Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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* THE GAMECOCK . IS, 2005 9 DAnrro HI K N NEXT WEEK IN SPORTS \ / I 1 1 k7 We begin a series profiling the greats of Gamecock — football. Next week will feature Dorn Fusci. Seven Gamecocks picked in MLB draft JOHN BAZEMORE/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS USC first baseman Steve Pearce was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the eighth round of the Major League Baseball Draft. Toileson said he had heard from teams wanting to draft him in the third round. His signing bonus is expected to be between $150,00 and $200,000. Steve Pearces decision to stay at USC another year seems to have paid off, as the senior first baseman’s stock rose for a 10th round pick last year to a an eighth round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates as the 241st. Pearce claimed the Gamecock’s triple crown title for the second-straight year, batting .356 with 63 RBIs and 21 home runs. The final Gamecock to go on the draft’s opening day was senior pitcher Zac McCamie, who went to the Florida Marlins in the 17th round as the 516th. McCamie was one of three weekend starters for the Gamecock pitching rotation this year, finishing with a 3.50 ERA and 108 strikeouts. uay two or tne arart saw tour Gamecocks picked up, as senior pitcher Aaron Rawl went in the 21st round to the Philadelphia Phillies as the 637th pick Rawl was the ace of the pitching staff this year and USC’s most consistent pitcher. Rawl finished his career with 35 wins, third all time at USC. This season, Rawl won nine games with a 3.80 ERA, “I would have like to go on the first day,” Rawl said. “I didn’t get drafted last year, but I got my chance this year. I’m pretty thrilled about it.” USC waited six more rounds for another player to be picked, as junior Davy Gregg went to the Chicago Cubs as the 820th pick in the 27th round. Gregg batted .301 with his only career home run and 19 RBIs this year. Gregg is the only player to sign with a team. He signed Monday. While he was plagued with arm injuries all season, sophomore pitcher Arik Hempy managed to be the 933rd pick in the 31st round by the Baltk®ore Orioles. Hempy, an All-SEC freshman last season, did manage to win two games this year with a 2.63 ERA. TKp finol CZo mpmr\s A roftprl was sophomore pitcher Forrest Beverly. Beverly went as the 1,248th pick in the 42nd round to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Beverly, a 2002 draft pick of the Cubs, finished the season with a 1 0 record and a 5.71 ERA. Two Gamecocks were surprised to not be picked in the draft. Junior outfielder Michael ♦ DRAFT, page 10 Tanner stays in Columbia By ALEX RILEY SPORTS EDITOR USC’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to send a clear, message to every college baseball team in the country Tuesday: It’s gonna take a lot to get your hands on Ray Tanner. The board approved a seven year deal with a base salary starting at $160,000 and an extra $85,000 in supplemental compensation along with another $100,000 per season in media compensation. The deal locks Tanner in as USC’s skipper from July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2012. Tanner received a contract change less than two months ago, an extension lasting until 2010. Tanner, who led the Gamecocks to their sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, also gets a laundry list of incentives if his team achieves certain accomplishments. The incentives include $10,000 each season if his team wins the SEC East, SEC regular season or SEC Tournament championship and another MU.UUU it the Gamecocks make the NCAA post season tournament. Tanner is also guaranteed $10,000 if the Gamecocks win the Regionais or Super Regionais, plus another $10,000 if USC makes a title-game appearance in the College World Series. The biggest bonus comes if USC wins the NCAA title, as a $50,000 reward comes Tanner’s way. After all that, Tanner stands to make another $25,000 if named National Coach of the Year by any number of sporting publications. Tanner could make as much as an extra $165,000 if his team succeeds on the diamond. 1 know how serious 1 was about keeping him here,” USC President Andrew Sorensen said. “I think he is an extraordinary coach.” Added to all the bonuses Tanner stands to make, he also gets a life insurance policy valued at ♦ TANNER, page 10 CHARLIE DAVENPORT/THE GAMECOCK USC baseball coach Ray Tanner received a new contract Tuesday. Tanner could get $165,000 if the team wins the national title. By ALEX RILEY SPORTS EDITOR The USC baseball team still has one thing in common with teams of the past — key players still get drafted. After another 40-plus-win season, seven Gamecocks were picked in the MLB draft, four of whom are underclassmen. USC also had two key recruits get picked in the draft. The first Gamecock to go surprised many, as junior shortstop Steven Tolleson was picked by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round as the 165th pick. Tolleson, who batted .293 with 46 RBIs and six homers last season, said after finishing the Atlanta regional his situation would have to be perfect for him to leave Columbia.