MyrtleBeachOnline.com: Sports

THE NEXT PIECE

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:27 EDT

CONWAYCoastal Carolina pitcher Bobby Gagg gazed over at the Karukas Wall following his bullpen session Monday and lamented the lack of a Super Regional notation to go along with the listed regional appearances and Big South titles.

That's the goal, winning an NCAA Regional. Gagg and his teammates at least want that. Sure they want a trip to Omaha, but no Coastal team has ever advanced out of a regional.

With the national tournament on the horizon and an at-large berth secured with a 43-11 record in the regular season, it's human nature for Gagg and the Chants to be looking beyond Coastal's opening game against Asheville in the Big South Tournament at 11 a.m. today in Danville, Va.

Eastport will likely reopen by September

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:27 EDT

Eastport Golf Club should reopen by Sept. 1 as The Valley Club at Eastport, according to Frankie Vereen, a member of the course's new ownership group.

The course has been closed since January 2007, but was sold Thursday by longtime owner Mel Graham to The Valley at Eastport, LLC, of which Vereen is a partner.

The course's greens will feature Mini-Verde ultra-dwarf Bermudagrass, which is scheduled to be planted in three weeks. Mini-Verde has a tolerance for heat yet similar putting characteristics to bentgrass, and is featured at the TPC of Myrtle Beach.

Pelicans comeback falls short

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:27 EDT

The moment had all the makings of the climatic ending to the movie "The Natural." The skies were alive with periodic lightning and the rain had begun to drench the playing surface at BB&T Coastal Field.

But instead of knocking the cover off the ball, Myrtle Beach Pelicans first baseman Ernesto Mejia hit a hard grounder that resulted in a game-ending double play that gave Kinston a 4-3 win in the first game of the teams' three-game series on Tuesday. It was the third time the Pelicans hit into an inning-ending double play, and this time they did it after the first two batters reached safely to open the ninth inning.

"We didn't execute at the end," Pelicans shortstop Travis Jones said. "Some guys are still battling at the plate. Some guys are still struggling, but that's baseball."

Clemson's Bowden pays visit to Grand Strand

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:27 EDT

Clemson football coach Tommy Bowden visited the northern South Carolina coast Tuesday, where the Tigers have become increasingly involved in recent months.

Former Myrtle Beach kicker Spencer Benton has already enrolled as a Tiger, former Loris star Jonathan Willard signed with the team in February, and last month Coastal Carolina football announced an agreement to play at Clemson on Oct. 31 next year.

That game is besides the teams' deal to play in 2014.

North-South will return to Shaw Stadium

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:27 EDT

The North-South All-Star football game is returning to Myrtle Beach's Doug Shaw Stadium in 2008, four years after it moved to Coastal Carolina's Brooks Stadium.

The move was announced by Mayor John Rhodes, S.C. Athletic Coaches Association Executive Secretary Keith Richardson and City Councilman Wayne Gray on Tuesday at the venerable stadium, which is undergoing a $4-million facelift that officials hope will transform it into one of the premier prep facilities in the state.

The event moved to Brooks Stadium in 2004, mainly because Doug Shaw had begun showing its age and officials believed that may have had a detrimental impact on the game's viability. Once Horry County Schools and the city of Myrtle Beach struck an accord that paved the way for an overhaul of the facility - which is named after Myrtle Beach's legendary coach - city officials sought to return the game to the venue where it was played for 18 years.

Conway baseball leads Class AAAA selections

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:27 EDT

Conway had four baseball players named all-state on Tuesday, twice as many as any other team in Class AAAA.

Senior catcher Mac Doyle, senior shortstop Jeff Caskey and junior pitchers Bobby Watford and Colby Holmes were honored by the S.C. Baseball Coaches Association for their team and individual accomplishments this season. The area had two other all-state performers: Carolina Forest shortstop Ryan Stewart and Aynor catcher William Chandler, who were honored in Class AAA and Class AA, respectively.

Although the Tigers were swept in two games by Boiling Springs in the state championship series, they won the third battle against the Bulldogs. Boiling Springs and Berkeley (two each) had the next highest number of all-state picks in Class AAAA.

Golf tip with Brad Redding

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:27 EDT

TIP OF THE WEEK

Follow the basics
This tip is good for all golfers, especially juniors. Have your child always practice toward a target and make sure they are lined up to that target. Clubs or a yard stick work well. I use a tool called a Tee Line. I like this tool because it also shows proper ball position. This type of practice makes your child more aware of what they are hitting at and it really makes practice time more effective as well. Any time you can introduce a tool, children seem to find it more fun, and that's always at the top of the list when it comes to teaching juniors.

BRAD REDDING is director of instruction at Grande Dunes Golf Academy and is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. He can be reached at 843-315-0332 or brad.redding@burroughs-chapin.com.

Asheville upsets High Point in extras

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:27 EDT

No. 8 seed UNC Asheville plated a run in the top of the 10th inning and the team's ace Alan DeRatt went the distance as the Bulldogs defeated No. 5 seed High Point 3-2 in 10 innings at the Big South Conference tournament at Dan Daniel Memorial Park.

With the victory, UNC Asheville (24-33) advances to the double-elimination bracket of the tournament to play No. 1 seed Coastal Carolina today at 11 a.m.

No. 6 Radford 6, No. 7 Charleston Southern 1 | Alex Gregory had three hits, including a home run, and Eric Evans led the Highlanders on the mound past Charleston Southern.

D'backs' Webb streaking again

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:18 EDT

Brandon Webb is off on another streak.

