Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Inside: Schedule No. 13 women's tennis team wins fifth straight, a Men s basketball vs. Miss. St., Wed. ,, „ , , , a “ ■ Swimming at SEC Championships, 16-20 softball comes up short in trip to Arizona a Women,s Basketba|| vs A|abama_ Wed ■ Baseball vs. Delaware St., Fri.-Sun. ■ Men’s Basketball vs. Alabama, Sat. Pitching key as Gamecocks improve to 5-0 by David Cloninger Sports Editor USC 3, Old Dominion 1 If Friday’s game was an example of an injured performance from centerfielder Marcus McBeth, there will be plenty of wins for the Gamecock baseball team in the coming weeks. McBeth made the most of a doctor’s second opinion by collecting four putouts and knocking in one Tun to help the Gamecocks (3-0) beat Old Dominion, 3-1. The sophomore from Enoree was just able to make the bus leaving for Charleston Friday morning after being medically cleared to play Thursday night. McBeth had initially been told he wouldn’t be able to play in the tournament after a kidney prob lem was detected. “The main thing that scared me was, they said they were going to take baseball away from me,” McBeth said. “But I saw another doctor, got a sec ond opinion and he seemed to think that every thing was okay.” McBeth, who also handles kickoff duties for USC’s football team, was sidelined during football season for the same problem. According to McBeth, doctors have found holes in his kidney that allow blood to come through into the rest of his body. “I felt confident, McBeth said. When you think about it, if somebody’s gonna take away some thing that you love, you want to cherish every op portunity that you get to play.” McBeth and the rest of the Gamecocks were locked into a pitching duel through six innings be tween Monarchs junior Brian Ross and preseason All-American Kip Bouknight. Ross, making his first appearance of the sea son, held the Gamecocks hitless through 5 2/3 innings before giving up a bloop single to junior second baseman John McHeruy. However, McHen ry was picked off on the next play. Bouknight (2-0) worked seven complete in nings, scattering five singles with no runs and strik ing out seven. Reliever Lee Gronkiewicz picked up his first save of the year by hurling two full in nings, giving up a hit and a run while fanning two. USC finally got on Ross in the seventh when senior left fielder Shane Nelson lined a single be tween first and second base. Right fielder Brennan Dees followed Nelson with the game’s only walk, and then both were ad vanced by third baseman Chris Plummer’s sacri fice fly. Catcher Brandon Pack had his left leg brushed by an inside pitch, awarding him first base and load ing the bases, which brought up McBeth. After McBeth’s sacrifice fly. Nelson raced home to give USC a 1-0 lead. The drama wasn’t done yet, though. Ross con tinued to flounder on the mound by giving up a two-run double to first baseman Tripp Kelly, ce menting the Carolina win and dropping the Monarchsto0-1. “We didn’t do a lot offensively, but Kip Bouknight was outstanding, and Lee gave us a cou ple of good innings out of the bullpen,” USC head coach Ray Tanner said. “It’s a nice win for us.” With the victory, USC snapped a two-game losing streak to Old Dominion, and extended the series record to 16-4 in favor of the Gamecocks. USC 12, East Carolina 1 For the second game in as many nights, the Gamecock baseball team won in part to an unlikely ally - a surprise injury to a starting player. Peter Bauer left the game because of a strained muscle under his ribcage in the third inning, junior reliever Scott Barber pitched five strong innings while receiving offensive support in cruising to the Gamecocks’ fourth straight win, a 12-1 romp over East Carolina. The No. 21 Gamecocks (4-0) matched their best start ever in the Trademark Properties Clas • . /r._r-> ii* t • r /->i • \ i_i__ axe vi'-'xiixtxxj uic x xaxxraui luc \-ic*»iw uj uwui^ the Pirates (2-1) using a combination of strong pitching, big hits and superb fielding. However, the hero of the game was Barber, who was unexpectedly called into the game but still gave up only three hits, one run and two walks, striking out five. “I was just trying to throw strikes and keep us ahead,” Barber said. “We got a lot of tough people on this team.” Barber was helped out with two runs in the third inning, stemming from two well-placed hits from Nelson and third baseman Chris Plummer. However, the fireworks would begin in the fourth inning, as Pirate starter Foye Minton saw his pre viously controlled game evaporate into the cool Charleston