A year removed from last season's star-studded starting nine, the University of South Carolina baseball team is set to open the season on Saturday in Columbia against Duquesne. (3-game series)Coach Ray Tanner and the Gamecocks will be playing in the first game at the brand-new state-of-the-art Carolina Baseball Stadium. South Carolina's new venue sits nearly 9,000 and costs $36 million to construct over the last two years. It should be confines suitable for the long ball.
Baseball writers have pegged this year's squad 4th in the SEC East, a surprise if you follow Gamecocks' baseball. South Carolina has made a postseason regional eight consecutive years and earned a trip to the College World Series three times since 2000. The Gamecocks have won the SEC twice during that span. (NCAA runner-up in 2002, 12-6 loss to Texas)
Without 1B Justin Smoak, C Phil Disher, SS Reese Havens and 3B James Darnell (all current pro's and draft picks last season), it may be a long year for the Garnet and Black offense. As always though, pitching wins championships.
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