The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 31, 1981, Image 32
GAM
n
Baseball Season
Great works are performed not by
strength but by perseverance.
?Samuel Johnson, 1781
We just stuck our noses out and hung in
there.
?June Raines, 1981
There were times, many times, during the
NCAA College World Series when it would
have been ah so easy for the Gamecock
k baseball team to hang it up, to not reach
back for that extra effort, to be satisfied
with an already successful season. There
was the five-run lead by Oklahoma State in
the opener, the infest of errors against
Maine, the three-innings of sure-fire scoring
threats in the Mississippi State game, and of
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Arizona State to jump well ahead in the
fourth contest.
But it didn't take long for observers at the
Omaha, Neb. event ? as well anyone else
who lent an ear or eye to the proceedings ?
to realize that it would never happen that
way. From USC's opening CWS contest, the
Gamecocks made it evident that they were
there to fight, not fold.
And thev did fifiht. After scrathchineiand
scrapping in an opening-game loss, Coach
June Raines' never-say-die squad outlasted
opponents in the following two outings to
finish among college baseball's Final Four
of the 1981 season ending the year with a 4615
record, including a 2-2 CWS mark.
THE SERIES ENDED in a loss, and
therefore disappointment for USC, but not
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earlier had sweated out a post-season bid ?
had overcame unfavorable odds by endurance.
It was Carolina's third trip to the CWS,
and like the previous trips of '75 and '77, the
Gamecocks made it to the Final Four. In the
first two tourneys, however, USC continued
to the championship tiame. but then lost to
Texas and Arizona State, respectively.
Carolina began CWS action by absorbing
a heartstopping, heartbreaking 8-5 loss to
Oklahoma State May 30.
Cowboy center fielder Stan Baughn
tagged a three run home run off Bobby Kish
in the bottom of the tenth to downplay a
valiant USC rally and give OSU the win.
^TU? T TO/1 ? .. .
me uat women s goii team concluded
successful season Saturday with a 16th-plac
AIAW national golf championship.
The season's finale established a solid foui
young program, and more importantly-accc
Golf Coach Bobby Foster-it fulfilled a coveted
"The main thing we wanted when the season
be regarded as a legitimate competitor," Foj
first-year unit's desires. "And we definitely
that. We won't feel like the 'new kid on the bloc
"I'M REALLY HAPPY," Foster continue<
16^h in the country for our first year and that's
Carolina carded a four-day total of 1
University of Georgia's par-74 layout to placi
team fields.
Backed by Robin Abare's third-round 74,
tournament's final cut Friday, assuring the Li
of at least a 16th-place finish. Abare streaked
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THROUGH SIX INNINGS, Oklahoma
State had connected for 10 hits and five runs
off starter Dennis Lubert, while Cowboy
hurler Darren Kilks had held the
Gamecocks scoreless^. But USC managaed
10 lany wnen jamey maw nit into a fielder's
c.hoice in the seventh, sending home Rob
Lowery, who had doubled and advanced on
a Chris Boyle single.
Carolina continued the surge in the eighth
inning as Paul Hollins unleashed a double to
score Rod Carraway ana Jim Curl after
their respective singles. Lowery then
singled in Hollins to cut OSU's advantage to
5-4.
Two outs into the ninth inning, all USC
hopes fell on Carraway. The Tampa, Fla.
native responded with a double down the
leti-neia line tnat scored Jamey Thaw, who
led off the inning with a single.
Kish easily retired the OSU side in the
bottom of the ninth, sending the contest into
extra innings.
But after USC failed to score in the top of
the tenth, Baughn converted Kish's pitch to
a three-run blast, giving the Cowboys the
win.
LOWERY SMASHED TWO home runs ?
a feat not done since 1956 in CWS play ? and
Curl added a two-run blast to boost Carolina
to an error-plagued 12-7 triumph over Main
June 2.
Joe Kucharski, who relieved starter Don
Gordon after four and two-thirds innings,
was credited with the win. Gordon allowed
seven hits, yet all of the Black Bears' seven
runs were unearned, as USC committed five
errors.
After Maine chalked up their first
unearned run in the opening inning, Hollins
hit the first of his three singles and was
promptly driven in with Lowery's first
homer. Maine scored four runs on two hits
and two errors in the top of the third, but
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that scored Carraway, who reached on
error, and tighted Maine's margin to 5-4.
AFTER OVER AN HOUR of rain delay,
USC picked up the previous pace, scoring
two unearned runs in the fourth. Maine's
Dick Whitten returned the favor in the fifth,
singling in two unearned runs to give the
Bears a 7-6 lead.
Carolina ended the scoreboard seesaw
from the fifth inning on, tallying at least a
See Devils, page 23
Solf Team I
par on the back nine holes to gr
a surprisingly to survive the cut.
e finish in the Abare compiled a 310 total 1
field of 140 players. Lee Wh
ndation for the lowest scorer with a 318 total, I
trding to Head Jan Rikard (328), and Lynn Stil
team goal.
i started was to FLORIDA STATE captured
iter said of the edging host Georgia by three st
accomplished "There sure were a lot of
:k'anymore. pionship," Foster said. "I was
competition when 1 saw it. Ne?
probably the most significant v
1 "We finished Foster said the team's tou
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1,297 over the "It definitely gave us a goo<
e 16th in the 24- "Every school that beat us
established program. North Ci
USCmade the in our district, but we beat ther
idy Gamecocks
to three-under- "LAST YEAH WE had to beg
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Coach June Raines and pi
Memphis State May 25.
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ye Carolina the needed strokes
;o place 24th in the individual
ittemore was USC's secondfollowed
by Julie Loebs (322),
ffler (327).
the tourney with a 1,220 total,
rokes.
good players in the chami
amazed at the quality of the
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rnament performance would
i base to work with," he said.
in the tournament has an
irolina had been the best team
n decisively.
to get in a lot of tournaments,
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tcher Don Gordon celebrate an 11-5 region win over *))
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but now they want us," said Foster, who added that invitations
from three or four prestigious tournaments were
extended toUSC.
"We're certainly not the best in the country, but we proved
we are respectable," he said.
Foster expects more progress for the program, as all of
this season's players return next year along with three
highly-touted recruits.
Lise Ann Russell, Kandi Kessler and Kim Simmons will
attend Carolina next season. Russell is a Npw Vnrir
girl's amateur champion, while Kessler is the Virginia state
amateur champ. Simmons, from Charleston, was a semifinalist
in the Women's Southern Amateur championship.
FOSTER ISN'T real sure what will happen next year when
the women's golf program switches from the AIAW to the
NCAA.
"1 don't think that anyone knows just what will happen," he
said. "The NCAA golf committee meets in July, so then we I
snouici nntl out more. All our tournaments next year
however, will be against the same teams we played this year."