Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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USC softball up to bat and ready to swing into another successful year BY JOEL WALLACE THE GAMECOCK The USC softball team is looking for ward to another successful year in the SEC in 2004. The Gamecocks return ll-of-15 let ter-winners from last year’s squad, which finished second in the SEC Eastern Division last season with an 18-10 confer ence record and 41-20 overall. It won’t be easy, though, as the SEC soft ball coaches picked the Gamecocks to fin ish fourth in the Eastern Division, with de fending SEC Champion Georgia picked to repeal, me oamecocKS are currently ranked 22nd and with a record of 8-0, seem to be on their way back to the form they had in 2001 and 2002 when they were crowned champions in the SEC East. USC is also looking to make a prolonged visit to the NCAA Tournament, hoping to build on its past success. The Gamecocks have made it to the NCAA Regional five years in a row and nine of the last 10 years, including a College World Series appear ance in 1997. Carolina returns six starters from last year’s squad: pitchers Melanie Henkes and Stacey Johnson, and position players Meghan Cornett, Amber Curtis, Melissa Sandel and Ashley Smith. .Tnhnsnn starfpri 9.4 pamps fnr TTSf! last season, finishing with 14 wins, nine com plete games and two solo shutouts. Cornett, the starting first baseman, was second on the team in hitting with .307 and also led the team in hits with 61, runs scored with 38, RBIs with 38 and triples with three. Shortstop Curtis has started every game since the beginning of the 2001 season and last year led the team in doubles with 66 while hitting .301. Outfielder Sandel started 55 games last season and finished fourth on the team in RBIs. Catcher Smith is a power hitter who looks to improve on last year’s numbers. The Gamecocks have replenished their tal ent level with new players stepping up this season to fill the holes left by four starters departing from last year’s squad. Junior Aleca Johnson, who saw time last season as a relief pitcher and outfield er, has already made an impact this sea son, pitching a no-hitter on opening day against Charlotte. Freshmen have also made an impact thus far, with McKenna Hughes flexing her offensive prowess with home runs in back-to-back games during i-u „ r'' USC head coach Joyce Compton returns with an overall record at USC of776-288-2 in 17 years. Compton has earned a great deal of respect from coaches around the SEC since coming to Carolina. “Joyce’s teams are always well coached and well disciplined,” LSU head coach Yvette Girouard said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for the job she has done at South Carolina.” The Gamecocks are also dealing with changes to the coaching staff, with the pro motion of assistant Angela Thompson and the acquisition of former Gamecock player nui uuma ua55v- ulca. “I’m excited to have a former player as a member of our staff,” Compton said. “Having Adrianna move from a volunteer to an assistant will allow for continuity within the program. Her knowledge of the game and of the university as both a player and a coach will be valuable to the program.” The Gamecocks have already built a deep talent base for the future with the signing of seven softball student-athletes to national letters of intent in the early signing period last November. The seven softball signees are scheduled for enroll ment for fall 2004. “I think that this is the most athletic class we have ever signed,” Compton said. “I believe that we have improved every as pect of our team with this class — on the mound, in the field and at the plate. We look for them to have an immediate impact on Carolina softball.” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu Designed by: Chaz McCarthy, Shawn Rourk Edited by: Wes Wolfe, Allyson Bird PHOTO BY JOHNNY HAYNES/THE.GAMECOCK Pitcher Stacey Johnson throws the ball in action for USC earlier this year. The USC softball team is 8-0 this season and won the Gamecock Invitational. Columbia's BEST Place for Ski Wear Youth • Ladies • Mens < NOOOOIKSO Corner of Lady & Assembly St. walk from campus www.yourstoretoexplore.com 252-7102