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EQUESTRIAN I! Eight USC riders will compete in the National Intercollegiate s Horse Show after placing in s Saturday's Zone Competition at c the University of the South in E Sewannee, Tenn.. A I Page 8 ? Wohlers' 1 attitude: 'ingrate' I ?11 After a Sweek of exciting baseball action, the game's fans are already starttheir own opinions on l l which David Cloninger teams will Heckler's Row w*n the ???J World Series, which players will collect the postseason awards and how soon they can induct J.D. Drew into the "Crash and Burn" club. My beloved Braves have a 5-3 record although they don't really deserve it, but that's not what today's tonic is about. This week saw the recognition of two Braves players, one from the past and one of the present, and since this column is the ultimate authority on Braves baseball, I think it's my obligation to comment on the proceedings this week. Let's start off with the ending of Mark Wohlers' career in Atlanta. I have followed this case intently for the past year, and only one word comes to mind: "ingrate." This perfectly describes Wohlers and his attitude and how he has managed to sink from baseball's lovable hard-luck phenom to a level equal to Albert Belle and his relationship with the media. Wohlers was nurtured and brought up in the Braves organization as one of the fabled 1995 rookie class from Richmond, the class that won an Independent League title with him, Ryan Klesko, Javy Lopez and Chipper Jones, among others. "Well, thank you, Mark, for bringing down an entire club." His fireballing pitches and intimidating presence on the mound allowed him to save 97 games in two seasons, and Braves fans finally thought they had a cAre for the weakest bullpen in the National League. Wohlers was there on that magical night of Oct. 29, 1995, when he forced the Indians' Carlos Baerga to loft a high pop fly to center field for the final out, bringing a long-awaited world championship to Atlanta. It was Wohlers who jumped in the air with arms raised, thrilling millions and sending photographers home with a possible Pulitzer Prize winner. With a rejuvenated career and a big ring on his finger, how could he go wrong? I don't know, but he did. In the middle of the 1998 season, Wohlers inexplicably couldn't find the plate, routinely walking players on four straight and throwing pitches that would make Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams cringe and shake his head in disbelief. Wohlers was optioned to Richmond, but didn't fare any better, finally bowing out with an ERA of more than 20. Extensive counseling and therapy, fnr Kirfirrlifurorl .Tr*Vm QpVinnrlinl? ?JCX?\J. 1V/1 VJJ W^lllTTUUUWUl UVllUV,lUV/lfi, followed in the off-season, and spring training provided another opportunity for our subject. He seemed to be in control again, throwing that blazing fastball and garnering the support of skipper Bobby Cox, who said, "This kid is the heart and soul of this club." All that came crashing down Tuesday, when Wohlers refused to accept an assignment to Richmond because of his latest outing, in which he threw one strike in 10 pitches. After all of the time and money the Braves have spent (he is paid $5.2 mil lion per year), he decides he wants to be traded because he can't find the plate. Well, thank you, Mark, for bringing down an entire club. This is the thanks they get for believing in you? CLONINGER page 10 /IEN'S GOLF The men's golf team urged behind a final day core of 272 to finish second place at the Billy litchcock Intercollegiate in Alburn, Ala. I Battle; by David Cloninger Senior Writer When the South Carolina baseball team reflected on its 1998 season, it had nothing to be ashamed of. That team boasted a 44-18 record, an NCAA tournament berth, two freshmen All-Americans, seven players drafted by the major leagues and an SEC Coach of the Year. However, one thing stood: a loss to archrival Clemson in front of a soldout home crowd. The Gamecocks hope