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Team USA Cuba natio: in exhibitic BRYAN JOHNSTON Asst. Sports Editor Columbia has once again become o v?? 1 i. _ i.1 A1 ' * A 1.1 i. ~ a luiiu 10 me uiympics in Auama. First, it was the women's marathon trials on Feb. 10. Then on June 25, the Olympic torch passed through the capital city. On June 30, the USA baseball team took on the Cubans in an exhibition game at Capital City Stadium. In yet another stop on their 41 game tour, the 1996 USA Baseball Team Tour made an appearance in Columbia. With just days to go until the Olympics begin, the team is set and has their eyes focused on the gold. Team USA is one of eight teams competing in this summer's Centennial Olympic Games. Starting July 20 when they take on Nicaragua, the team will play a round-robin format. The four teams with the best record will advance to the medal round. Team USA, along with Cuba, Japan and Korea are the favorites going in. LSU coach Skip Bertman, whose Tigers won the 1996 College World Series, heads up the Olympic team. Also, new USC baseball coach Ray Tanner is one of the assistants. As far as the game went, it had all of the pomp and circumstance of a Fourth of July celebration. From American flags to dancers, skydivers to chants of "U-S-A" and a mini-torch relay to fireworks, this had it all. But the action on the field was a little less enthusiastic as Cuba defeated USA, 4-2. Going into the five-game series I w gill , Hp 7 pf 5 New USC baseball coach Ray Tam Football pre Oh, this should be fun! In both Lindys and Athlon's preseasoi issue, Gamecock opponents are rated as the toughest. Tennessee is first in the r Athlon's and fourth in Lindys. Florida and fifth, respectively; Auburn is 21st Clemson is 10th in Athlon's. Even East1 is ranked 23rd in Athlon's. To make matte n a , , .1 r central Florida, who maKes ine jump iron I-AA to I-A, has one of the top 20 quart? the nation in Daunte Culpepper and th< attack is considered potent. Something to be thankful for Kentucky's Moe Williams, who last eil over the Gamecock defense for 299 yard to forego his senior year and was taken in Draft. TMngs to be hopeful for Tennessee's Peyton Manning and J Danny Wuerfful are the top two quart? the nation. Is it too late to hope that enter the NFL Draft? case you cared Here are some little known facts ab college football: hosts j nal team >n game with Cuba, the USA baseball team had won 39 straight, including all 18 on the pre-Olympic tour. But after two losses, the Americans know who is the favorite in Atlanta. "Cuba is the number one team in I the world by far," Bertman said. Before a record crowd of 6,527, the USA got off to a promising start in the top of the first. With the bases loaded and one out, Cuba pitcher Omar Luis 1 settled down to strike out J.D. Drew and Jacque Jones to end the threat. After that, it was all downhill. Luis kept the Americans off-guard with his blazing fastball and wicked slider as he gave up five hits and struck out nine in eight innings of work. The Cubans struck in the second I and never looked back. Cuba strung three consecutive singles off Billy Koch to make it 2-0. The Clemson right-hander (3-1) took the loss. He struggled with his i control for much of the six innings he pitched, allowing five hits and six walks. "I didn't have my best stuff, but I did what I could with it," Koch said. "They're a good ballclub. They didn't swing at any bad pitches." Team USA cut the lead to 2-1 in the fifth. Casey Blake was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a fielder's choice. Lead-off man Chad Green then doubled off the left-field wall to score Blake. But once again, Luis settled down to strike out Warren Morris and Mark Kotsay to get out of the jam. But Cuba upped the lead back to two in their half of the fifth. Jose I ^ ' Jl Mr signs autographs for fans at the I :views, fun k Cheapest Ticket: Ball State i football for a good seat i some of Most Expensive: Arizona Sta lation in Oklahoma State - $60 for a reall; t is sixth seat in both; Smallest Stadium: Idaho's Kil Carolina capacity of 16,000 rs worse, Largest