Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Wednesday, June 7,2000 101C ©flfflCCOtk Page 9 ■ Toronto picks Bauer with 45th selection by David Cloninger Senior Writer One day after South Carolina was eliminated from contention for the Col lege World Series, seven team members and four Gamecock prospects were cho sen in the 2000 Major League Baseball draft Monday. Heading the list of drafted Game cocks was junior pitcher Peter Bauer, who was taken with the 45 th overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays. A native of Sil ver Spring, Md., Bauer compiled a 13-2 record while claiming preseason All America and All-SEC team honors. “It’s really exciting to get the chance to play professional baseball,” Bauer said. “It’s an honor.” The Blue Jays are expected to offer Bauer at least a $750,000 signing bonus, based on the signing bonus of the 45th pick in 1999. The 6-foot-7 pitcher hasn’t decided if he wants to foigo his senior season. “When I sit down with the scout who drafted me, and we start talking business, then I’ll decide,” Bauer said. “I love play ing with this team, but I don’t have any re grets about this season. I think this year was a good year for me.” Another piece of USC’s “Killer B’s” rotation was also taken in the draft, as Scott Baiber was selected in the sixth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Another junior right-hander, Baiber joined Bauer on the All-SEC team while setting a USC record with 15 saves. Baiber came out of the bullpen to claim a starting position, going 9-2 with three complete games. “I worked pretty hard during the se»» son, and I was fortunate enough to be draft ed higher,” Baiber said. DnArr c;rr daht Name Year Pos. Scott Thorman Recruit RHFV3B Peter Bauer Junior RHP Scott Barber Junior RHP Josh Shortslef Recruit LHP Brandon Pack Junior C Tommy Joyce Recruit OF Nate Janowicz Senior OF Justin Hileraan Recruit SS Kip Bouknight Junior RHP Clint Collins Junior RHP/3B Tripp Kelly Junior IB ___ Rod Team 1st • Atlanta Braves 2nd Toronto Blue Jays 6th Arizona Diamondbacks 6th Pittsburgh Pirates 12th Texas Rangers 15th Baltimore Orioles 15th Cleveland Indians 16th St. Louis Cardinals 21st Oakland Athletics 22nd Cincinnati’Reds 27th Oakland Athletics Sean Rayford Sports Photo Editor Peter Bauer talks to pitching coach Jerry Meyers during game two of the super regional against the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. Bauer was drafted in the second round by Toronto in Monday's draft Ragin' Cajun pitching ends USC run by Jeff Romig Sports Editor Richmond Coppin State. Navy. These names conjure up the same feelings for die-hard Gamecock fans - heartbreak. Only this time it was different. It was a different sport, and it was a different sit uation. To USC fans, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette couldn’t possibly beat the No. 1 Game cocks because they hadn’t heard of them. The truth was, UL-L came into Saige Frye and took the Super Regional from the Gamecocks, not just because they had a good day, but because on this weekend, they had a better pitching staff. “They did a tremendous job the last two days af ter losing the Friday night game,” USC Coach Ray Tanner said after Sunday's 3-2 loss. “It was a great, effort by them. They made some great pitches, they made some great plays, and they get the opportuni ty to keep playing.” The Gamecocks won’t get the chance to make the trip to Omaha, but it wasn’t because of a lack of pitching on Sunday. “VVfe got a courageous effort out of Scott Bar ber,” Tanner said. “He put us in the situation that we could have won the game, but we were not able to come up with the big hit today.” The Gamecocks threatened in the top of the ninth when Tripp Kelly led off with a double to left. With no one out and a man on second, the Game cocks were in a familiar position. “Wve been there many times this year,” Tan ner said. “I felt like we kept getting in that situation, and I kept thinking, just like our whole dugout did, that we were getting ready to get a big one.” The big hit, however, did not come, despite Tan ner making moves to ensure that it did. Toss SEE PAGE 10