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TRACK AND FIELD Terrence Trammell won the 110-meter hurdles on the last day of the Penn Relays on Sunday. Brad Snyder also won the shot put event Friday. Monday, April 26, 1999 Best and wnrQt T v vyi u l headlines Last week, my brother and I were hanging out together when young he's known h v his friends) ofWilliam Folks fere(Jme a Common Folklore bit ?f u1180" ? licited commentary regarding my column. "You know, Bill," he told me, "your articles would be a lot better if you quit talking about that girl tennis player all the time." Well you know, Slim, you're right. I've actually heard that more than a few times myself, to be perfectly honest. However, as no Common Folklore installment would be complete without a token Leigh Eichelberger reference, and as I found myself in dire need of an intro for this week's piece (believe me, it's no fun encountering writer's block on the last column of your collegiate career), I figured, why not? Also, I thought maybe if I put her name closer to the front this time, she might actually see it and immediately recognize from the handsome picture above (yeah, right) that I am indeed the proverbial "man of her dreams," a witty and well-connected GQ-type whose limitless creativity and boundless vision will one day launch a sports publishing empire that dominates the entire globe. You know, I'd even consider building her a tennis arena in the backyard. Ah, sweet dementia. But, forsaking my megalomaniacal delusions for just a moment, this has been an extraordinarily difficult week to write a column. First, the Carolina community lost one of its best and brightest minds last r~ week when Brian Ewing, managing director of USC's award-winning MIBS program, died of a sudden heart attack at the program's annual banquet. In addition to his leadership role in MIBS, Ewing had been instrumental' in planning the program's 25th anniversary celebration and securing top internships for its students. A kind, principled, honest, Christian businessman and devoted family man, his loss is enormous, not just for the Darla M/wno nf Rusinpcc hi it fnr f ho university and the state of South Carolina as a whole. Adding to this loss were the tragic high-school killings in Colorado, the chopper crash in Kentucky that left seven servicemen dead, and perhaps most disturbing, the escalation of the war in Kosovo, where it now appears the insertion of ground troops into the struggle is imminent. All in all, it has been a pretty tough week. But, as I do have a job to do, and because, in some convoluted sense, it's the collective function of the sports world to relieve the stress and strains of our burdensome "real world," Common Folklore is proud to unveil (as advertised) its best and worst headlines from the past two years of "reporting." Best Headlines ? USC Sports Ladies and gentlemen, we have a tie. At the time, I couldn't decide whether I was happier that Lou Holtz had been hired or that Brad Scott i i J n i.u? n nau uccii liicu. v^eixaiiiiy uic umrnt- i cock headline from last Nov. 30, "The i? Search Is On," summed up both emotions for me. In that article, I put my journalistic credibility (Yes, I do possess a modicum of that) on the line when I wrote, "Lou Holtz will be named South Carolina's new head football coach, possibly as soon as this week." While the knuckleheads over at The State feuded over their vacillating sources, my secret insider (whom I refer to fondly as "Holtz-throat") never wavered. Sure enough, Friday of that week rolled around and Holtz was hired, thou eh vou never would have known it from reading The State, whose headline that Friday morning read, "Holtz says yes ? maybe." Memo to numbskulls: Never run a 40-point header that includes the word "maybe." Maybe we should watch out for these FOLKS page 8 Carolina 1 by Todd Money Sports Copy Editor H A lot fan hannpn in a wppIt Just ask Carolina's Lady Gamecock softball team, which just eight days ago found itself in the throes of a seven-game losing streak after being blanked in perhaps its most crucial series of the year. Now, the proverbial tables have turned. After sweeping division rival Georgia (25-23, 9-11 in the SEC) in a four-game set Friday and Saturday, Joyce Compton's squad is back where it wants to be ? at the top of the division. Not that the Lady Gamecocks (4316,14-10 SEC) weren't tested. All four games were clinics in pitching, with USC winning 1-0 and 3-1 Friday and 2-0 and 1-0. Saturday. Game 1 featured starters Megan Matthews for USC and Natalie Price || for the Bulldogs. Price was effective, pitching six innings of six-hit ball and allowing just one run. Matthews was even better, though, shutting out the Bulldogs and through seven innings and not walking a batter, while striking out 11. Carolina's run came on an RBI