The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 14, 1999, Page Page 8, Image 8
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,
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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.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
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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
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win uvci wru
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Sean Rayford Photo Editor
rennis players Jerome Jourdan (left) and Olof Akesson
von their doubles match against Wake Forest Tuesday.
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