Stadium: Michigan S i Division of 102,501 rbacks in Most unusual fact: Kenfssc ;ir aerial orange and purple until a laundr basketball team's uniforms dai Makes you wonder year ran Two recent high school grad s, decided O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, were se] 't - VTi.n r\r* \ti i A oironrnnn ooircs meiNrij zo uian. emu. experience. The same thing is football player leaves early. Bu if a high school baseball star go( Florida's minor leagues, rbacks in Is it a coincidence that footba they will are the two highest grossing reve That silver lining As bad as the Gamecock defe: out 1996 they had the lowest single-gam* the SEC when they held Kent t Wm i ; # F HI k i ^ s s * $p? yjr **< ^jt^^^bBhHHEv^ *& ' W , Cuba's Omar Linares slides safely into s Estrada led off with a walk and stole 1 second and third. Orestes Kindelan's 1 groundout scored Estrada to make it i 3-1. 1 The USA refused to give up. In 1 the sixth, Travis Lee led off with a ! double, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch. i "We kept battling," Koch said. "We were never out of the game." But in the seventh, Cuba pushed ROBERT WALTON THE GAMECOCK ( USA vs. Cuba baseball game. j icts leave a ] $2, $4 BRYAN Speaking c JOHNSTON Out teand ranked in th< y good Flashes are 111 \T? V, ill. liu nucic uiguui ibie-ASUI Dome: Mark your calendar tadium: Capacity On Sept. 21 Tennef to take on Florida in a :hool colors were decide the winner of th y mishap left the -k blue and gold Do the Wright thing Until Anthony Wri Gamecocks to victory uates, Jermaine Florida State QB and lected in the June Ward are a little prem they need college said if a college The next Northwest it nothing is said Although it'll take is straight to the the Wildcat's dream s could be a pleasant su ill and basketball '95 had their first win nues for colleges? appear to be on the ve: could get them to their rise was last year, Here's a good idea i rushing total in The NCAA passec o -20 yards. this season. When a 1 4 in life ' I-,/ econd base under th? tag of the USA's the lead back to two runs. Third baseman Omar Linares, who has been compared to Wade Boggs, hit a towering solo home run to left-center field in his final at-bat to make it 42. In the ninth, the USA threatened once again when Drew led off the inning with a bloop-single to center. A.s the crowd went into a frenzy, reliever Pedro Lazo dashed their hopes Sew head ba :eady to face IRYAW JOHNSTON Asst. Sports Editor When South Carolina hired Ray 'anner as its new head baseball coach, hey got more than a coach who has iroven he can win. They got a young, nergetic and friendly person. "I think Dr. McGee made a great tick. Ray will infuse his energy, which 3 endless. He's a tireless worker, he's /ell-liked by the kids, he's incredibly nthusiastic and he knows a lot about iaseball," LSU coach Skip Bertman aid. The 38-year-old comes to Columbia rom North Carolina State where he njoyed much success with the Volfpack. At N.C. State he averaged 5 victories a season while compiling 1395-173 record. While the success in Raleigh was lice, Tanner must get right to work m the Gamecock squad. But, that night be tough considering he is one f the assistant coaches on the Olympic v _n a a ixi i_ *j. * _ _ laseDan team. Aiinougn 11 is a uiinui letback in building his team, it is good 0 know that USC has hired a coach food enough to coach in the Olympics. But don't let his "other job" fool fou. He is already in the process of ireparing the 1997 version of the jamecock baseball team. "As soon as I accepted the job, the irst thing I did was make contact with lot to the in >f Kent completely ; of 111 Division I-A teams the ball wi e preseason poll, the Golden spot. Mak< ranked, drum roll please... it up! Not so eaj Andwh team will n jsee travels to Gainesville record for a 1 game that will probably at 25 but s le SEC East. Who's nu Nebras ght proves he can lead the three regi , any comparisons to ex- national tit Heisman winner Charlie beat them ature. preseason ern? What abo ct wimarlroVilo +*iam fnn Tf T Vlflf u J. VXX1UX 1VUU1V * " ? VV VV^/ ? leason of 