air. Minton, coming off a combined no-hitter last week against Duke, first gave up a stand-up triple to McBeth, who scored two pitches later on first baseman Tripp Kelly’s single. Following a Marcos Rios strikeout and a walk to freshman Drew Meyer, Minton gave up a two-run double to second baseman John McHenry. Nelson brought McHenry home on the next pitch with a double of his own, making the score 6-1 and sending Minton to the showers. To add insult to injury, East Carolina head coach Keith LeClair was tossed out of the game in the fifth inning after aiguing a call with plate umpire Matt Sullivan. Barber walked Kevin Grieve - sort of. Sullivan somehow mixed up the count, giving Barber one more pitch. With the opportunity, Bar ber struck Grieve out. LeClair was thrown out after arguing the call a little too strenuously, putting the already-disad vantaged Pirates in an even deeper hole. The Gamecocks weren’t done hurting their opponents yet, they starting the fifth inning with walks issued to Plummer and Pack. Kelly then blasted a 2-2 pitch over the left field scoreboard for the Classic’s second home run and a 9-1 lead. Nelson and McHenry each picked up anoth er RBI by plating Trey Dyson and Meyer after Kel ly’s homer, icing the USC victory. The game featured several firsts for USC, in cluding the first appearances of the season for Rios, pitcher Ernie Bascuas and catcher Tim Whittaker. But, perhaps the most important first occured in the seventh inning. Meyer, on an 0-13 hitting slump since turning down the Dodgers tor UbG, finally collected ms first collegiate hit. The freshman shortstop, playing in front of a' hometown crowd, accomplished the feat in grand fashion by denting the light pole in right center field with a solo home run. “I’ve been waiting for a while to get a hit,” Meyer said. “My mom’s been putting the most pressure on me, so I finally got a hit and shut her up for a little bit.” Tanner was happy to see Meyer get his first hit out of the way. “I’d say if you were going to break out, that’s a good way to break out,” Tanner said. “But he’s a good player and it’s just a matter of time.” The Gamecocks are off to their second-best start under Tanner, since the 1997 season, Tanner’s first, when they began 6-0. USC 4, The Citadel 2 In the end, experience was the deciding factor. Head coach Ray Tanner decided to go with pitcher Lee Gronkiewicz over any off his rested, unproven freshman pitchers. Gronkiewicz pitched five innings of three-hit, one-run baseball, striking out four and walking on ly one. „ He was Helped out by redstart sophomore Matt Wilson, who pitched three innings of four-hit, one run ball. Wilson’s three innings pitched was the most he has pitched in his USC career. “Experience. Gronkiewicz was a guy who pitched a lot last year and this is an emotional game,” Tanner said. “I wouldn’t call it a gamble, but experience paid olf for us.” The Gamecocks (5-0) beat the Bulldogs (2-1) thanks in part to yet another offensive outburst from first baseman Tripp Kelly. Kelly hit a solo shot to right-center field in the fifth inning and later added an RBI single in the seventh, scoring Marcus MeBeth. Kelly is now the teams leading offensive per former, collecting 11 RBIs and 3 home runs in his five games. Kelly’s performance won him the tournament’s MVP award. Kip Bouknight, John McHenry and Gronkiewicz were named to tire all-toumament team with Kelly. “Everything came together,” Kelly said. “I’m just trying to see good pitches.” The Gamecocks pounded out eight hits off Bulldog pitcher Kyle Bunn in his firft appearance since June 26. Bunn pitched five innings but gave up USC’s two winning r^ns. Jacquelyn Poston The Gamecock Brennan Dees slides into second base during a game against Charleston Southern. The Gamecocks improved to 5-0 this past weekend with wins over Old Dominion, East Carolina and The Citadel. A Valentine's Day spin on sports vocabulary . ‘_a m \ l Shawn Singleton Wanted: Dead We are sorry to inform you that “Wanted: Dead” will not be seen tonight due to the host being put in the Witness Pro tection Program because of his last column. However, we will show you the tape from last year’s Wen tine’s Day special. “Skanks and dorks, losers of all ages, it is my pleasure to bring to you the only student on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List - USC’s Most Dangerous Man, Shawn Singleton.” Thank you, announcer boy, for the introduction. Now if I could just give John \Wsh more money to keep him from com ing after me. This week’s diatribe is so special, it comes with a corporate