http://www.aikenstandard.com/localsports/ Local Sports stories from The Aiken Standard en-us LocalSportsTheAikenStandardhttp://feedburner.google.com http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/052712-USTA-Jasani-Feature--4027593
The USTA South Carolina Adult League Championships have returned to Aiken for the fourth consecutive year, and the action got started Saturday morning. It was appropriate that the Aiken men's 4.5 team - based out of Houndslake Country Club - was among the day's first participants.

Their 8 a.m. match kicked off play at the USC Aiken Tennis Complex, one of six area facilities hosting the tournament that runs through Monday.

Among the 600 players participating this weekend, one taking the court for the Aiken Area Tennis League men's 4.5 team was Rakesh Jasani. His name's familiar because Jasani's the head coach of the South Aiken High School boys' tennis team.

The 31-year-old Aiken native was on the AATL No. 2 doubles team that faced the Upper Piedmont Tennis Foundation squad from the Greenville area. Although Jasani and his partner - Mark Tatusko - lost their match, the Aiken men ultimately prevailed, 4-1.

"The boys played pretty good. They pulled us through," Jasani said of his teammates, who swept the rest of their matches and will return today for two more contests, scheduled to start at 8 a.m. and noon. "We still have a good shot at advancing."

Should they outlast today's opponents - and heat - the AATL men will advance out of their group. Then they'll play on Monday in the semifinals, and potentially the finals, of the state championship at H. Odell Weeks Tennis Center. The champion will move on to the USTA Southern Adult League Championships.

"The tournament is going well," Jasani said. "They keep coming back, and that's good for the city. The economic impact is great for the city, and I hope it keeps hosting. ...There's a good reputation for the City of Aiken."

Jasani's played in the tournament the past few years and has been fortunate enough to advance to the semifinals. He credits that to the AATL team remaining relatively intact and playing as a cohesive unit, something Jasani knows about as a player and as a coach.

In 2011, he led an experienced South Aiken squad to the Lower State finals. At the end of the recently-completed season, the Thoroughbreds overcame the loss of several seniors from the previous year and got hot. They returned to the Lower State final.

Unfortunately for the T-Breds, that was where they faced a veteran Aiken High team that relied on its experience in big matches to overcome a slow start and advance to the state championship. Jasani said he thinks it could be South Aiken that's playing for a state title next year. He expects to have his entire squad return.

"They're all coming back, and we'll have a couple new additions. We have a great shot to go all the way next year," said Jasani, who just completed his sixth year on the South Aiken staff and fourth as head coach. "The experience we got this year will help us; it goes a long way. We came up short against Aiken ... but (the players) realize what it takes now. There's enthusiasm and excitement there. I hope we have a couple titles in the next few years."

Jasani's participation in the USTA championships this weekend shows the advantage he has over the coaches of most other high school sports. While most football, basketball and other coaches used to play their sport - some at extremely high levels - almost none are still active in a league as organized as the USTA. Not only is Jasani still an active tennis player, but he's competing at a high level.

He said that fact isn't lost on his players. And if they do forget, he's quick to remind them.

"I always tell the kids, until they beat me, they have to listen to what I say," a smiling Jasani said. "I've been fortunate to stay healthy and am able to play at a high level. ... It adds to coaching. The kids relate to me as a player and a coach."

While he might be able to beat his players now, Jasani said he hopes they'll all get the opportunity to advance to the level where they can play in events like this weekend's championship. He credits the drive instilled in him during his days playing tennis for South Aiken as a key reason he remains active.

"It all boils down to competition. You don't ever lose that drive," said Jasani, who added that the high level of tennis currently being played in Aiken has prepared him and his teammates for more challenges. "It's fun playing the best in the state. Hopefully, we'll play the best players in the South, then hopefully, we'll play the best in the nation. That's what it's all about."

While optimistic about advancing as far as AATL can go, Jasani said he'll be busy playing tennis throughout the summer.

"Aiken's got such great tennis," he said, explaining that the quality of the facilities in the area have helped players - young and old - flourish. "Tennis is booming; it's got great host sites. The future is bright."

Noah Feit is a reporter for the Aiken Standard, primarily covering sports, and has been a professional journalist for more than a dozen years after graduating from Syracuse University.

