The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 14, 2000, Page B2, Image 10
_Gamecock Sports_ _
Outlook positive for USC baseball team in 2000
by Jeff Romig
Sports Editor
The goal is set.
Anything less than berth in a regional will be a let
down for the USC baseball team that sufficiently filled
its holes from last year.
Brian Roberts leaves a void at shortstop. Drew
Meyer, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ second round pick
in last year’s draft, steps in. ,
Jay Lambert is graduated.
Adam McHenry brings a .425 average and 40 stolen
bases from Cerra Coso Junior College in California
to second base.
Brandon Pack solidifies a shaky catching slot with
good defense and a .360 JC average.
Chris Plummer brings solid JC credentials to the
hot comer, as does Brennan Dees to right field.
When combined with a pitching staff that is con
sidered to be the strongest piece of USC’s puzzle, any
thing less than the goal set will be missing the mark
for the 2000 Gamecocks.
“I came here with hopes of going far in the play
offs,” Meyer said. “I think we’ve got the pitching to
do it and I think we’ve got the team to do it.”
Kip Bouknight thinks the team’s unity will play a
major foie in its success.
“Obviously Carolina fans have noticed Carolina
basketball,” Bouknight said. “Why are they a little bit
different this year? I’m a fan, and I go watch. I see uni
ty there. I see guys going out there and hustling -
diving on the floor. Well, that’s kind of how we are.”
Coach Ray Tanner is very pleased with the team
he will be fielding this spring.
“I like this team,” Tanner said. “There’s a lot of
kids on this team who have been around for a little bit
and I think that’s going to make a difference for us.
I’m hoping that in the course of this season that ex
perience and maturity is going to make a lot of dif
ference.”
Tanner’s pitching rotation will be an integral
part in any success the Gamecocks might.have.
“Certainly on paper, pitching seems to be where
we’re strongest,” Tanner said. “We lost Randy Had
den and Jason Pomar, but other than that, everybody’s
back and has some experience. I think our pitchers are
good enough that they can give us a chance to win
everyday.”
Kip Bouknight will be Tanner’s No. 1 starter com
ing off a 7-4 record with a 3.86 ERA.
Bouknight is followed by fellow junior Peter Bauer,
who was 5-3 in 1999.
“Kip has done a tremendous job since day one of
his freshman year,” Tanner said. “Pete had a great year
his freshman year and a lot of experience last year.
They’re certainly as experienced as you can have in
college baseball as juniors.”
Sophomore Chris Spigner, who was undefeated in
1999 at 3-0, will be third in the rotation and JC trans
fer Ernie Bascuas (8-3,3.00 ERA in 1999) is the lead
ing candidate to be the Gamecock’s fourth starter.
Tanner is as high on his pitching staff as he is on
Meyer, whose decision to pass up Dodger blue to
come to college came down to the wire.
“Anytime you can get a player that good to come
to school, it certainly means so much to your pro
gram,” Tanner said. “He’s a freshman and I expect
him to have some bumps along the way, but he cer
tainly has the talent to step in and play.”
Sophomore Trey Dyson, who also started for
most of his freshman year, knows what adjustments
have to be made from the high school level to the
SEC.
“One thing about Drew is he’s definitely not
scared,” Dyson said. “He’s going to come out here
and play as hard as he can everyday. I think he’s ad
justed pretty well.”
Dyson returns at first base, as does Shane Nelson
in left field. Marcus McBeth, who also saw time as
a freshman, will be Tanner’s everyday centerfielder.
USC also welcomes back outfielder Nate Janow
icz, who led the team in hitting for much of the sea
son last year and anchored a solid defense. Janow
icz, one of the few seniors, will be competing with
newcomer Brennan Dees for a starting spot.
The Gamecocks will begin the new season on
Feb. 4 against Charleston Southern at Sarge Frye
Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Amy Goulding Photo Editor
Junior pitcher Kip Bpouknight willb e the No. 1 starter for the
Gamecocks this season, as they try to repeat last yar's SEC Eastern
Division championship.
■ '■■■■ ■■ | —■ i
2000 Gamecock Baseball Schedule
, ———•—- -—--—— — ...———
Feb.
4-5 Charleston Southern
at Franklin Life Classic
(Charleston, S.C)
11 Old Dominion,
12 East Carolina
13 The Citadel
18-20 Delaware Slate
22 Campbell
25-27 College of Charleston
March
3-5 Radford
8 Furman |
10-12 at Auburn
14 UNC-Asheviiie
17-19 Florida
22 Wolford , ■
24-26 at Louisiana Stats ;
28 at College of Charleston
39 Hon "
31 Alabama
April
1-2 Alabama
5 The Citadel
7-9 Mississippi State
12atClemson
14-16 at Vanderbilt
18 Davidson
19Ciemson . . ,v
26 at UNC-Asheville
28-30 Geoigia
Mfisr
5-7 at Arkansas
10 at Duke
12-34 Tennessee'
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