard (3 PM)
13?Howard (3 PM) /*
14?Old Dominion (2 PM)
15^.Austin Peay <2 PM)
" 18-VirginUi (3 PM)f: v;
17-Vlrglnl* (3 PM)
18?Vlrfllnla (3 PM)
20?at Florida State
(7:30 PM)
21?at Florida State
(7:30 PM)
22?at Florida State (2 PM)
23~at OeorQla
Southwestern (8 PM)
24?at Georgia
ClAlilhuiAalAm
25?at Mercer (7:30 PM)
26?at Mercer (3 PM) M
27?Ohio State <7 30 PM)
26?Ohio State (2 PM)
29?Ohio University (2 PM)
30?Ohio University (3 PM)
31?Stetson (7:30 PM)
Apr. 1 ?The Cltadet (7:30 PM)
: 3?Glemson (7:30 PM)
k #
...
? Vr?, ~ * '
son
(perience and the
ung depth. If this
rs potential, it can
-June Raines
23 innings and a 1.96 ERA.
tch for several weeks due to
football letterman playing
Carolina. As a soccer-style
I only one scoring attempt in
II good. If he doesn't, maybe
ipped.
return as Carolina's first
tive year. The 6-2, 200-pound
he Gamecocks in RBI (47),
ind home runs (12) while
first team Academic Ailto
the 1980 All-South In11
go to either sophomore
rmite" Williams.
d the starting job midway
ily .226 while turning in an
e.
roll in 1980. His career has
le is now in his fifth year at
a year of eligibility by the
just six games before he
Finley will replace Greg
i freshman, was drafted by
hit .408 his senior year at
n York.
e laient and ne's getting his
oving daily, because he's
I. "A lot of freshmen, when
:hing, press to hard."
rom Columbia, sat out last
rtethodist College in Fayetway
returns for his second
matted .355, the second best
d collected 40 RBI. He also
ne runs white stealing nine
rey Heise, a freshman from
-ookland-Cayce last year,
ded power hitter," Raines
right in there when Rod
Icing him in the outfield."
y has the upper hand in
ng chores.
hers (Chris Boyle and Neil
got hurt a lot last year and
en though he's a senior, he
ipp hphinH tho nlofo "
? - F1"lv
; Lowery batted only .222 in
ork (Pa.) Catholic High and
ting average.
I fine ballplayer before he
"I'm impressed with Neil's
>late, but he needs to work
iluN?w^n^ton(2PM)
8?at Wlnthrop (3 PM)
. 7?Francis Marion . - f&v-.-: &
(7-30 PM) MMH
. . 8?at Tennetaee (3 PM)
9?at Tennea?ee(3 PM)
10?Newbarry <7:30 PM) '
13?at Clemaon (3 PM)
14?atClemton(3 PM) . o;:
17?Florida Slat? (7:30 PM)
18?Florida Stata (7.30 PM)
19?Florida State (2 PM)
21? Marcar <7:30 PM)
22?at The Citadel (7:30 PM)
23?Baptist (7:30 PM)
k??>; 24?Georgia Southern
(7:30 PM)
25?Qeorflla Southern
(7:30 PM)
26?Pfelffer (2 PM)
27?at UNC-Wlimlngton <,
u :mi **ni)
28?at North Carolina
(7:30 PM)
29?at North Carolina
(3 PM)
ay 2?Furrnan (7:30 PM)
4~Wlngata (7:30 PM)
6?Georgia Southern at
Allendale, SC (7:30 PM)
10?Georgia State (2) <6 PM)
17?at Georgia Southern
PPM)
18?at Oeorgia Southern
.(730 PM)
' '.ft /$
open
The outfield is set with three
Mc^artny in lett, KoDDy Vollme
in right.
MCCARTHY BATTED .290 ii
while being caught just four tir
knocked in 38 runs despite bati
from Scranton, Pa., was draftee
years by major league ballclubs
Vollmer hit .297 with 24 RBI i
stole 14 bases in 17 attempts unti
April, which sidelined him for th
Hollins, a senior, has been I
since midway through his fresh
last year, with 37 RBI, seven hor
Heise, Kucharski and Lowery
time as Carolina's designated hi
The lack of right handed po
fensive concern. "We've got Ji
handed hitter has proven he can
bailout the park.
