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^ Check out how the men's and W women's track and field teams faired at the National Outdoor Championships in Buffalo, N.Y Wednesday, June 3,1998 Baseball team falls short of goal senior writer kCWM HUNT It's been a while since you filled in the last bubble of your last final exam in the spring, and if you have not been following USC athletics since, then you have missed out on a lot. The USC baseball team had a quick trip to their SEC Tournament in Birmingham, Ala. The Gamecocks lost a close one, 9-8 against Mississippi State on the first day of the tournament, and then were eliminated by future NCAA College World Series participant LSU 6-0. After losing out on a close bid to host a regional to arch-rival Clemson, the Gamecocks found out a they were heading to the sunny south beaches of Miami, Fla. Everybody wondered if the "Chicken Curse," which had already reared its ugly head during tournament play, would reappear in time for the NCAA regional. The Gamecocks made a statement in the first round of the regional with a 21-9 win over Florida International. The Gamecocks got two homeruns in the game from se_ nior catcher Ryan Bordenick and a H ?j ii i " ^ rare msiue me pane grana siam trom Jay Lambert The next night was one to remember for the Gamecocks. Everyone's worst fears about the "Curse" had come to fruition. The Texas Tech Red Raiders were up 8-2, and the Gamecocks were running out of time. In the top of ninth, all Carolina fans were hanging by the skin of their ears as WVOC's Steve Stew^ art was describing the action from Miami. When the Gamecocks loaded the bases with two outs it was time for the senior and the leader. Bor denick, to take his cuts at the plate. Bordenick took a 1-1 pitch over the outfield wall of Mark Light Stadium as he gave the Gamecocks a 98 lead and the eventual win over the Raiders. With North Carolina defeating Miami, the Gamecocks faced the 0 Hurricanes Saturday night and were overwhelmed by their mighty offense on the way to a 14-2 loss. That set up an elimination game on Sunday against the Tar Heels who won 4-2 on a Mark Roberts home run. The ACC Player of the Year, whose father Mike was fired by North Carolina, is now transferring and the speedster from Chapel Hill, N.C., has South Carf nlina high on his list. HUNT page two , 1 Everett sports editor BRYAN JOHNSTON South Carolina shortstop Adam Everett became the first Gamecock to be selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft since Mike Cook in 1985 when he was taken by the Boston Red Sox as the 12th selection Tuesday. "It's a real honor to be drafted by such a fine organization as the Red Sox," Everett said. "I hope to go go out and play every day." Everett is considered one of the top collegiate shortstops and was named to the All-SEC First Team, Baseball America All-America First Team, AllQniltVl Tnnm MPIHI7A All A L/UUU1 l UDt icaiil, 11VLI ica Second Team, TPX All-America Third Team and SEC Academic Honor Roll. This past season, the Kennesaw, Ga., native was a defensive stalwart up the middle in starting all 62 games. His excellent range for both his right and left sides, and a strong arm helped him grab many balls uncatchable by others. He committed only 15 errors in 301 attempts for a fielding percentage of .953. Equally potent at the plate, Everett hit .375 with 13 homeruns, 63 RBI, 100 hits and 71 runs scored. He also stole 15 bases in 19 attempts and struck out only 30 times, the lowest of any Gamecock starter. Everett was drafted in the fourth mnnH hir the flhirairn Pnhc mminn nut M. WVU<U *~JJ ?UV V&UVMgV VUi/U WUUUg UUb of Harrison High School in 1995, but opted to take his abilities to North Carolina State. Everett transferred to USC after a year at N.C. State under thenWolfpack coach Ray Tanner. "After I got drafted out of high school in the fourth round, it's always been Softball te South Carolina goes 1-2 at the Southeastern Conference Tournament to end a sub-par vear. "sports editor BRYAN JOHNSTON COLUMBUS, Ga. ? The 1998 Lady Gamecock softball team's disappointing season came to a disappointing end at the SEC Tournament at Columbus, Ga Despite winning its opening game against Mississippi State, Carolina