USTA South Carolina Adult League Championships

Men's 4.5 Results

AATL 4, UPTA 1

* No. 1 Singles: Clayton Vaughters (AATL) d. Thomas Durchen (UPTA) 6-1, 6-3

* No. 2 Singles: Troy Freeman (AATL) d. Jonathan Rice (UPTA) 7-5, 6-2

* No. 1 Doubles: Jesse Farber and Pat Hare (AATL) d. Joe Beaton and Bill Cheek (UPTA) 6-2, 6-4

* No. 2 Doubles: Eric Edwards and Kenneth Alexander (UPTA) d. Rakesh Jasani and Mark Tatusko (AATL) 7-5, 6-1

* No. 3 Doubles: Stephen Baker and Larry McWilliams (AATL) d. Jason Foster and Trey Martin (UPTA) 7-6, 1-6, 1-0 ]]> Sat, 26 May 2012 23:51:22 GMT Local Sports http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/052712-USTA-Jasani-Feature--4027593 http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0527-clemson-baseball--4028350
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Starter Jake Davies allowed only two hits and one run in six innings pitched and added a two-run homer in the first inning to lead Georgia Tech to a 5-1 win over Clemson in the ACC Tournament in front of 3,272 fans at NewBridge Bank Park on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets, who won their bracket with a 3-0 record and advanced to Sunday's ACC Championship game, improved to 35-24 on the season. The Tigers, who finished with a 1-2 record in the ACC Tourney, fell to 33-26 in 2012.

Davies' two-out, two-run homer in the first inning provided all the runs the Yellow Jackets needed. Steve Wilkerson led off the game with a homer for the Tigers, but Davies combined with Alex Cruz to shut the Tiger bats down during the remainder of the game after Clemson had totaled 35 combined hits in the final two games of the regular-season series in Atlanta. Neither team scored a run after the third inning after Georgia Tech added one run in the second inning and two runs in the third inning.

Davies (1-3) earned his first win of the season. He gave up just two hits, one run and one walk with three strikeouts. Cruz recorded his second save of the season by pitching three scoreless innings of three-hit ball with two strikeouts.

Clemson starter Kevin Pohle (6-4) suffered the loss, as he surrendered six hits, four runs and no walks with one strikeout in two innings pitched. Scott Firth pitched 61âÑ3 innings in relief, allowing only four hits, one unearned run, and three walks with two strikeouts.

The Yellow Jackets took the game's first lead in the top of the first inning. Kyle Wren led off with a single through the left side on a 1-2 pitch. Three batters later with two outs, Davies hit a two-run homer to right field, his 13th long ball of the season and fourth of the ACC Tournament.

In the bottom of the first inning, Wilkerson led off with a home run to left field, his first career long ball.

Daniel Spingola lined a one-out double down the left-field line in the second inning and scored on Thomas Smith's double down the right-field line.

In the third inning, Brandon Thomas led off with a double down the left-field line and advanced to third on Davies' flyout to right field. Daniel Palka reached on a fielding error by first-baseman Jon McGibbon as Thomas scored, then Zane Evans ripped a double down the left-field line to plate Palka and up Georgia Tech's lead to 5-1.

In the seventh inning, Jason Stolz lined a two-out single to left field and Brad Felder laced a single to right field. Spencer Kieboom walked to load the bases, but Wilkerson grounded out to first to end the inning.

Dominic Attanasio led off the ninth inning with a single to left field, Clemson's first leadoff batter to reach base since the first inning. McGibbon reached on a fielder's choice to second as Attanasio was retired at second base. Stolz struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch for out No. 2, then Felder struck out swinging to end the game.

Evans went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI to pace Georgia Tech, who amassed 10 hits. Six of the Yellow Jackets' 10 hits were extra-base hits.

Five different Tigers had one hit apiece, including Wilkerson's solo homer to account for Clemson's lone run of the contest.

Clemson will await word from the NCAA Baseball Committee on the 64-team NCAA Tournament field. That announcement will be on Monday at noon and will be televised by ESPNU. ]]> Sat, 26 May 2012 23:51:18 GMT Local Sports http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0527-clemson-baseball--4028350 http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/052612-Aiken-Newman-Signing--4025842
Everybody makes mistakes. High school football players are certainly no exception to that universal truth.

