Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Yankee’s injuries, healing to change spring training line-up THE ASSUUAT bU rKboo Bernie Williams solved the New York Yankees’ center field problem, at least for the start ol the season. Williams’ appendix was re moved Thursday, and manager Joe Toijre said the center fielder most likely will miss opening day “I’m very sorry for Bernie be cause he came in such greal shape and worked so hard,’ Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said in Tampa, Fla “He’s a very integral part of this team. I know Bernie. He’ll fighl through it and be back quicker than everybody thinks. He’ll be back full burner.” Williams, New York’s regular center fielder since 1992, began ex periencing discomfort Wednesday night. “It would be a long shot for him to start the season,” Torre said. “It will probably put him back three weeks. I think in three weeks he can probably get in the flow of things. It wouldn’t be fair to rush him at-bats and all that stuff.” Kenny Lofton, signed as a free agent and expected to challenge Williams for the starting jpb, takes over in center field. “I came into spring training expecting to play center field and DH,” Lofton said. “My prepara tion is going to be the same.” Also, New York released third baseman Aaron Boone, who hurt a knee in a pickup basket ball game on Jan. 16 and will miss most or all of the season. The injury set the stage for the Yankees to acquire Alex Rodriguez from Texas last week. Boone, an NL All-Star last sea son, becomes a free agent. “I know I’ll be back 100 per cent next year for the season,” Boone told The Associated Press from his home in Newport Beach, 'Calif., where he’s already begun physical therapy on the knee. “That is ultimately my goal. Now with that said, I expect that I will be playing late in this season.” In Vero Beach, Fla., Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Alex Cora remained uncertain he will be able to participate in any exhibition games after breaking his right forearm playing winter bah. “We’re hoping to get the range of motion back first,” said Cora, who had surgery Jan. 30. “That’s the first step, and then we set other goals.” Cora, 28, said he would have to play in at least some exhibition games in order to be ready for the April 5 opener. In Tucson, Ariz., Roberto Alomar reported to spring train ing along with the other position players on the Arizona Diamondbacks. “I think I put on seven or eight pounds. I feel in much better shape,” the 12-time All-Star sec ond baseman said. “The last few years I didn’t do what I needed to do to stay in shape. I think at my age now, 36, you have to work more than you used to work be fore so you can stay in shape. This game is not as easy as people think it is.” In Scottsdale, Ariz., the Giants said ace Jason Schmidt appears to be healed following offseason el bow surgery, putting him in line to be San Francisco’s opening day starter. “If everything is OK, he’ll be the guy,” manager Felipe Alou said. “I anticipate Schmidt being ready from the start. He seems to be healthy.” Schmidt, an All-Star right hander, was 17-5 with an NL-lead ing 2.34 ERA. In Tucson, Ariz., Carlos Lee reported to spring training a day after most of Chicago’s position players, arriving Thursday after travel problems from Panama de layed his trip. He led the White Sox with a ca reer-high 113 RBIs last year, more than two-time MVP Frank Thomas, four-time All-Star Magglio Ordonez or Paul Konerko, who’s also been to the All-Star game. Lee led the AL with 59 RBIs after the All-Star break and set his season bests with 31 homers and 18 steals. “I hope and I think I can do a little bit better,” Lee said. In Peoria, Ariz., 41-year-old Edgar Martinez went through the first full-squad workout with the Seattle Mariners. ^ “It never gets old,” he said. “It’s an exciting time. It’s fun to come to camp. There’s something about spring training that is al ways fun to me. Each spring train ing you enjoy just being here.” r Greyhound Is the easy, affordable way to travel for Spring Break. And with your Student Advantage* Discount Card, you can save 15%* off regular Greyhound fares. Buses are roiling | 24/7 to I tundreds of popular Spring Break destinations so make your plans today. Viait greyhound.com or call 1-800 2312222 GREYHOUND Cfceoww based tr curar* o*m art m sublet tsetango. Briefly Women’s basketball loses 12th SEC game The USC women’s basketball team (10-16,1-12 SEC) lost anoth er SEC contest on Thursday, this time against the Kentucky Wildcats (11-15. 