The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 30, 1990, Page 12, Image 12
Rodriquez a
-By DOUG AUBE gr
io Staff Writer or
USC women's tennis coach Arlo
'3 Elkins has put together a team in
with a strong international flavor.
$ix of the eight players on Elkins' cc
roster hail from foreign countries. th
This rainbow unit is presently bi
Tanked 14th in the nation and re- (c
" . cently won the Metro Conference pi
_i 1_;_ ITP/11. r:r.L m
cnampioiisiup, ujv, 5 mui 111 ma * *
" years. th
One player that epitomizes the he
flavor of USC's team is sophomore
Nathalie Rodriquez from cc
"Paris. ad
Rodriquez came to USC ranked
in the top thirty among French wo- ne
hien. She participated in the 1989 in
?French Open mixed doubles event sh
and played in the Federation Cup nc
-Jtwo years for Chile. She has in
flayed all of the major interna- ar
^fional junior tournaments and held
55^ Top 10 junior world ranking in pi
?*987. he
2* Last weekend, she captured the fa
number one flight singles champ,
ionship in the Metro Tournament. lej
Her success at USC can be ar
Columnist lat
As the beginning of summer ap- ?
proaches, the last thing most people
want to hear about is a major
league baseball team mired in last
place, 10-and-a-half games out _
only 15 games into the season.
So, when I decided to dedicate
this semester's last Pep Talk to the
Atlanta Braves, I knew I'd catch nc
some flak.
But I am an eternal optimist, ha
Jnd if I can help gain the Braves a so
f: few more fans and thus put more ne
fannies in the seats at Atlanta Fulton
County Stadium, which could Pr
? in turn provide enough excitement
' to get the players a bit more enthu- Bi
| siastic and Finally help the Braves su
; win a few more games and maybe nu
-j even the division . . . well, I did t>c
% say I was an eternal optimist. Br
Hope springs eternal at the be- so
| ginning of every season but this
1 optimism usually fades when the lei
fdsfef^l0' games1 before atfy- th<
one else in the Major League.
After a 1-1 start this season, I ca<
V. 7
I thought that maybe, just maybe, tei
the Braves could actually deserve a go
: -.it ??WWW??????
ii
Hp?
K.-SriVZTTTT1 f w* * \ . v^r.
135m mil Ij [IT IT I kiVIKl1
Thank you for giving.
?
GIVEE
I
i i im Mil ? i ? ? m m
l I I IIJ I I H I (nl r
::HHI
djusts in fir
eatly attributed to her experience i
1 the international level, but this ]
:perience also created a weakness i
her style of play. I
"Her junior and international re>rds
were very good, and I knew 1
at she would play well for us, ;
it she grew up (playing) on clay <
ourts) so she was a baseline
ayer," Elkins said. "She is now 1
aking that adjustment to come to j
e net more, and that has helped (
>r. I
Rodriquez has become a more i
unplete player now that she has
Ided net play to her arsenal. (
"We have been working on my a
:t game, and it has helped me to 1
lprove my serve and my volley," C
ie said. "I go to the net more I
>w, and it is a big goal for me to r
lprove my net play. The points c
e faster, so I don't get as tired."
Rodriquez was not eligible to I
ay last season, and the break t
lped her to adjust and get ready i
r college tennis.
"The level of play (on the col- p
ge circuit) is more intense, there c
e some very good players," Rod- a
nents Braves
DOUG AUBE i
, Pep Talk 1
3 i ,
ite of optimism. 1
Rut 1 uampc lntp.r thp RravM ^
d faltered to a 2-13 record and
emed to be living up to the "bad 5
ws Braves" image.
I still think that they have a 1
etty good team.
A number of bad trades, the (
ett Butler for Len Barker deal (
inds out, and the lack of conti- ity
from one season to the next 1
>th have contributed to the
aves averaging 96 losses a sea- (
n over the last four years. i
If you add to that a weak minor (
igue farm system, it seems that
sre is no hope. I
But as the Braves enter the de- <
de of the '90's, their farm sys- 1
n is starting to develop some i
od players, and the new faces on (
I A /-?-^> /-J ^ -* L
Again anu again.
ILOOD, PLEASE R?dCro??
?IMi r
mm\
st season
riguez said. "I played a lot of good
players on the junior and international
level, but the top ten here
have provided tough competition.
"The time off helped me to get
used to the program and do well. It
ilso helped me to learn English,"
she said.