double by left fielder Joyce McMillin in the second inning that plated catcher Adrienne Genovese. The second game was most notable for Compton as she nailed her 600th win as USC coach. Compton got her 800th career win earlier this season. US Nikki Beers gave up one run on Ga four hits through seven innings, while g^ striking out nine. ^ Megan Donahoo had an RBI single in the second, and later scored on an error by UGA catcher Sabrina Pimentel. USC never looked back. Matthews got her second start in an Game 3 of the series. In a game that na lasted just one hour and 13 minutes, Matthews and Bulldog starter Price went the distance again, but the jej USC freshman had the support of her t ^ offense this time. . In the fourth, McMillin lifted a triple to score senior Kim Pietro, who had g reached on a triple to center field. An ' insurance run for USC came in the Florida chom] L w Peter Bauer throws a strike against Fl< iost two of three to the Gators on the ra 1 Jm * * weeki f"k, Jk I Georg I two w impro I cocks BEERS Beers . 11 1 r ?1? ?1?, Sp The G< takes w< ' -s "V : ' i - r i C right fielder Jamie Williams m uinn kol rf^ma O 1 or%< 11iuvuur\a nruii uiai game air lh, when Genovese doubled to right ocking in Kendra McCutcheon. Price (18-12) took the loss despit owing only five hits over six innings itthews notched her 23rd win on thi ar, striking out six, walking non< d giving up three hits in seven in igs. Game 4 would be the series' seconc twrencher. The Bulldogs sent ou t-hander Shana Coffelt to pitch, whil< e Lady Gamecocks again coun ed with Beers. Coffelt gave up two singles in th< st, but she soon settled down. Beer: wed just as solid, and through 5 1 ps down o - . ' > *; L ' ' ' . . . * > I^K . - * I" .K> .... . - . RjjK* " * " -v> Sean Rayford Photo Editor >rfda earlier this season. USC ad this weekend. , Ki BEERS rs, a senior softItcher, allowed ne run over 12 inIn the team's end sweep of iia. She Ricked up rins on the week, ving her record to The Lady Gamei are 164 when starts. orts amecock iekend st .J * , i > V 1 * i V'X . . ., : :,, . ' , - ' < * - lakes the last out Friday in Game 2 o J swept the four-game series to return 2 innings, neither team managed runner past second base, e In the bottom of the sixth, howe\ i. er, things got interesting. After USC' e McCutcheon lined out, second base 2 man Kim Schultze got aboard with he second single. Pietro followed with another sir 1 gle, bringing up McMillin. When a Coi t felt pitch dove into the dirt and got pas 2 Pimentel, the runners advanced to see ond and third with only one out. To set up the force play, Georgi, 2 put McMillin on, loading the bases 5 Surprisingly, the Bulldogs then brough - back Price, a right-hander, to pitch t the left-handed hitting Genovese, wh n USC, takes Sports Roundup The Gamecock GAINESVILLE, Fla - After winning the first game 16-15, in this weekend's three game series, the Gamecocks managed to drop their next two, and end the week at an overall" mark of 29-15, and at 12-9 in the SEC. Kurt Keene singled home Mark Ellis in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Florida a 5-4 win over South Carolina Sunday. The Gators (27-18, 9-12 Southeastern Conference) trailed 4-2 in the ninth, but tied the game with David Klebonis' ground out ?- which knocked in Matt Siegel ? and Greg Catalanotte's bases-loaded walk. Keene, who had been hitless for the day, then singled to right field off a pitch from Jason Pomar to end the game. The victory gave the Gators their nrst bM; series win since the end ot March. The Gamecocks (29-15,12-9) led 3-0 after the first inning and 4-0 after Tim Angiolini's RBI single in the fourth. Angiolini led South Carolina with two hits and a pair of RBIs. South Carolina starter Pete Bauer took a one-hitter into the seventh, but gave up back-to-back hits before giving way to Pomar. Pomar (2-2) pitched USC tennis te; by Brock Vergakis Sports Editor (JSC's men's and women's tennis teams were both ousted Saturday from their respective bLC tournaments, with each picking up just one win in semifinal competition. The No. 19 men lost to LSU in the men's tournament in Gainesville, Fla., ending the first trip to the conference semifinals for the men since joining the SEC in 1992. After reaching the semifinals in the women's tournament in Baton Rouge, La., the Lady Gamecocks fell to topseeded and defending national champion Florida. For the men, Guillaume Legat was the only Gamecock to win in singles competition. He won handily, defeat iries from iiil m&P mm ,.ddi . > f Carolina's weekend series against SE to the top of the division standings. a suddenly had another chance tc come up big. r- This time, she wouldn't have to. s A pitch from Price sailed away from Pimentel and got all the way to the r backstop. Carolina's Schultze scored easily, l- and when Matthews