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Raines has By Johnny Boggs USC has a new goal for the 1984 baseba ^casuu; winning a conierence line. But if the first goal fails, head coach Jur Raines said the Gamecocks can hope for a at-large berth in the National Collegia Athletic Association playoffs. Carolina enters its first season in tl Metropolitan Collegiate Athletic Associ tion, and Raines said he has mixed emotio auuuv ^iia/ing ill a LUIilCiClICC. "WE'VE HAD great success as an i dependent in the past," said Raines, in h eighth year as head coach. 44I think it's goii to be an exciting year, and we've got tl tournament at the end of the year." USC has played in the NCAA playof eight of the past 10 years, but Raines said tl association needs to expand the playo system. "Thirty-six ball teams isn't enough wit that many good baseball teams and baseba conferences around," he said. "The NCAA has selected two teams out c tne Metro during tne past couple of yean but we'll have to do well in the tournament We can't lose two games early. "VIRGINIA TECH has experienced tha in the past. They won 52 games and lost tw< games early in the tournament and didn't g< to tne playotts." Pitching will be the key to the season Raines said. Senior right-hander Bo Taylor and junio left-handers Rex Perozo and Brett Garlam have been sidelined because of injuries. Therefore, Raines will have to rely on i relatively inexperienced pitching staff. SOPHOMORE MIKE Cook, who wen 8-3 in 1983 with a 3.97 earned run average will hp thf? ace Rainoc Junior right-hander Larry Price, 1-1 th past year, will also start. Senior Robb Coker (0-2, 2.05) is expected to be the shoi Softball tea By Tracy Mixson a ? i 1--? '* iiauuuai i aiming, strong lineup, good si ing attitude are what head coach Lou Piel s success for USC's 1984 soft ball team. The Lady Gamecocks finished 31-10 the p; fifth in the nation at the end of the regular UCLA for third place in the softball Collej USC is ranked third by the 1984 college c anrl Dml * ? J * * - pvsai, ciiisj l ltl daiU W1I11C MIC 15 UUIlIIUCni BDC squad may feel pressure to perform as well "I'M CONFIDENT we'll have a good s "But I think the players still need to prove i they're confident. I think they feel a little p "1 try to tell the players that the only pr what they put on themselves. The pressure y< , is generally what makes you fold. All we've best, and the end result will hp thp camo ?? All but three of the Lady Gamecocks r< HI *** +?*? <?$ ?.? <-<, *%? >? yi ? ii i - * ^ \ f Praao<..*.? I UOOOOUII pi nuuuu USC's softball team prepares itself for the sei mixed emotii n- |r^*BS^ Mabtf?fil lis A V ^i " 10 km *k 99 ie 1#' - ,., ^fcpfl|?^^p3 '* ** ">'*'* %**^^"'N.>-v-"1 .* '' "" ? - ^ :> ViX"* - ~?..i' it."*?jtl' iS Taking aim C lino _!*.! r> ?_ n i .1 ?... .. y uau pucner noddy uoKer tnrows to a Winthrop batter t its season 2 p.m. tomorrow in Charleston against Bapti im tries for ret squad, and Piel said the experience chedule and winn- USC. ;aid can only spell "We've got that level of experien is a confidence builder," she said. " ast season, ranked a big factor in our favor." season, and tied ;e World Series. TWO ALL-AMERICANS retu oach's preseason Sophomore pitcher Darlene Lowery >ut the season, her di James were named all-American as last year. Piel reported James may split tim short stop in 1984. eason," she said. "We also have an excellent catcl to themselves that coach said. "We've got a solid infi >ressure. experience. Up the middle we're sol essure they feel is experience. How those new middle ou put on yourself real key to our success." got to do is do our One of the new players is Lisa D fielder from Iselin, N.J. DeCruz ha stum from 1983's of .480, with 110 hits in three year: I r w* mm0*1* tm mm ^ ,,****%***.& ?+ *? - \ * * V> ^ ni I * ,. ,. *+? \? -.> .# ^ ason home opener 4 p.m. March 6 aqainst East Carolina. 3ns about X\ P 'vA ;(' - ,;:.,,^V - }b v v .-,\ Sai ' wc ' * ' ' m. * *Y CM !\ * I.. ||j^2 tea ov' fiL. - - # v ,T~^~ , ba fV. , -... V Ra 4 ' - ' 1* . \ IS,d * /. afl ,.