was defeated by top-seeded Florida and then by MSU on Saturday to end its season. On May 8, the fifth-seeded Lady Gamecocks (36-21) pulled a mild upset when they beat fourth-seeded MSU 2-0 on sophomore Leanna Troesh's two Sport The Gamecock selected one of my goals to be a first-roundei he said. 1 In his two years in Columbia 1 Everett helped turn around the Gam< ! cock program. Carolina went a con bined 77-42 in his two-year stay ii eluding a 44-18 record and a NCA Regional appearance this past yea "He's been terrific for this program Tanner said. "He's been a boost fc us. There were some other good plaj ers here and to bring him in reall helped us get competitive in a hurr He's a great young man and a tremei dous student-athlete. He's very loy? to this school, this program and to th people he's with. He's improved so muc as a baseball player, and I'm so hap py for him. It looks like he's going to get a grea opportunity and a chance to realize hi dreams that we all have of playing ii the big leagues. It couldn't happen t a nicer young man who handles him self with a great deal of class and in tegrity." Being a junior, Everett has the op tion of returning to Carolina for his se nior year, but he kept it short and sim pie when asked whether hell turn pre "Yes," Everett replied. Called "one of the safest picks ii the draft" by Baseball America, mos analysts predict Everett will bi starting for a major-league team in fou years. But Everett wasn't the only Game cock taken in the draft. Centerfielde Mike Curry (6th round, Kansas Cifc Royals), Brett Jodie (6th round, Nev York Yankees), catcher Ryan Bordenicl (9th round, Milwaukee Brewers) an< pitcher Jason Pomar (10th round, Seat tie Mariners) were all taken on the firsi day of the draft. ams falter run homerun in the top of the seventl inning. Senior pitcher Sky Brown was dom inate in the victnrv allnwimr nnlv nn* hit, a new SEC Tournament record Brown struck out two and walked one in the complete-game shutout. 1 felt really good," Brown said. "AI of my pitches were working, especial ly my curve ball and my drop ball." The game was scoreless until the final inning when Carolina mounted a rally. Brown singled to lead off the inning, but was doubled up when sopho more Sondra Hall's line drive was caught by MSU third baseman Michelk Gates. Gates then spotted Brown leaning toward second and doubled her up at first. G B m si 5 : 12th by i mn ^ V ^Ss pjr H -'Jw^Kr it J?Hf^ t Shortstop Adam Everett was selected pick in Tuesday's Major League Basel at Wf Tm V-r CfJLiV^ X\7! i Freshman Joyce McMillin kept the rally alive by beating out a grounder - to shortstop. That set the stage for i Troesh's heroics. With an 0-2 count, the Santa Maria, Calif., native ripped a ? line-drive shot down the left-field line to give USC a 2-0 lead. Brown then I sat down the Lady Bulldogs in order to give USC the opening-round victo' rys "I felt like I was right on it, and I I just felt good the whole time," Troesh i said. "I was right on her, and when I ;< t .? ? mb 1^ x iuicvv it was guuc. ! On May 9, Carolina's luck was i not as good. The defending regular-season and tournament champions were i eliminated after falling to Florida 1-0 and MSU 3-0. J. says he needs writer for the summer isles. If you want to write for The Gamecock lis summer, call him at 256-5057 after 5 rvi nn/1 ha! urt n fimtA 4-a ?v> /\/\4- tin 4- V\ ktm in. emu aci up a time iu meet witiwiim. Page 9 - I Red Sox * Si \ \ \ '* % k \ V nk \ ^-yiaH P* \ WBm ypfe v \ \ HSl. V % *-- - ? SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK by the Boston Red Sox as the 12th ball Draft ornament In the first game, Florida's lone run came in the fifth inning when Laura Pinkerton's smash went off the glove of Troesh, scoring Cindy Snoddy from third. USC had the stage set for another seventh-inning rally, but this time J _r?_n _i_ _ * h ieu snore. McMillm nearly tied the game when she drove a pitch deep to right field, but UFs Jennifer Lutsl snagged the ball right as she crashed through the fence. After a Troesh strikeout, sophomore Kim Schultze and senior CarrieiSffiottHoshour singled to set up a potential two-out rally, but redshirt sophomore Jamie Williams grounded out to end the game. USC page 11