The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 25, 1982, SPRING SPORTS SPECIAL 1982, Page Page 7, Image 7
Anderson, Hatcher, Wilsc
Baseball Runs
By JOHNNY BOGGS
Asst. Sports Editor
For three of the freshmen on USC's
h-icohall toam nnmincr tn Parnlina was
nothing new ? but more of a family
tradition.
And for another, baseball simply runs in
his family blood.
Infielder Wade Hatcher comes from
Dunwoody, Ga. High School, where he hit
.494 and stole 39 bases. Hatcher's father,
Doug Hatcher, was a punter for the
Gamecock football unit during the late
1950's.
Philip Wilson was graduated from
Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, where his
blistering speed and hard hitting won the
state crown last year. Philip's brother,
Mookie, was a former standout at USC and
now plays for the New York Mets.
Shortstop Kent Anderson, a graduate of
Lynchburg's Hudgens Academy, led the
Cougars to two state championships in
baseball and put the Timmonsville
American Legion in the playoffs for the first
time in five years. Anderson's brother,
Butch, was a star player for USC in the late
'60s and early '70s, while his sister was an
All-America basketball choice at Carolina.
Winsted, Conn, native Greg Morhardt's
father is a former big-league ball player,
and Morhardt himself was drafted by the St.
Louis Cardinals in the summer, but elected
not to sign.
Hatcher sets his goal for this year as
winning the national championship. "Any
Werner Mai
BYROYDUNSHEE knew I still h
St*H Writer tOgO."
The next i
The 1981-82 season didn't against N<
look too promising for State, and 1
sophomore swimmer Greg second and a
Werner, but through hard think that u
work and determination, he point in my c
has been able to overcome a Werner, 4<Ou
major setback to become against the
one of Carolina's most North Carol
valuable swimmers. two firsts an<
On September 24, 1981 Since thei
Werner was operated on lor oeen a consi
a hernia which he received Carolina, av<
while working out for the six and thri
coming season. He was meet. (Five
forced to sit out for an entire for a seconc
month while the rest of the third.) "I pi
team worked out twice a work in this
day. think that ri
On November 17, Werner recovery."
competed for the first time The next <
since the operation; "I felt Werner and
surprisingly strong but I swim team
didn't score any points. I Independent
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>n And Morhardt
; In Their Blood
other goal that I might have shall be taken
care of if that one is obtained," he added.
He likes the schedule Carolina has this
year, commenting, "We have enough road
games. You can do a lot of growing up in
Miami, Clemson and Georgia Southern.
Those ought to be our toughest games in my
opinion. If we fair well in those, we'll be all
right."
Hatcher knows the Gamecocks will be
inexperienced this season, but he adds that
the seniors on the team will help out the
underclassmen.
"(Don) Gordon, (Dennis) Lubert and
(Robby) Volmer have helped me get adjusted
to school and college ball. Their
experience has helped me a lot getting past
little things you wouldn't ordinarily think of.
"They tell you what to expect from certain
pitchers. They tell us the tendencies
and habits of other players. Anything for us
to get an edge."
USC Head Baseball Coach June Raines
said of Hatcher, "Wade is an excellent
student, not only of the game but also
academically. He's been here one semester
and he's a sophomore. Of course we're
proud of that."
Philip Wilson will see action in the outfield
The fast runner said, "The reason I
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baseball out of the other schools. And my
brother came here and most people wanted
me to come here."
He thinks his speed is his best feature. "I
can always do that," he said. "Speed-wise,
ces Comeback
ad quite a ways this weekend. Last year
Werner grabbed a second in
dual meet was the 400 yard individual
)rth Carolina medley as well as placing
Werner took a sixth and seventh in two
i third place. "I other events.
/as the turning This year Werner is opomeback,"
said timistic about both his, and
r next meet was the team's chances in the
University of NIC's. "We swam tired all
ina and I took season but at the NIC's we'll
i a third." be rested and in top form. Ny
n, Werner has times are better right now
stant scorer for than they were last year at
eraging between this time. I've already
teen points per qualified for the Nationals
for a first -three (AAU) in two events and for
1- and one for a the NCAA's in one event,
ut a lot of hard After this weekend I hope to
; summer ana i nave quaunea ior mree
eally helped my events in the NCAA's."
Werner is a fierce cornchallenge
facing petitor and is surprisingly
the rest of the short for a swimmer,
is the National standing only five feet six
: Championships inches.
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Kent Anderson Philip W
we are definitely going to be better than last
year. The only thing we need is some power
hitting."
Wilson concluded, "I'm glad to be up here
and I hope I can be like my brother and help
the team."
Haines said Wilson has "unlimited talent
and is one heck of a ball player. All he needs
is some patience. He has just an awful lot of
talent that needs to be harnessed."
Kent Anderson thinks this year's squad
will surprise a lot of people.
"Defensively, we will be better. We will
have more overall speed and we've got
super arms in the outfield and in the infield.
"I think we'll score our share and we
won't give up as many as we score," he
added.
"We've got a whole different team this
year than last," Anderson continued. "Last
year was all offense. If they were down four
runs, it was nothing."
The Timmonsville native has been sick
with the flu recently and lost around 10
pounds, and his hitting has been slack, but
Anderson thinks it will come along.
"I'm the type of guy that has got to hit and
hit and hit. I've got to keep playing defense.
If I keep playing good defense, the hitting
will come along."
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ilson Wade Hatcher
Raines said, "Anderson is a fine shortstop.
He has a good arm but he has not been
hitting well because he's been sick with the
flu.
"We think Kent will be a fine shortstop not
only this year, but also for the future," he
added.
Greg Morhardt also thinks this year's
team will be a big surprise for baseball fans. 4 '
"We've got a pretty good coach and the
baseball here is kind of a relaxed atmosphere.
It's not rah-rah all the time, and I
like that.
"I think we'll be a good team. We've got a
good pitching staff, a good defense and good
1 A I T tU' l_ til _ r t 11
&pet;u. /\iiu i iiiiiiK we 11 nil a iew more oans
than people think."
The All-America player from Gilbert High
School in Winsted, Conn, came to Carolina
as an outfielder but will be playing first
base.
"It was tough adjusting to the base, but
I'm adjusting to it all right."
Raines thinks Morhardt will contribute a
lot to the Gamecocks at first base.
"He's got a great arm, great speed, and is
an excellent student of the game. He had
some good catching in high school and
probably got some from his father, who
played in the big leagues."
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