Rodriquez is currently the 34th
anked player in the country after
lumping ten notches with a win
iver the number two ranked
flayer, Andrea Farley of the University
of Florida.
She also has picked up wins
)ver Emilie Viqueira of the University
of California, Shawn
vlcCarthy of the University of
3eorgia and Cinda Gurney of the
Jniversity of North Carolina ? all
anked in the top 50 in the
:ountry.
Her 6-3, 6-3 victory over Buffy
Jaker of Florida State gained her
he No. 1 singles Metro Champonship
as well as MVP honors.
Rodriquez has compiled an imwessive
34-16 career singles re:ord
at USC, including 10 wins in
i row. Nevertheless, she tries not
' past, looks ,
the "major league team" (notice
low major league is in quotes) ]
should help halt the 100-loss 1
seasons.
Over the last two seasons, the
Braves have gone with a youth
movement in their starting rotation 1
ind benefits will be reaped. Well, (
me day.
The payoff of this patience has
itarted to show itself this season as
he starting rotation of Tom "Terific"
Glavine, "Pistol" Pete Smith, '
fohn "Smoking" Smoltz, Marty '
Diary and Derek Lilliquist have
combined to form one of the best
^oung starting staffs in the Na- j
ional League.
Sure, the Braves' team ERA is
3.29 and last in the league, but the
elief pitching hasn't gotten anyone
out this season.
Reliever Mike Stanton was supposed
to be the big closer, but has
:een his ERA balloon to 16.71 and
ast in league among all pitchers
vith three or more decisions, he is
)-3.
Osc
A UN1VEE
fV> BOOKS!
RUSSELL}
ATTE1S
nnnriiTr* t nnn
ojrruiVLr l&znj
Your Graduation Supplies,
University Bookstor
Caps and Gowns
Hoods - Master's, Ph. [
Announcements
Invitations
All items ava
now until Gradu
<1
CONGRATULATIOl
YOUR EDUCATIONAL Ri
WP
9 I SUNGLASSES BY
BAUSCH & LOMB
The world's finest sunalasses
SALE
Large Metal I Reg
Large Metal II Reg
Outdoorsman I Reg
Outdoorsman II Reg
Wayfarer Reg
All Other Rayban!
*Only G-15 Lens-no
SUNGLASSES
5 Pts. Next to Groucho's
256-3507
Folline Vision Center B<
S.C. largest Ray-B
Nathalie Rodriquez
to be overconfident.
"I have not lost any in my last
ten matches, but the more you
play, the more chances you have to
win," she said.
She has made the quarter-finals
in four tournaments, the semifinals
twice and the finals once.
She also teams with nationally
ranked Michelle Duda to form the
See Rodriquez page 13
to future
Stanton was recently lost for at
least fifteen days with an inflammation
of his shoulder.
Thank goodness for the disabled
list.
If you add to the starting rota[ion
Charlie Leibrant, who will
:ontribute if he can heal his rotator
:uff injury, than you have a very
formidable battery.
The definite weak spot is relief
pitching but since this is an optimistic
look at the Braves, I'll
avoid that topic.
If (what a big word) first baseman
Nick Esasky can recover from
an early season injury soon, then
his bat should help the Braves im
prove on their 2.9 average runs per
game.
He had 30 homeruns and 108
RBIs last season for the Boston
Red Sox.
Other newcomers Jim Presley
and-Ernie Whitt should help to relieve
some of the pressure off Dale
See Pep Talk page 13
LSITY rf\r\
[OREj
HOUSE /X 1
moN
GRADUATES
Are In Stock Now At The
e - Russell House
3>., Professional
ilable from
ation morning!
VS, SENIORS!
ESOURCE CENTER
4
SUNGLASSES
I. 6495 $44M*
I. 6895 $4836*
7495 ?com*
. 7495 $5655*
. 59^ $4160*
Styles 30% off
other discounts.
5 & THINGS
Outlet Pointe Mall
772-9798
Dozer Shopping Center
an Distributor
SPORTS B
Stoddart, Wyont
shine at Invitational
Nigel Stoddart and Shannon
Wyont paced the USC men's and
women's track, and field teams at
the Gamecock Invitational held Saturday
at Weems Baskin Track.
Stoddart won the 100-meter
dash with a time of 10.33 and the
200-meter dash with a time of 21.0
as well as anchoring the last leg of
USC's 4 x 100 relay teatn that
won their event.
