The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, June 08, 2005, Page 10, Image 10
■ WRECKED
Continued from page 9
favor of sophomore left-hander
Forrest Beverly.
Beverly gave up only four hits
and one run in six and two-thirds
innings, his longest outing of the
season.
USC opened the regional
tournament with a 6-5 victory
against Michigan decided in the
bottom of the ninth Friday.
witn tne game Knotted 3-3,
USC junior outfielder Davy Gregg
beat out a two-strike bunt attempt
to lead off the bottom of the ninth.
Campbell followed with a sacrifice
bunt. Michigan attempted to force
out Gregg at second. Gregg was
called safe, and as the Wolverine
infielders argued the call, he tore
oft Tfld took third base.
A Steven Tolleson walk loaded
the bases, and Pearce drove in
Gregg with a hard grounder
through short.
The win sent the Gamecocks
into a matchup with the Yellow
Jackets on Saturday, and USC
found out why the Ramblin’
Wreck earned the No. 2 overall
seed in the tournament.
Georgia Tech put up four runs
in the top of the first, piling on 17
hits for the game in a 10-2 win that
sent USC into the losers bracket.
The Gamecocks clawed their
way back, waiting out a three-and
a-half-hour rain delay to eliminate
Michigan 4-3 on Sunday and
setting up a rematch with the
Yellow Jackets later in the evening.
USC forced Mondays deciding
game with an 8-3 win against Tech
on Sunday that included four
home runs by the Gamecocks and
a solid pitching performance by
junior Andy Lambert.
juamucii, who nau inauc omy
two starts all season, got the win by
allowing only five hits and three
runs in five and two-thirds innings.
Senior pitcher Jason Fletcher
made an appearance in relief and
gave up no runs and three hits in
the final three and one-third
innings to wrap up what Tanner
called “a long day at the ball yard.”
Two of USC’s four home runs
were launched by Pearce. Giesler
had a three-run blast, and Campbell
added a solo shot of his own.
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu
| Loyal fan deserved better
Just like every Gamecock team
before it, this year’s baseball squad
gave fans a glimmer of hope one
day and a history lesson the next.
Senior Brendan
Winn’s
strikeout in the
bottom of the
ninth finished
off any chance
USC had of
making a return
“P t0 ** ALEX RILEY
College World ,, , .
° becond-y ear print
Series. journalism
This time student
around, the fan
in me didnt get mad. 1 didnt slam
my fist and curse the day I
proclaimed my undying loyalty to
a bunch of chickens. Instead, I
was reminded that this could be
the last season for one of
Carolina’s most loyal followers.
Frank Riley, my great-uncle
and neighbor back home, has
been battling lung cancer for
some time now. Chemotherapy
has taken its toll on his body,
causing him to lose the majority
of his strength.
Even with his lack of mobility,
there is still one thing the man my
family calls “Unc” still manages to
do — cheer on the Carolina
baseball team.
When the season started, Unc
was nestled in his seat along the
first-base side of the field, intently
watching the Gamecocks’ attempt
at a fourth trip to Omaha.
Every weekend, a different
member of his family sat with
him in the stands, making sure
Unc didn’t miss a minute of the
action.
I had the duty toward the
beginning of the season of
covering the baseball action for
The Gamecock. Every weekend I
made it over to the Sarge, I made
sure to stop in and see Unc before
the first pitch. His voice
practically gone, Unc and I would
trade thoughts on the game and
anything related to Carolina
athletics.
Though he couldn’t yell at the
umpires or stand to wave on a
runner after a home run, Unc lent
his silent support to the home
team. On my way_ down to the
field for post-game interviews, I
made sure to see Unc before I left.
Every win put a wide grin on his
face, and every loss brought a
simple shoulder shrug.
When Carolina’s second battle
with Michigan hit an extended rain
delay, he sat in his recliner waiting
for the action to resume. On
Monday, Unc was checked back in
to the hospital, but I fail to believe
that a radio wasn’t by his side.
II there was one person who
deserved to see USC win the
College World Series it was Unc. I
prayed the magic from the last
three seasons would return to the
Gamecock dugout and propel
them through to Omaha. While
they gave it a good run in Atlanta,
it wasn’t good enough to push
through to the Super Regionals or
give Unc the championship he
deserves.
One of these days, USC’s going
to win that elusive national tide.
And when they do, Unc, I’ll be
thinking of you.
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IV
RIC FELD/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
USC first baseman Steve Pearce slides in ahead of the tag by Georgia Tech second basemen Jake Hall.
■ BASEBALL
Continued from page 9
professional options and said that
his situation would have to be
“perfect” for him not to return to
Columbia next spring.
Rawl, a Lexington native, leaves
Carolina with 35 career wins and
said he’s not quite sure what he’ll do
next. He mentioned pro ball as an
option but said he’ll wait and see.
Senior right fielder Brendan
Winn ended his career and USC’s
season with a strikeout, something
he has become infamous for in the
past two seasons. However, Winn’s
back-to-back double-digit home run
seasons will not be easily replaced.
A number of other players
played their last game as
Gamecocks on Monday, including
pitchers Cliff Donald, Jason
Fletcher and Zac McCamie.
The Gamecocks will watch the
rest of the post-season unfold on
television from the comfort of their
homes and look to February when
they can look to start their fourth
run to Omaha in five seasons.
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecockneTVS@gwm.sc. edu