\*. ?V. >'**~ .?. , - ** *'i; " v. j ' - " JUl ' v - <: " " -'"V fre Photo by SotuHl Khwija ajt in Wednesday's scrimmage. USC opens de st College. urn to World will be a big advantage for "I LOOK for Lis Piel said. "As a fre: ce, and experience in itself the better hitters on 'That kind of experience is time." Piel said hitting w team's batting aven rn to USC this season. "Our emphasis w ana senior outfielder Lin- we're not that weak after the 1983 season. be, but that's sometl e between the outfield and to work with what \ make things happen ler in Chris Diemer," the do last year." ield down the lines due to The Lady Gamee id, but we have a lot of in- home games, which ; people develop will be a "WE HAVE a g eCruz, a hard-hitting out- games are an advan id a career batting average season. The first fev s of high school. well instead of strug be a big factor. "I think the horn there, and 1 hope we which means a lot t tu . ..... ? .. H-Uks.ia&b S Although USC : w> Athletic Conference J?||S|fc, dent. Four conferen ? ? - Metro championshi] m' other conference scl SPfe "AT THE momei down the road, but rn.IV, 11IVU1VCU Willi i "As an independe p.-.( " *B" " Louisiana. Because ^ all areas of the cou Mk bids to see us play. S That's our key to th Bj| "We'll have to dc i B to determine wheth< |r Piel said a winnii edge over their com f ** . "I THINK wher talent," she said. "I and can learn to dea _ ing things happen in key a lot on that. "At this level, it's Photo by Jowph Gviwtt else- Everybody has least psychological i mnto ? U III liiaiv^ iiicill Will tUlIK le Metro lief specialist, and freshman Steve Boley 11 see action in long relief. Other pitchers include junior-college insfer Glenn Jenkins and sophomore tsey Reed. But Raines said he is optimistic about the imecocks' offense and defense. "I THINK we'll have a good defense," he d. "Offensively, we'll make contact. We >n't strike out much. "We don't have the power of the '81 or '75 tms, nor the speed ot the '77 team, but erall, I think this team will be one of the st we've fielded. "We've got good depth, except with piting. The key will be the pitching staff. ! nk we'll hit the ball. We won't have that jch power, but we'll score some runs." Another question mark will be at second se, Raines said. USC LOST Art Finley to graduation, tines said he expects to choose the starter :er practice today. Among those competing for second are f roncfor Drn/^A aivi vvuvgv 11 uuai vi u& UW JL ai IVtl } ishman Bobby Miller, junior Wade Hatsr and senior Pete Fisher. Junior Greg Morhardt, who hit .317 in 83 with 28 runs batted in, starts at first se. Morhardt is one of 44 finalists to play r the 1984 U.S. Olympic team. The final t to 25 players will be made during the mmer. Junior Kent Anderson returns to short>p. Anderson hit .307 this past year, play5 in every game. He led the Gamecocks in >len bases with 16. JOHN SULLIVAN is at third base, llivan, a two-time team captain, hit .281 as unior with 30 RBI. Seniors Neil Fox and Chris Boyle will ernate as catcher and designated hitter, pending on the pitcher. Fox hit .338 in See "Baseball," page 12 Series a DeCruz to be contributing quite a bit," shman shortstop, she's going to be one of the team. I think she'll see a lot of playing ill be a major concern for Carolina, as the ige was only .238 the past season. ill be on hitting," she said. "Defensively , and we're not as quick as I'd like us to hing we really can't work on. We just have ve have. The one thing that we can do to i for us is to hit the ball, which we didn't ocks open the season with 12 consecutive Piel said was another definite advantage. ;reat home schedule," she said. "Home itage any time, especially starting off the v games are critical for us. If we can start ,ni;nn ?,:>u _: _ i. ? -rr 1 . . ,?iuifc wmi i<Aiiuic ugm on me Dai, 11 win e field advantage is definitely going to be can get some people out to see the games, o our players." is part of the Metropolitan Collegiate , the softball team will play as an indepence members must participate to sanction a d, and Florida State University is the only iooI with a softball team. it, it doesn't affect us," Piel said. "It may not right now. But it would be nice if we a conference as far as scheduling goes. nt, we're going to California, Indiana and we're an independent, it's important for ntry and all people who vote for playoff lo we need to be seen, and to perform well, le playoffs. > well against our West Coast competition jr we get that playoff bid or not." ig attitude will be the Lady Gamecocks' petition. i you get to this level, everybody has Jut the teams that have a winning attitude il and perform under pressure while maktheir favor are Koina to b<? siirr#??cfnl w#> more a psychological game than anything the physical skill, but those who make the nistakes and can force the other team to i out successful. The attitude is the edge.".