sponsor. This week’s column is sponsored by Godfather Indus tries, pimpin’ ‘ho sale since 1869. ^ Valentine’s Day is one of those overcommercialized ex cuses for a holiday when women pimp gifts off their boyfriends or husbands. So in the spirit of this horrible event, a group of sportswriters and fans, along with myself, are giving the men of USC (and interested women) a present. We, the Commission, have converted all of the terms from sports into a dating and sex mode, so kick back, relax and enjoy the ride. The first sport we will discuss is football. People have come to me and asked the immortal question, “If a touchdown equals sexual intercourse, and an extra point is the cigarette afterward, what’s a field goal and a safety?” I will attempt to answer this in a genteel manner by telling you that a field goal usually occurs in a movie theater, the front seat of a car, or under the President’s desk in the White House. You scored, but you didn’t get into the end zone. A safety is a defensive score; therefore, this is not agood thing. The “Hottie/Nottie” theory explained in Maxim maga zine explanis this situation. The “nottie” is the unattractive woman that is hanging with a group of “hotties.” Her job is to screw up your game in any way possible to make herself feel better. Avoid the “nottie” and you’ll save your self two points, and a great deal of embarrassment. Here are other terms from football, and other sports that fit this mode: Pass Interference - This is what Linda Tripp did to our beloved President and favorite intern. Roughing the Passer - Ever been slapped by woman who you tried to date? Offsides - Only if you have a membership to Metropolis. 12 Men on the Field - 37? In a row? Instant Replay - Who would want to videotape themselves? Sex is not a spectator sport. Besides, I hate being in front of a camera. Equipment Violation- This has happened to all men at one time or another. They do break, you know. You will be charged a time-out to get a new one. Performance Enhancers - Men with real game don’t need this stuff. Ladies, watch your drinks at all times. Clipping - Does the name Lorena Bobbitt ring a bell? Now that all the men in the audience are holding their crotch es after that one, let’s go on to basketball. • Double Dribble - Only if your Valentine’s date is Jenna Jameson. (For those out there who don’t know who she is, she is the most famous pom star in the world.) Traveling - Ever seen “Sleepless in Seattle”, Part 2 (Oth erwise known as “You’ve Got Mail”)? Shot Clock Violation - This, of course, has never happened to me, but then again, I once put the Energizer bunny out of business with my exploits. Flagrant Foul - This is like stealing home in baseball. Real men don’t do this. Mike Tyson found this out the hard way. but then again. Desiree Washington didn’t exactly go to his hotel room at 2 a.m. for milk and cookies. Slam Dunk - If you don’t know what this is, join a convent or the priesthood. Lane Violation - Only if you’re Ron Jeremy or the late, great John Holmes. Facial - This is self-explanatory. All I will say is that Vince Outer did not do this at the Slam Dunk Contest. For fur ther information, refer back to “double dribble.” < < Now that I’ve shown all my basketball skills, let me explain the national sport of Canada to all of the Southerners out there. Hockey is a sport in which fighting is a common part of life, like dating. Here are some other rules. Hooking -If you don’t know what this is, you don’t get out very much, do you? Roughing - A little S&M never hurt anyone who didn’t want to be hurt in the first place. Interference -1. Refer to the definition of “safety.” 2. What guys do to mess up another guy’s game in a bar. 3. What guys do to get rid of the “nottie” while their friends are scoring. Cross-checking - This is pretty obvious. Penalty Box - Ever slept on the couch because you pissed off your wife or girlfriend? I sure have. One-timer - This is usually followed by Gary Thome scream ing “Score!” I don’t get enough of these. There you have it. The world of sports has been forever cor rupted by the infamous 3-1-6.1 do have one last piece of ad vice, however. Dating and marriage are truly games. If you don’t like the team that you play for, request arbitration and apply for free agency. Some play for many teams before they find the one team that they can spend the rest of their lives with. Others spend their entire lives with one team. Personally, I like free agency, but wliatever you do, trading is not allowed unless you’re a swinger. (Crowd screams) “Oh, behave.”