Wyont won the 3,000-meter run
with a time of 10:05.2 and placed
second in the 400-meter dash with
a time of 58.73.
Other standout performances for
the men's team were turned in by:
Robert Brooks, first in the
110-hurdles (14.04); David Arnold,
first in the 400-intermediate hurdles;
Eddie Miller, first in the
400-meter dash (48.30); Rickey
Kearns, 800-meter winner with a
time of 1:53.78; Mike Hedgecock,
first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase
(9:19.9); Art Henson, first in
the high jump (6-10); and Darren
Davis, first in the pole vault
(16-0).
For the Lady Gamecocks, Dana
Purser won the 1,500-meter run
with a time of 4:42.72 and finished
second in the 3,000-meter run with
a time of 10:05.9. Danielle Adams
won the high jump with a leap of
4-feet-6-inches while placing third
in the 800-meter run with a time of
2:23.26.
Alexis Fife placed second in the
800-meter run with a time of
2:21.24 while Sue McGhie finished
third in the 3,000-meter run
with a time 10:31.8.
USC overpowers
Tigers in 7-1 win
The USC baseball team defeated
Memphis State 7-1 Sunday at Buring
Stadium in Memphis in the
first game of a doubleheader.
The Gamecocks got off to an
early 6-0 lead, including two tworun
homers in the first two innings.
Dave Willman, who was 2-of-3
in game one, cracked the first twof&fiK
gives yoi
specialty pra
LIctiiciiuwu^ jjai
head and admin
the practice yoi
as an Air Force <
great pay & ben
equipped faciliti
skilled technicia
vacation with p<
cialize in Air For
learn if you qual
SGTJON 5
STATION-TO-ST
404-7:
We
Re.
To V
W1
You
When you want
exciting temporar
pay, great benefit
bonuses, call
ready to work whe
Lie per
We Help Business
798-]
U.S. Personnel, Inc.
2000 Center Point Drive
Suite 2210
P.O. Box 210518
Columbia, S.C. 29221-0518
RIEF&iii
run shot in the first inning, while
Sandy Rickett belted the other in
inning two.
Winning the game on the mound
for USC was Brian Williams, with
Brian Beatson coming in after the
sixth inning to get the save.
Next action for the Gamecocks
is Saturday as the Clemson Tigers
come to Sarge Frye Field for a
two-game series.
USC claws Tigers
5-1 in mens' tennis
The USC tennis team, ranked
eighth nationally, defeated Clemson
5-1 on Saturday in Clemson.
The victory was USC's first at
Clemson since 1976.
Stephane Simian, also ranked
eighth in the nation, took care of
Owen Casey 6-2, 6-2 to get the
Gamecocks started. Simian is now
48-10 in singles competition.
Louie Gloria, USC's No. 2 player
was defeated by the Tigers' Nicklas
Johansson 7-6, 6-4 for Clemson's
only win.
Dave Hopper won over Greg
Seilkop 6-4, 6-3; Mark Palus defeated
Todd Watkins 4-6, 7-5, 6-3,
and Eric Sydow rolled over J. L.
Guillou 6-1, 6-4.
USC improves to 17-8 and takes
on Princeton today at the Sam Daniel
Tennis Center at 1 p.m. Clemson
falls to 16-18.
Bowling team one
strike from title
The USC bowling team finished
second over the weekend at the national
college team championships.
Jerry Home, who averaged 212
in the double-elimination tournament,
led the Gamecocks to the
championship round against Northem
Illinois.
The three-game championship
was led by USC 527-470 going
into the final match but lost after
the Huskies outscored them
240-176 in the third and final
game The final score was
719-703.
Other Gamecock averages were
Neil Makison (199), John Lee
(199), Tim Rice (195) and Andy
Zook (190).
DENTAL
SPECIALISTS.
ay's Air Force
u a challenging
ctice...without the
n of office overistration.
Enjoy
l've always wanted
officer ? with
efits, wellies,
the support of
ins and 30 days
ly per year. Spece
dentistry. To
lify, call
JTUBITSCH
ATION COLLECT
22-3536
1
j're
idy
Vork
len
Are
challenging and
i,
y wuiin. wiui mgii
s, and wonderful
Because we're
n you are.
sonne/
R A R Y SERVICES ?
and People Work.
L700
!
?U.S. Personnel, Inc. 1988