Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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|prida^^touar^^99^^ Gameco by David Cloninger Senior Writer South Carolina baseball will start a new season Saturday, as the Gamecocks look to improve on last year's 4418 record and NCAA Tournament appearance. The 1998 season was definitely one to remember, with the Gamecocks being ranked third in the nation and first in the SEC at one point, as well as qualifying for postseason play and placing three players on the All-SEC squad. The Gamecocks also boasted three Ail-Americans (including two freshmen), and seven players drafted into pro baseball, among them shortstop Arlom V.vprptt whn wac niolrprl 19th overall. Coach Ray Tanner was also given the SEC Coach of the Year award in only his second year with Carolina. The Gamecocks came into last year with great expectations, returning AilAmerican catcher Ryan Bordenick and All-SEC pitcher Brett Jodie, along with Everett, base-stealer Mike Curry and outfielder Derick Urquhart. The team didn't disappoint, winning 14 of its first 16 games, despite an Opening Day loss to College of Charleston. With a tough SEC schedule looming ahead, Tanner decided to upgrade his pitching staff by inserting freshmen Kip Bouknight and Peter Bauer, along with sophomore Jamie Poston, into his seasoned staff of senior Brett Jodie and junior Brett Kondro. The new lineup got off to a rough start, as Carolina dropped its first two conference games to Arkansas, getting stung for a combined 28 runs. How Alter all, di I have loved the game of baseball n tire life, specifically those perennii tom-dwellers, the New York Mets. ^ ^ Mr. Met w i are utax u MlHl lazy days of Sara Ladenheim mer at Shea Editor in Chief um. But I w ? I first bee; Mets fan w was old enough to realize the Yankees all a bunch of losers, led by the bigges of them all, George Steinbrenner. With the exception of Don Mattingly ed every single Yankee. I knew at the age of 7 that the boys only liked the Ya because they hit a lot of home runs. So, I decided to be different. Becor Mets fan was difficult at first, since I'n cks start: ever, USC rebounded against a weak-hitting Tennessee team, winning two of three games and setting the pace for a winning season. After two non-conference wins, Carolina faced Alabama for three erames in Columbia. The Gamecocks looked fierce in their first match, as Bouknight | improved his perfect record to 5-0 and limited the Crimson Tide to five hits. I However, Carolina's winning streak ? came to an abrupt end with an 11-0 1 loss the next day. Although Carolina won the series 2-1, the question of whether they could compete in the 1 tough SEC had still not been answered. Carolina showed the sky was the limit, however, as they traveled to Auburn and Mississippi for a six-game road trip and won every contest. The Gamecocks then took a 2-1 victory at home against Georgia before winning five of six from perennial powerhouse Florida and Vanderbilt. At that point, the team was given ? an unprecedented No. 3 ranking in the i ??n? ?? ?.?n ?? lid blUlldl JJUIia, dS> WCil dS LilC LU[J aiut in the conference. However, neither lofty perch was kept for long, as the I Gamecocks lost four of their next six conference games to end the regular i season at 42-14. Carolina fared no bet- j ter in the SEC Tburnament, being eliminated by losing their first two games. After a short break, the Gamecocks ^ traveled to the NCAA Tournament. Carolina finally broke its losing streak * against Florida International, scoring 1 an incredible 21 runs and re-spirit- * ing the team. '* Texas Tech was next, and things 3 looked down for the Gamecocks, as the Red Raiders stormed to a 6-0 lead. amnnrls arp ? I^A.JLX\/jLJL\A.I^ V V. ny en- New York and everyone there lik il bot- kees. But somehow I managed to si as one teasing. tuffed It was that summer my little-1 h Her- became the Ladenheim Chevrolet iy first an influence on the name becaus< pa was the sponsor and also becau vnrnoe a 1 r?f U IUI. r th e We went 0-9 that year. The M ti easy World Series, any of I played catcher, to be like Gar nemo- the next five years that I played. N ) those try to tell me I was too short, toe ' sum- skinny to be a catcher. Stadi- I could actually reach second ill try. casion with my throws and I b ame a basepath with the best of them. Ovi h e n I our team improved to become the s i. J i-U ? 3 were team, ueiiiuu uie iviargareiviwe t loser Store Yankees, of course. Comparir was like comparing the 1927 Yar , I hat- 1962 Mets. young In the summer of my seventh inkees I played my last season of Little 1 I moved to Long Island, wher rung a league teams were influenced by j i from ic parents who yelled at their kidf (3amccock Sports fxtra season 2 , I Sis: SBJi^r I ~ '^^MK I *s i<; y rhe Gamecocks look to get off to a 28-4 edge in the series history with However, Carolina clawed their way >ack into the game and ultimately won 1-8 on a ninth-inning grand slam by Jordenick, his third game-winner of he year. Carolina seemed ready for a rip to Omaha and the College World Series, but was tripped up by Miami ind North Carolina to end the season. After all the postseason awards had >een given, Carolina had to look to re> -wil /> n4 I gill Q UtJ&L es the Yan- missed the ball and i skinny arms, lake all the So I quit. It was all good, th eague team marching band (Boy, is Mets. I had than in the South) a i my grand- invited every single yi ise I whined play Opening Day at 1 I had also become ets won the grandson of Tommy H run champion from tb y Carter, for Tom (my friend) a 0 one dared games over the course 1 tiny or too One of the most mi night the 1994 strike base on oc- us leave in the eighth locked the and Marlins tied. "Thi er the years, rationalization. ;econd-place I have to say that Hardware in the future, I will al ig our teams I love attending U! ikees to the had the honor of being Bombers here are the -grade year, ally isn't the same as b -<eague. ing Day, which coincide e the little- day nearly every year jsychopath- The more I think , 3 when they tionalize that baseball i It's my favorite sj> against C ?: T" Nk?|^ -N 1-JBP ^ajjjfee yupi H 1? ^E^y**jt . , ' wi ^ ' * %' ^ mWpir iPl& -'" fast start Saturday when they take on C of C. place seven players, all of them beinj either the big playmakers or leaders on the team. However, coach Tanner persuadec the nation's leading base-stealer anc All-ACC shortstop Brian Roberts t< transfer from North Carolina, and al so signed a devastating recruiting class consisting of seven highly-touted pitch friend Til nade fun of me for my ough, because I was in it different in the North nd our band had been ear since its creation to Shea Stadium. ; best friends with the olmes, a national home le 1945 Boston Braves, nd I attended about 40 i of our friendship, emorable took place the began. Tom's dad made i inning, with the Mets ey won't strike" was his no matter where I live ways be a Mets fan. sP iTumoc whoro T nnco Fan of the Day, and the future Mets, but it releing able to go to Openmtally falls on my birthabout it, the more I rais more than just a sport. For IBIOV ??m ougars I .1 i Ij| Biyiyfl lip * Family $5 Adults $2 Students Free ?C students with I.D. H .all TTf.M *i~tA V IIHVfUNIIIVil| MIH M 1 f T4S. ? T? 1 Sean Rayford I'liolo lutiior College of Charleston. Carolina holds a I ers and four other all-stars from around 3 the Southeast. This year is expected to be one of 1 best ever for Carolina baseball, as 1 the team is focused on one goal ? to ) get to Omaha. The Gamecocks open f V* Ck cnacnn n n ^ q f 11 rr] a u a f Qorcrn 5 Frye Field against College of Charleston. The first pitch will be at 1:30 p.m. cket Prices $10 ... . :*. . :>+* **% mm mm .