3-10). UK won based on exceptional play in the first half, outscoring USC 33-19 in the first period of play. Forward Iva Sliskovic led the Gamecocks with 15 points and eight rebounds. Forward Sara Potts took care of business for the Wildcats, scoring 24 points. Swimming and Diving team makes SEC finals The USC men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are off to a good start at the SEC Championships in Athens, Ga„ af ter recording five top five finish es in the first day of competition. Sophomore Allison Brennan carried the banner for the Gamecocks, finishing behind only Alabama’s Lane Bassham in the women’s one-meter springboard diving competition. Junior Andy Bradley finished third in the men’s three-meter springboard diving competition, behind only Caesar Garcia of Auburn and Phil Jones of Tennessee. HU MEN’S BASKETBALL CHALLENGE THE CHALLENGE: Every week, Wes Jonathan Adam Shawn Patrick Michael The Gamecock’s readers and Wolfe Hlllyard Beam Rourk Augustine Verenes staff test their sports knowledge Sports Asst. Sports Editor Design Viewpoints Reader of with game predictions. editor editor in chief Director editor the week (34-26) (33-25) (36-24) (33-25) (29-31) (34-26) Navy at ArmyArmyNavyArmy NavyNavyArmy Marquette at UAB UAB _UABMarquette Marquette Marquette Marquette Q 25 Texas Tech at 10 Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas 19 Memphis at 21 Louisville Louisville Louisville Louisville Louisville Louisville Louisville 7 Miss. State at Vanderbilt Miss. State Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Miss. State Miss. State Miss. State Auburn at Tennessee_ Tennesee Tennesee Auburn Auburn Tennesee Auburn Florida at Arkansas_ Arkansas Florida_Arkansas Florida Arkansas Florida_ Ole Miss at Alabama Alabama Alabama Alabama Alabama Ole Miss_Alabama 15 Georgia Tech at Clemson TechTech Tech Tech Tech Tech_ Georgia at USC USC USC USC USC USC USC 70-65 75-60 62-54 65-63 83-79 75-62 WANT TO BE READER OF THE WEEK? E-mail selections for next week’s games to gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu Baseball CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 2001 season, sweeping GMU in a three-game series. USC will look to reignite their bats this weekend after hitting for an unconscious .409 batting average with 19 home runs and scoring 83 runs in their first six games. “We are very excited about our offense so far,” Tanner said. “We knew we had a couple of good hitters but they have ex ceeded our expectations. I don’t think we can continue at this pace but we hope that we can score some runs.” On the mound USC is having equal success with an impressive team earned run average of 1.50. The Gamecock pitching staff has also struck out 80 batters in the first seven contests. Friday, Radford will face George Mason at noon, and USC will battle Duquesne at 3 p.m. Saturday. Duquesne takes on George Mason at noon and USflJ will play host to Radford at W p.m. On Sunday, Duquesne will play Radford at noon and George Mason will take on the Gamecocks at 3 p.m. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu BECOME AN EGG DONOR! 843-856-1035 ECC DONATION l PROCRAM | Southeastern Fertility Center has helped many couples achieve their dreams of pregnancy since 1983. But we can't do it alone. We are in need of egg donors to continue to help infertile couples experience the joys of parenting. For a wide variety of reasons, a woman may be unable to produce her own healthy eggs and egg donation represents a real chance for conception. Few situations in life are as challenging and overwhelming for an infertile couple but you can fulfill their dreams by offering a compassionate gift of hope for new life. $ Charleston, SC www.sefertility.com Columbia, SC j m STERLING UNIVERSITY K\yve/i&vcfce' < i ' Shuttle to USC FREE Tanning Pool & Hot Tub | | Fitness Center