"We're mostly a left handec
going to see a lot of left handed j
handed hitters out there at a tim
; ^i^ji i^iii'H
"'' P >'
Ht >_
' i'-'-Xs-iV^^H',: "^.:; Jfp ^^r*-"'/2ra| ~:-y;JagC:'W'i'^n^K'-l^B'
.'v;#^ l^HBBffinBranlBRwl
:%M:>9HHH!H^HhHIHHHHPI
m
four years as head coach o\
see a lot of left handed pitching."
THE GAMECOCKS are a vel
termen returning, a factor whi
team, Raines feels. "We're a
Raines said. "We've got some ;
know how to play the game. I <
selves out there too often as far a
? at least I hope not.
"Sometimes you can get too m;
and begin to think they're good i
attitude. But I don't think that oui
they'll play hard all the time. Th
We've got to get 100 percent all th
Qt*o rt O ?V* Af /> * r??.
aiiva v ui v cfu ^auico uii UIC VJTrtl
home and 24 on the road. USC
games, 16 of them at home. In ad
on the schedule.
The schedule features six gt
ranked third in the national pi
College World Series participant
playoff teams Georgia Southern
season champion North Carolin
nament champion Clemson (foui
(four times).
CAROLINA WILL play three
and Mercer, and two each with O
Tennessee, Furman, The Citadel
Haines said he feels the key to
...ill i- ? ? ? - -
win proDaDiy depend on the dev<
and a solid overall defensive effoi
"The key to our ballclub migh
can make the plays we have to
don't have a pitching staff that:
people. But we have a staff tl
makes it important to make the p
"Our pitching depth should h?
that so called superstar right nc
good power and speed, and we
defense at Carolina."
Because of the Gamecocks ind
have to concentrate on winning d;
"OUH GOAL every year is to n
said. "How much we have to wir
never tells you how many games
58 games scheduled with good tea
"We figure to make the playo
Winning daily for an independent
we don't have a conference chan
can't save pitchers for certain te*
and a win is a win."
\
#
15*
i left handed hitters ? Joe
r in center and Paul Hollins
11 1980 and swiped 36 bases
nes. He drew 36 walks and
ting leadoff. The 6-0 senior
I three times in the past two
n 34 games last season. He
1 he tore a hamstring in late
e rest of the season.
JSC's regular right fielder
man season. He batted .335
ne runs and 11 doubles.
- will probably all see some
tter, according to Haines,
wer is Raines' biggest ofm
Curl, but no other right
step up there and mash the
I hitting lineup, and we're
jitchers. We can run six left
e, so I know we are going to
w?0Sk
S ? IS
PjpMr|g ? # j <|p
mm ffifs
He? IBM \i?!
illfflumm
Jl
' a 14-4-53-1 record in
f the Gamecocks.
:eran ballclub with 17 letch
could help or hurt the
n experienced ballclub,"
young men out there who
lon't think we'll beat ours
making mental mistakes
any seniors, and they relax
and maybe get a laid back
r guys are that way. I think
at's the way we have to do.
e time."
mecock's schedule ? 34 at
is slated to play 26 night
dition, one doubleheader is
imes with Florida State,
re-season poll and a 1980
t. Also included are NCAA
(five times), ACC regular
a (four times), ACC tour*
times) and Georgia State
games^each w'*h Virginia
hio State, Ohio University,
ana omers.
another successful season
slopment of a pitching ace
-t.
t be our defense and if we
make," Raines said. "We
strikes out an awful lot of
lat throws strikes, which
lays that we have to.
elp us, but we don't have
>w. I think we have pretty
always have played good
lependent status, they will
aily, Haines said.
uiku mt? piayons, names
i, I don't know. The NCAA
you have to win. We have
ms.
ffs, we have to win daily,
is very important because
ipionship to shoot for. You
ims because a loss is a loss