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Tailback Derek Watson runs over defenders from Mississippi State. Watson is looking to become the first DSC tailback to gain 1,000 yards in back-to back seasons since George Rogers, file photo Offense Change in offense helps USC win CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 passing game, allowing only 20 sacks all year. If the line can im prove on that mark, which was sev enth in the SEC, the quarterbacks should have an easier time picking apart opposing defenses. That brings up the quarterbacks. Redshirt senior Phil Petty is the starter for the Gamecocks. Holtz has made it clear that Petty is the Gamecocks starter. However, Petty will be feeling some heat from a pair of talented backups. Redshirt freshman Doridrial Pinkins and junior college transfer Corey Jenkins will both be nipping at Petty’s heels for playing time. As it stands now, Jenkins is listed as . the number two quarterback. Jenkins was named a two-time JUCO All-American while at Garden City Community College in Kansas. Pinkins, who redshirted despite seeing some playing time in the Alabama game last season, has po tential, but still has a lot of learning to do, as evidenced by his five inter ceptions in the spring game. But for now, Petty is the starter. The coaching staff wants him to be more mobile this season, as opposed to just a drop back passer. He only reached the 300-yard mark once last season, in USC’s thrilling win over Mississippi State. In the receivers category, Petty lost his favorite target in Jermale Kelly, who challenged several school passing records. There are a bevy of receivers looking to be the “go-to guy” in the receiving corps. Senior Brian Scott looks to be the one to fill that spot. Scott, USC’s sec ond best receiver last Season, has made strides in the off-season to work on running more precise routes and improving on his ability , to rope in difficult passes. Junior Ryan Brewer is also an other threat to be a primary target. The converted running back has ar guably the best hands on the team, and has the ability to break tackles and take off with breakaway speed, as evidenced in his Outback Bowl performance. Possibly USC’s best position play ers are at running back. Watson is looking to become USC’s first rusher to gain back-to-back 1,000 yards sea sons since George Rogers, who die it three straight years from 1978-80 An excellent compliment t< Watson’s speed and elusiveness is fellow junior Andrew Pinnpck, whe is a bruising 249-pound fullback Pinnock had a solid showing againsl Vanderbilt last season, and can bt counted on for a tough three or four yards when necessary. And let’s not forget that in a pinch, Brewer can be called on as a rusher, as Gamecock fans across American saw in the Outback Bowl. If the Gamecock offense can put the points on the board this season and allow the defense time to rest and make adjustments, the Gamecocks will be on their way to another successful season. » » Little League investigates pitcher from Bronx team BY DAN LEWERENZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Little League officials might have to travel to the Dominican Republic to resolve a dispute over Bronx pitcher Danny Almonte. Investigating rumors that Almonte was too old to play Little League baseball — players can’t be older than 12 during the sum mer they’re playing — a Sports Illustrated reporter found two of ficial documents recording Almonte’s birth in the Dominican Republic. The first record, in a local office in the town of Moca, was filed by Almonte’s father, Felipe de Jesus Almonte, in 1994 and listed Almonte’s date of birth as April 7, 1987. A second record, found in the capital and also filed by Almonte’s father, shows a Danny Almonte born in the same town to the same parents two years later. The mag azine checked the parents’ per sonal identification numbers - rough equivalents of a Social Security number - to eliminate the possibility of a coincidence and found they matched. The magazine wrote of the sec ond document: “The record, which was in the central office in Santo Domingo, stated that on March 21, 2000 — just weeks before Danny moved to the U.S. and launched his spectacular career in the Rolando Paulino Little League — Felipe registered the boy’s birth again. This time, according to the birth record, Felipe claimed that Danny had been born on April 7, 1989, thus shaving two years off his son’s previously registered age.” Little League officials were shown a copy of the second docu ment Monday and have asked the Rolando Paulino Little League to provide further proof of Almonte’s age. “If this is the same Danny Almonte who played for Rolando Paulino Little League, then we have been deceived, and a fraud has been perpetrated on Little League and the millions of young sters for whom Little League is so important,” said Little League Inc. President Stephen Keener. An official with the Rolando Paulino league questioned the magazine’s document. “Rolando, before he lets the kids into the league, he gets the original birth certificate and a passport, because he doesn’t want these kinds of problems. This is a surprise to us,” said Joann Dalmau, a spokeswoman for Paulino. “What more can we provide, if we have provided an original birth certificate and a passport? Anything else is irrelevant. I don’t know what document they have, but they’re wrong,” she said. If Almonte was found to be in eligible, Little League could re voke the Rolando Paulino league’s charter and could force the team to forfeit its last win, the consola tion game against Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. Because of rumors about Almonte’s age, Little League had been shown records that indicat ed he was 12 years old. On Monday, the Rolando Paulino league faxed a document to Little League that appeared to verify Almonte’s eligibility. Asked about the parallel birth records, Little League spokesman Van Auken said the organization might have to send someone to the Dominican Republic to investi gate. Little League was not given copies of the documents uncov ered by Sports Illustrated, and Van Auken said without proof no action would be taken. “We have in our possession now the same type of documenta tion that it appears Sports Illustrated has,” Van Auken said. “The document we have says 1989, the document they have says 1987, so as far as we’re concerned, the team is still the third-place team in the World Series.” The team is scheduled to hon ored with a parade in the Bronx on Wednesday. Almonte was the most domi nating pitcher at the World Series this year, throwing a perfect game in the opener against Apopka, Fla. Almonte struck out the first 15 bat ters in the first perfect game in 44 years at the tournament. Almonte followed that with a one-hit shutout in the U.S. semifi nals against Oceanside (Calif.) American, a team that came in batting .333 with five batters at .500 l ....-I.... - or better. - He finished the tournament with 46 strikeouts, giving up only three hits in three starts. A run scored in last inning by Curacao was the only one against Almonte all summer. “Anyone who could do to our team, to the Florida team, to the California team what he did -1 wanted to believe in my heart that he was 12 because I was wit nessing greatness on the level of a Michael Jordan or a Tiger Woods,” said Tom Hart, whose State College, Pa., team was beaten 2-0 by the Bronx in the Mid-Atlantic Regional champi onship with Almonte pitching a no-hitter. “In my heart, I felt I was witnessing something ille gal, and he robbed my kids of their dream.” The Bronx team went 4-1 at the Little League World Series. FREE LUNG 11 STAN CE (SO CALL THE PARENTS WE'VE DOUBLED OUR REGION FROM 10 TO £m\J STATES NEW SUNCOM SUPERSTATES" Now get the whole East Coast. 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