to gain some measure of revenge, as they once again prepare to do battle with the Tigers at 7p.m. at Sarge Frye Field. The game is gaining more attention than usual because the second USC-Clemson game-was rained out last year. Coach Ray Tanner, who made a career of beating Clemson while he was at N.C. State, is optimistic about the matchup. "There's nothing like the Carolina-Clemson game. I believe it's the best game in the country," Tanner said. The game will feature the aces of both pitching staffs, USC's Kip Bouknight against Clemson's Ryan Mottl. Bouknight, a sophomore All-American, hasn't fared well in his past two outings, but Tanner still thinks the right-hander will be the best solution for Clemson's dangerous offense. Matthe L ^Efl KPit ?.??;<: *&- z..v***..'--...r. This is where the outline goes. If yc where the cutline goes. If you are re Akesson, I by Jared Kelowitz Assistant Sports Editor Tuesday, the No. 11 men's tennis t devastated the Demon Deacons of Wake est 7-0 at Sam Daniel Tennis Stadium The Gamecocks tout a record of 1 overall, 4-6 in the SEC and 8-2 in Regi action. The Deacons drop to 11-13 overall in the ACC. USC leads the all-time se 16-4. The match started off with the Can men taking two of three doubles mat< giving the team a 1-0 lead. The Gamecocks' team of Olof Ake and Guillaume Legat defeated Wake est's Michael Berger and Justin Kaufm 8-6. The second win in doubles came c tesy of USC's Juan Gamboa-Jerome J The Gs at Sargi "Well be keeping Kip on a pitch count so he can also pitch this weekend. The tempo of the game will determine when he comes out," Tanner said. USC comes into the matchup with a 24-11 record. Although its 8-6 mark in the SEC is good enough for first in the East, it would also tie for last in the West. Clemson, which has a 19-16 record (3-5 ACC), has had hard luck so far this season, and will have to pull together down the stretch to try and duplicate last year's NCAA appearance and No. 3 national ranking. Although the Tigers beat Miami and top-ranked Florida State, they also lost to Western Carolina and blew a 15-4 lead over The Citadel. Carolina hopes to counter Clemson's seven .300-plus hitters with a potent attack of its own. Juniors Nate Janowicz (.339,19 stolen bases) and Brian Roberts (.328, 43 stolen bases) are expected to lead the attack. Roberts, a transfer from the ACC's North Carolina, is used to playing Piemen hnf l'cn't nn +n enonH nn tVio intense rivalry between the two schools. "That was one of our biggest rivalries, so I do have a head start on some of the new guys. I'm really excited to be a part of this," said Roberts, USC page 10 ws mak i, t" ' jaBsPlfi ?u are reading this, then some dumb, sading this, then some dumbass forgo pont rare o r don duo, which defeated Johan I Andres Guzman, 8-5. USC also dominated tb pQr matches, not allowing a win to t est. 3.20 All four players who won in on 2 Carolina also won in singles, as 1 Wawrzyniak and Vladimir Pav , 3-4 The first to win his singles ries, Gamboa, who defeated Hayes Ca sets, 8-3 and 6-0. Dlina Following his lead was Leg :hes' Berger 6-0, 6-2. Legat is the No. 23-ranked p sson ,. ,? por_ country and boasts a 28-10 recc aHn Akesson was part of this win He used a combination of1 :our- serves and powerful forehand re four- feat Brett Mauro. SCHEDUL Baseball vs. trwtair S^rop 1 Bomberball orts imecock e Frye rag< iii & I r^jr . xv; mmmm JnF ?r * W wKmW^ 2/fY^k. '\ K ^jmv'; ;' 'W^\ m> ' JP*? '" *?** ^ *hHH _ H||| ... *4* ' " " f ? * >;- y " ' . . ? ' ? . x - : ; - 'v!' - S; , .