Since it’s important to understand what you criticize, our founding editor took some time off from work this weekend to pay a visit to the new University of South Carolina baseball stadium.
Obviously, we’ve made it pretty clear where we stand on the University’s policy of freezing out any semblance of competition in the local sports entertainment marketplace, but at the same time we stated our support for the new stadium – although we wish it had been constructed as a partnership.
And we wish it had been constructed with better parking … sheesh.
Anyway, all of those considerations went out the window as we sat down for some SEC baseball on Saturday – specifically a must-win outing for South Carolina against the SEC West-leading Arkansas Razorbacks.
Boy, did we ever witness a gem of a ballgame.
Not only did USC pitcher Nolan Belcher turn in a career performance (four-hitting the Razorbacks over eight and a third innings), but South Carolina freshman Adam Matthews smashed the Gamecocks’ first inside-the-park home run in eight years.
Slugger Nick Ebert added two conventional blasts to help power Carolina to a 9-1 victory.
Obviously, USC is performing below expectations this year, but not last Saturday.
Here are a few snapshots from this great game – and this great ballpark …
UPDATE - Carolina takes on arch-rival Clemson at the new park tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. if you’re interested in going.
By Todd April 6, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Great positive story. After all the economic and stimulus package talk, this is a breath of fresh air. Hope you took Shorty.