shut the door on f- the Bulldogs in the seventh, USC had it pulled out another gem. :- "We just seem to get hits at the right time to win," Schultze explained a afterward. >. "We needed a four-game sweep," t Compton said. "We came in and Niko ki and Megan both threw real well o all weekend. two in weel 2 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks. Florida reliever Ben Grezlovski (8-5) picked up his second win in as many days. He tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings. In Game 2 Greg Catalanotte blast~ J ~ xl T J TO r\ eu a uiree-ruu nume run ana oen urezlovski shut down the Gamecocks lineup to power Florida over No. 20 South Carolina 8-4 Saturday night in the'second game of the three-game series at McKethan Stadium. Florida (26-18,8-12) trailed 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Catalanotto came to the plate after singles by Taylor Wood and Matt Heath. Catalanotte hit his second three-run homer in two days and his 15th of the season to put the Gators , up for good. Ben Grezlovski (7-5) picked up the victory by pitching one-bit ball over four relief innings. He came in for starter Sergio Rodriguez with no outs in the fifth, the bases loaded, and Florida ahead 3-2. Grezlovski got Nate Janowicz to chop to Kurt Keene at third. Keene stepped on third base to force one runner and then fired home to retire another. USC did not blow the opportunity, though, as Adam Poe laced a double to left to score two and put the Gamecocks up 4-3. Rodriguez, mak ams fall in SEC ing LSU's Ed Rubin 6-0, 6-2. Jerome Jourdon, Olof Akesson and Tomasz Wawrzyniak all lost in singles matches against the Tigers. In doubles play, the team of LegatAkesson was the lone victor for Carolina, winning 8-4. USC finishes up at 17-11 on the year. The Gamecocks must now wait on the NCAA to find out about post pi ay. Resrionals will be held May 15-17. Should the Gamecocks win their regional, they would advance to the finals in Athens, Ga., May 22-30. The women had just as difficult a time with the Gators as the men did with the Tigers. Leigh Eichelberger defeated M.C. White of Florida, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, in USC's lone victory. Celine Regnier and Jennifer Radman were tht only other Carolina play FROM THE SIDELINES Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records. - William A. Ward Page 7 l ueorgia X \ <* * fe Sean Rayford Photo Editor :C East rival Georgia. The No. 16 Lady i "In [Game 4], we really didn't hit the ball all that well," Compton said. "But we did put a couple together i when it counted and took advantage ! of a mistake." The No. 16 Gamecocks now are percentage points ahead of Tennessee (97 SEC) in the East, and look to at least maintain their No. 3 spot in the NCAA's South Region, whose rankings come out again this week. 'We still have to get some help down the road, and we still have to play four more good games," Compton said. "But we're somewhat in the driver's seat, I think, right now." cend series ing his first start of the season, pitched well allowing only a solo home run to U?'?rrtw TaAa/\aI am/] C urt] i?\?ivin> aji yuli ocuukii cunu a in dirjuuuuiiig aiugle until the fifth. USC starter Kip Bouknight (6-3) struck out 10 Gators but allowed seven runs and hits to earn the loss. Florida scored their first three runs in the third to take an early 3-1 lead. Catalanotte doubled and scored on a passed ball. Mike Floyd singled home Keene, and Peter Nystrom scored the final run of the inning on a Bouknight wild pitch. UF added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, capitalizing on two USC errors. With two outs and two on, Keene chopped to USC pitcher Jamie Poston. Poston threw wild to first allowing Heath to score. Right fielder Poe, who was backing up the play, then threw wild to the plate allowing Catalanotte to score the game's final run. In the first game, Tim Angiolini went 3-for-5 with two home runs and seven RBIs as South Carolina edged Florida 15-14 in a Southeastern Conference game Friday night Angiolini hit a three-run homer in the first inning and added a grand slam ? his 10th home run of the season ? in the uamecocks six-run fourth. ) tournaments ers to force a third set with the Gators. Doubles matches were not played. "They [Florida] played well, and I thought we played well," USC coach Arlo Elkins said. "I think we really closed the gap on them from the first time we played them. If things would have worked well, we could have been 3-all or even up 42 going into doubles." The Lady Gamecocks finish their season with a record of 16-7 (7-6 in SEC play). With the victory, Florida is guaranteed no less than a tie for an SEC championship. The Lady Gamecocks will find out from the NCAA on May 5, when the re gional matchups are set, on whether they have made postseason play.