Last year, he threw 42 straight scoreless innings. Now Arizona's ace has won his first nine starts.

It's a remarkable feat. But it's no big deal to Webb, a laid-back Kentuckian who relaxes between starts by strumming a guitar in his locker stall.

Piazza officially retires

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:18 EDT

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.Mike Piazza is retiring from baseball following a 19-season career in which he became one of the top-hitting catchers in history.

"After discussing my options with my wife, family and agent, I felt it is time to start a new chapter in my life," he said in a statement released by his agent, Dan Lozano. "It has been an amazing journey."

The 39-year-old Piazza was not on a team this season.

Sports world

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:18 EDT

AROUND THE CAROLINAS

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Coach K promotes son-in-law

Azinger hopes youth changes U.S. fortunes

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:18 EDT

The question comes up every other year in the months leading to the Ryder Cup.

It is an American perspective, offered by someone who has been involved in the matches every year since 1993. He will notice a group of Europeans on the putting green or the practice range, then turn and whisper, "Who's their Peter Baker?"

Translation: Which player hardly anyone knows will morph into a major champion at the Ryder Cup?

Tigers on NCAA bubble; five from USC honored

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:18 EDT

CLEMSONA week ago, Baseball America analyst Aaron Fitt believed Clemson's NCAA tournament ship had sailed.

The Tigers had won one of three games in a pivotal series at Georgia Tech and were in jeopardy of missing the ACC tournament.

With a victory against Georgia Tech and four consecutive nonconference wins to end the regular season, Fitt says writing off Clemson might have been premature.

Odom adjusting to life after basketball

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:18 EDT

Ex-South Carolina coach Dave Odom has quickly discovered a few realities about retirement.

"I've already found that you can't run but so many miles in a day, and you can't play but so many sets of tennis in a day," Odom says. "So you've got to find something else."

What that will be, Odom hasn't settled on yet.

Indy Champ Castroneves ponders move to

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:18 EDT

NASCAR

Helio Castroneves, who is seeking to win his third Indianapolis 500 this weekend, said he is considering following several other open-wheel racers and moving to NASCAR but has made no decision yet.

"I won't deny that I'm thinking about it," Castroneves said Monday night. "It would be great to one day try the (stock) cars. But at this point I'm focusing on Indy cars and winning the Indianapolis 500 again."

NFL owners opt out of labor agreement

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:18 EDT

ATLANTANFL owners voted unanimously Tuesday to end their labor agreement with the players' union in 2011. The league and union, however, insisted the next three seasons won't be interrupted by a contract dispute and both sides are working toward a new deal.

"We have guaranteed three more years of NFL football," commissioner Roger Goodell said after the owners used the opt-out clause built into the agreement signed more than two years ago. "We are not in dire straits. We've never said that. But the agreement isn't working, and we're looking to get a more fair and equitable deal."

Ryan signs with Falcons

Kuehn, Venable share the lead at Carolinas Amateur

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:18 EDT

Brenda Corrie Kuehn of Asheville, N.C., and Lea Venable of Simpsonville share the lead at 3-over 74 after the first round of the 82nd Carolinas Women's Amateur Championship at Sunset Country Club.

North Myrtle Beach native Melissa Sage stands one back at 4-over 75, Cindel Gwyn of Calabash, N.C., and Coastal Carolina freshman Carmen Jones of Orangeburg are tied for 13th at 81, and Ellen Miller of Pawley's Island is at 87.

In the Carolinas Tees division, former Myrtle Beach resident Susan Harden of Beaufort leads after shooting a 76. Myrtle Beach's Maureen O'Brien is eight strokes back at 84.

Garnett the difference in win over Pistons

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:18 EDT

Not even a week of rest could prepare the Detroit Pistons for the hottest home team in the NBA.

Kevin Garnett had 26 points and nine rebounds and Paul Pierce scored 22 points Tuesday night to lead Boston to an 88-79 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics' 15th straight home win.

Kendrick Perkins had 10 rebounds and Rajon Rondo added 11 points and seven assists for Boston, which earned home court through the playoffs with a league-best 66-16 regular season record. The Celtics rode that advantage to seven-game series victories over Atlanta and Cleveland and held serve in the opener against Detroit.

Female presence at Indy 500 shines light on NASCAR

Tue, 20 May 2008 08:53 EDT

ABSENCE AUTO

CHARLOTTE, N.C.It was a matchup NASCAR could only dream of: Melanie Troxel and Ashley Force going head-to-head in the first all-female Funny Car elimination round.

Troxel won the round, made it to the finals and ultimately claimed the title Sunday at Thunder Valley Nationals - making her the first woman in NHRA history to win in both its nitro classes. Troxel downplayed the significance of her matchup with Force, trying hard to remove gender from the historic moment.

Past year of prep sports had many highlights

Tue, 20 May 2008 00:30 EDT

The 2007-08 athletic calendar has officially closed for the area's 15 high schools. Let's take a look back at some of the highlights from the last 10 months:

Two football teams, Carvers Bay and South Columbus (N.C.), advanced to the state championship before losing games they could have easily - and perhaps should have easily - won. The Bears were trying to defend their S.C. Class A, Division I title, but, despite dominating the Chesterfield Rams, lost a tight one. The Stallions were tight in the first half of their N.C. Class 2-A matchup with Lincolnton and dug themselves too deep of a hole.

In girls team tennis, Green Sea Floyds advanced to the Class A state title match before losing to powerhouse Christ Church. Myrtle Beach's girls lost in the Lower State championship to eventual champion Hilton Head.