1995, Maryland Nebraska1 rprise. The Terps, who in Dame, Flo ning season in five years, Ohio St. ai rge of a breakthrough that r second bowl in ten years. And final use a I a new rule to take effect long as th< jail carrier's helmet comes critics are I t M J i Warren Monte. Cuba won the game pfa of a comeback as he struck out Jones and pinch-hitters Matthew LeCroy and Tony Glaus to end the game. "Their pitching is so tough," Bertman said after the game. "Luis and Lazo are so good that it is hard for us to catch up. We're not prepared for 90-plus (mph) pitching. The last time we faced pitching like that was in a intrasquad game with Koch and (Kris) Benson on the mound." seball coach challenges oi "I think Dr. McGee made a great pick. Ray (Tanner) will infuse his energy, which is endless." Skip Bertman, LSU coach the players. That's been very encouraging. I've talked to some kids who are really excited about getting it going," Tanner said. For a man who has had the job for less than a month, he knows what needs to be done. High on his list of priorities is pitching. aiir,. i : we nave iu suie ujj uui jJiLtuuig staff. That's our number one priority. We're recruiting right now. We're planning on bringing in four or five pitchers before the fall gets under way," Tanner. Tanner feels confident in the catching core of the team that includes Randy Stegall, Etienne Hightower, Mike Curry and Eric Stanton. "From where I sit right now. I think the position players are pretty good, but it's important that we get that pitching staff sured up." Pitcher Brett Jodie must be healthy and Jason Pomar needs to be solid out of the bullpen, Tanner said. While at N.C. State, he led them to their first ACC championship in lagination off, the play will be blown dead and II helnncr to the runner's team at that 2S sense, jer Beavers to would be? The Oregon State football lore than likely extend their own NCAA insecutive losing seasons. It is currently hould reach 26 by mid-October. mber 1? ika has gone undefeated in the past liar seasons, claiming back-to-back ;les. Until anyone proves that they can , the Cornhuskers get my nod as the favorite. ut number's 2-10? I a vote in preseason balloting, behind would be: Florida St., Tennessee, Notre rida, Southern Cal, Texas, Colorado, ad Miami. ly... >uld go 1-10 this football season, but as e one win comes against Clemson, the quiet and Brad Scotfs job is safe. I 1 of? ,. Wm ROBERT WALTON THE GAMECOCK iyod at Capital City Stadium, 4-2. But the one thing Bertman was quick to point out was that this was a practice game. "I'm looking for improvement," Bertman said. a I'd rather play well and lose than play poorly and win." Ready or not, on July 20 the games become real. Ifs all or nothing for the Americans. The tension will rise and everything will count as Team USA rrnnc for- tlio rirnlrl i_n Atlanta 5VVD W1V gvivi 111 A IVlUIiVU. Ray Tanner f SEC 1992. He was the ACC Coach of the Year in 1990 and has led his team to seven NCAA tournament appearances in nine years. He is the secondwinningest coach in school history. He has had 30 players go on to play professional baseball and coached the Wolfpack to a school-record 49 victories in 1993. After a 25-28 campaign for USC in 1996, a year in which they did not make the SEC Tournament, most would see '97 as a rebuilding vear. but not Tanner. "I have high expectations. I don't use the word 'rebuilding.' I think that . you're trying to be good every year You have to take that approach,' Tanner said. "I'm expecting to be very competitive in the SEC and I'm going to be disappointed if we're not." With an attitude like that, it shouldn't be too long until the Gamecocks are back in contention, < j ? 1 /* 11 i * Bui it s nis rrienaiy, out-going personality that makes Tanner likeable The Benson, N.C., native is dedicated to the South Carolini program. His wife is a USC alumni and is "ecstatic" according to Tanner He loves the area and says th< attraction has always been there. "I'm looking for the Gamecocks ti take me in and let's get ready to go. RLE PMOTC Gamecock Football Fever Catch it in the Aug. 19 1 , edition!