The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 11, 2005, Page 9, Image 9
Dfi >TQ GAME SCHEDULE
Pap-e 9 I II k | BASEBALL vs. Longwood, 3 p.m.
r ft -r. , ~AAC | \ M V J MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Auburn, 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Fnday, February 11, 2005 v^/ _ L. ^—/ WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. LSU, 2 p.m. Sunday
—==—^—=——-- -— -—
BASEBALL PREVIEW
Gamecock hitters
to boost 2005 team
■ Veteran outfield,
inexperienced infield
bring USC into season
By ALEX RILEY
STAFF WRITER
Even with the departure of catcher
Landon Powell and second baseman
Kevin Mellilo, the Carolina baseball
lineup is riddled with talent. The most
noticeable returning force is senior third
baseman Steve Pearce.
Pearce, after being drafted in the 1 Oth
round last year, turned down an offer
from his favorite major league team, the
Boston Red Sox, to return for his senior
campaign. The Florida native garnered
the team’s triple crown last season,
leading the team with a .346 batting
average, 21 home runs and 70 RBIs.
Pearce also set a school record with a
perfect fielding percentage, acquiring
416 put-outs with 22 assists and no
errors.
While he played the majority of the
2004 season at first base, Pearce will
most likely transfer back to the hot
corner at third. Last spring, Pearce was
named to each All-Tournament team
he played on in the postseason,
including the College World Series.
However, after a leg injury, Pearce’s
status in the coming weeks is unknown.
Pearce’s neighbor on the diamond is
junior shortstop Steven Tolleson. The
aptly nicknamed “Tolly” is one of three
captains for the 2005 season, after
hitting .316 with 14 doubles, one triple
and four homers last season. While his
power seems nominal, Tolleson proved
clutch last season, hitting a long ball in
the 10th inning to beat Clemson in
Tigertown. Tolleson keyed the scoring
that would eventually beat East Carolina
in the Super Regionals to send USC
back to Omaha.
Sophomore second baseman Tommy
King and junior college transfer Chris
Brown will look to fill the shoes of
Mellilo, this time permanently. Brown
had reportedly beaten out King for the
starting position but will not be at full
strength this weekend because of injury.
King earned 24 starts last season when
Mellilo went out with a leg injury and
filled the role quite well. King starred
hot off the bat, literally, going ll-of-25
with a .440 average. However, an injury
slowed the Florida native down, as he
finished the season with a .235 average.
His most impressive numbers came
from the defensive side of the field, as
the sophomore made only one error in
89 chances.
First base is the biggest question for
the Carolina infield. The position
belongs to JUCO transfer Neil Giesler
of Okaloosa Walton Junior College.
Giesler is a huge target at first, with a
towering 6-foot-5-inch frame. His
numbers from junior college show why
he is a leading candidate, as he batted
above .400 both seasons, with a .432
average last year. Giesler is also a former
draft pick gone back to college, being
picked up in two drafts by the Chicago
White Sox in the 29th and 37th rounds.
While first base is still a major
concern, the burning question comes
from home plate, as the Gamecock
coaching staff looks to find someone to
replace Powell, one of USC’s all-time
greatest players. The returning
candidate is sophomore Ryan Mahoney.
The New York native appeared in 46
contests last fall, batting .257 with seven
doubles. While his numbers are not
mind-boggling, Mahoney proved he
could be clutch as well, ripping a shot
down the first-base line against East
Carolina in the Super Regionals.
All three projected starters for the
Carolina outfield were in the lineup
most of last season, as Michael
Campbell, Brendan Winn and Davy
Gregg look to solidify the Carolina
team’s strength.
Campbell is a junior left fielder out of
Virginia. He was key in USC’s run to
Omaha, batting in one run and scoring
another in a 4-2 win against East
Carolina in the Super Regionals.
Campbell also scored twice and had an
RBI in a 15-11 win against Miami in the
College World Series. Campbell hit .312
last spring and was the fourth Gamecock
♦ Please see HITTERS, page 11
FILE PHOTOS/THE GAMECOCK
The USC baseball team will rely
on junior shortstop Steven
Tolleson, above, sophomore
catcher Ryan Mahoney, right,
and junior centerfielder Davy
Gregg, far right, to provide
experienced leadership to a
group of incoming players in the
2005 season. Tolleson and
Gregg have their starting spots
sewn up, while Mahoney is in a
battle with two junior-college
transfers for the starting catcher
position.
KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK
USC coach Dave Odom wants
more support from students.
Good day Gamecock student body!
The Gamecock basketball team,
coaches and staff would like to encourage
you to attend the 7:30 p.m. game against
Auburn on Saturday. We are 5-4 in the
SEC and 4-0 at home this year in league
play. We need each one of you as we
continue to build our program. You are
very important to us! You are our sixth
man! You help us get more excited and
motivated to play well. Come to the
game, cheer hard and have fun.
Remember — 7:30 pm Saturday
against Auburn. This is another
important test for USC in the SEC. We
appreciate your continued enthusiasm!
* *
USC basketball coach Dave Odom
Gamecocks return home to battle Tigers
By MATTHEW NAGY
THE GAMECOCK
Returning home from their first
road win of the season last Saturday,
the USC men’s basketball team will
face the Auburn Tigers at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday evening. Auburn is coming
off a loss against the LSU Tigers last
Wednesday night.
Carolina, on the other hand, is
coming off a 60-53 win in Athens
against the Georgia Bulldogs. The
Gamecocks held on despite a slew of
technical fouls called shortly after
senior Carlos Powell was poked in the
eye while trying to score against the
Bulldog defense. Powell, along with
Rocky Trice and USC coach Dave
Odom, was given a technical foul for
his conduct toward the officials. After
the game, Georgia coach Dennis
Felton accused Carlos Powell of
flopping and being fraudulent,
despite Powell being sidelined several
minutes with his eye swollen shut.
USC will need Powell’s presence
inside the paint again Saturday, as his
16 points greatly contributed to the
win against UGA. Powell is averaging
more than 15 points per game in SEC
play and has been an emotional spark
for the team as well as a vocal leader.
Throughout the season, Powell has
been the go-to guy in an offense that
prides itself in spreading the ball
around to everyone on the floor.
Carolina is looking to improve to 14
7 on the year and stay within one
garble of second place in the SEC East.
The Tigers will look to freshmen
Like the Gamecocks,
Auburn plays a small,
quick, guard-heavy
lineup that should
make for a fast-paced
contest.
Frank Tolbert and Toney Douglas as
guards. Tolbert is the reigning SEC
player of the week after scoring 29
points against the Mississippi State
Bulldogs a week ago, while Douglas
leads the team averaging nearly 18
points per game. Along with the
freshmen, senior Ian Young will figure
heavily into the mix Saturday night. The
guard from Orlando, Fla., is averaging
almost 15 points per game, second on
the team. Young is also leading the team
in assists and steals per game.
Like the Gamecocks, Auburn plays
a small, quick, guard-heavy lineup
that should make for a fast-paced
contest. The Tigers have only one
player over 6-feet-7-inches on their
roster and have struggled against
larger teams this season. This should
create opportunities for both Powell
and sophomore forward Brandon
Wallace. The Gamecocks should rely
heavily on Wallace not only on
defense, but also inside the paint
where he has shown flashes of
brilliance this season. Renaldo
Balkman will also figure heavily into
the mix yet again for USC, as he has
continued to improve his play
through the season.
*
♦ Please see RETURN, page 11
KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK
Sophomore point gua^d Tre' Kelley drives to the basket in a g^me earlier this season. Kelley and
Carolina will look to establish their first three-game winning streak in the SEC season Saturday.