# , 1- v, >'::* ' x %* t ? - - . m ? ? - Sophomore Clint Collins slides into home plate in a gam< their archrival, the Clemson Tigers, at 7 p.m. today at Si ing immedi _ ^ Todd Money W^m Sports Copy Editor aspire to do. Of cot BHB| them actually do is i 1 a lot from their teai 1 here and there wl | develop the facets i |j South Carolina i What Matthew J| this year would be players to call a cai The blonde-h right-hander has r (leads the nation wii leads her team in s< $ egories, including shutouts (5). But th< ing^ so much... it was b Sean Rayford Pholo Ector fte ^ champjon )ss forgot to wrtte a outline. This is . , ' 'T.fI .t to write a outline. ln hlSh sch?o1' Mat men's tennis in 1 iansen and Akesson is ranked 71st in the nation, F with a record of 30-10. le singles "I played pretty well today because I Wake For- made good use of my opportunities when I 1 had them," he said, doubles for "Probably the biggest part of my game did Tomasz today were my approaches, and I approached icevic. very well." match was Another player who had success in doulvert in two ^es a^so dominated his singles match was Jourdon, who's ranked 38th in the country and is 27-10. a , ea ing "The key to winning my matches today was my returning," Jourdon said, layer in the "This was a big part, because my oppoird nents were serve-and-volley players, meanning trend. jng they weren't very good from the baseivell-placed iine. turns to de- ? 1 TENNIS page 10 v X. E FROM THE SIDELINES Clemson, 7 p.m. "I know that I'm never as Frye Field. good or bad as any single ? , performance. I've never vs. Delmarva, 7 f ,. , . . , ' believed my critics or my apital City , . , T, t J worshippers, and I ve I always been able to leave the game at the arena." ?Charles Barkley Wednesday, April 14, 1999 s tonight |H|Hh%. l rnmi ^HHPf w ? WSr^ \ 8 ^faF ' ' JM ".4* ; ~ * """ y.- mmw^ ; t; ?yg . ' . . _ V ^ .. \, 4 ? '"'fi \ < Sean Rayford Photo Editor e against George Washington. The Gamecocks take on irge Frye Field. ate impact options as far as the next level of play. But, surprise ? USC definitely wasn't her first choice of college. Once, act- when she came to Columbia to watch freshman athletes a game, she did so to watch two of Cararse, what most of 0ima's opponents, Tennessee and North day sparingly, learn Carolina. nmates and chip in When she took the chance to check lile continuing to ou^. the Lady Gamecocks, though, af their game. Call Matthews' opinion changed. "They just softball s Megan i00ked so sharp, and so good," she said, sption to the rule. ?j just liked the whole presence of s has already done everybody on the field... I know this is ; enough for many COmy, but people say you just know? "e?r- And I did ? I just knew. It really was aired, 5-foot-ll [a gut feeling]." acked up 20 wins, One of Matthews'stats that th seven saves, and jumps out at you is that number of iniveral pitching cat- ningS pitched on the year. She has esinnings (180) and sentially become the workhorse of an en, she s used to be- experienced USC staff. Last weekend, she even started three of four games grade when I start- against Tennessee in two days, lid. "In fifth grade, Matthews is used to it, though, rls that played for ?j kke it," she said. "I work better >1 nitz-hpfi fast-nitrh i t, ^ . -?t r ~ ? **?' unaer pressure. ... it can nurt me 111 was really cool, so I ft g0 too far, but... I don't get tired/ It takes me a long time to get so physe got to Riverside ically tired where I just can't do it anyenville, she was al- m0re." the pitching for the Of course) it helps when you're forced to stay as in shape during the offsead letter in softball son ag ^ months 0f play. "Offseai span in which the gon -g ^g hard part," she said, laughite championships. -n if individual wins. "From August until spring starts, ghlight of her play- we're running our tails off, every day school came in an ? it's not just a two- or three-day thing inal game against and then we're lifting four times a tig rival. week. So that's tough." m, and I pitched a Freshman players are known for sometimes taking a while to get achated them customed to a new program: New rules, etter than winning a new home and new coaches can have ship. hat much promise ;thews had several MATTHEWS page 9 _ WrCTT win uvci wru SHlnZX' j?iMp.ipww ' ~lIL "? ' ' :$s *** mSaem^ \ Sean Rayford Photo Editor rennis players Jerome Jourdan (left) and Olof Akesson von their doubles match against Wake Forest Tuesday. -f- -Or