It was Spencer Newman's ability to learn from his mistakes that allowed the former Aiken High School linebacker to sign a letter of intent to play college football.

"They liked my game film. They would see how I would mess up and then make a correction on the next series or play to improve," Newman said of Jireh Prep, the junior college in Matthews, N.C., that he signed with on Friday. "This is a blessing. It's something I've always wanted to do."

After a senior campaign that included 27 tackles, an interception and fumble recovery, Newman said several factors weighed into his decision. A big reason he picked Jireh Prep over other schools that had shown interest - including Southern Technical College and Southern Virginia University, among others - was the community.

Newman said he was pleased with what he saw, especially the environment among players. He was confident that Jireh Prep was a place he could concentrate on getting work done - on the field and in the classroom. Beyond that, it would allow him to improve in both arenas and be better suited to transfer to a four-year school.

"They just sent 16 guys to Division I, Division II and NAIA combined," said Newman, who is already considering Coastal Carolina, South Carolina State and Elizabeth City College as potential destinations. "Seeing guys go to other schools was a big reason (to choose Jireh Prep)."

Another reason Newman liked Jireh Prep was its location. Matthews is approximately 150 miles from Aiken, which is far enough for him to confidently embark out on his own but close enough for family and friends to watch him play.

At Jireh Prep, Newman intends to pursue a degree in criminal justice with a minor in music. He said a criminal justice degree would offer him a variety of jobs in the field of law enforcement. And taking courses in music is just what comes naturally.

"Growing up in the church, I've been playing music my whole life," Newman said. "I love music. I love it as much as playing football."

Football is the main area of emphasis for Newman at Jireh Prep. He said the Warriors' coaches have told him there are four linebackers on the roster, and he'll have the opportunity to compete for a starting position immediately. He said the coaches liked the versatility his speedy 6-foot, 190-pound frame offered and could potentially shift him to free safety.

Regardless of where he plays, Newman is focused on getting better to help his chances of playing for a four-year program.

"I want to improve on my game," he said, adding that he plans to try and add some bulk and improve his strength. "I want to learn from the coaches and players there and get an education."

Noah Feit is a reporter for the Aiken Standard, primarily covering sports, and has been a professional journalist for more than a dozen years after graduating from Syracuse University. ]]> Sat, 26 May 2012 00:14:38 GMT Local Sports http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/052612-Aiken-Newman-Signing--4025842 http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0526-moseley-signing--4026105
Brandon Moseley doesn't know exactly what he'll be doing at Charleston Southern University next year. He's undecided on a major, and he could play any number of positions on the Buccaneer football team. But the one thing he knows for sure is that he'll be playing college football.

"It's pretty exciting for me," said the South Aiken High School senior, who signed his letter of intent on Friday. "I always dreamed of being able to sign somewhere, and now the dream has come true.

"It was the first college I ever really looked at, and I loved it," he continued, explaining his decision to head to CSU. "The campus was beautiful, and I like where they're going with the program. They have all new, state-of-the-art stuff, and it just felt like home to me. It's not too far away but also not too close."

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Moseley did a little of everything for the Thoroughbreds in 2011. As a linebacker, he recorded 18 tackles. As a fullback, he carried the ball 27 times for 82 yards, and he caught three passes for 38 yards as a fullback and tight end.

He also served as the T-Bred punter, averaging 36.5 yards on 39 punts.

It's that versatility that SAHS head coach Jeremy West believes sold Moseley to the Buccaneer coaches.

"He's a versatile player," said West. "He can play a lot of different positions, and he works hard at all of them. I don't know where they're going to put him. He can always punt, and he could play fullback or offensive or defensive line."

"I'll probably be a fullback/H-back type of player," added Moseley. "But I'll be whatever they want me to be."

CSU finished 0-11 under longtime head coach Jay Mills last year, but after a solid spring, the Buccaneers are hopeful they can get back to their winning ways. They won 17 games in three seasons from 2007 through 2009, and they've never been afraid to test themselves, going up against the likes of Florida State, Kentucky, Florida, South Florida and Miami over the last four seasons.

Moseley believes he can contribute to making CSU a winner again if he sticks with the plan.

"I just have to keep doing what I'm doing," he said. "I'm running every day, working on my conditioning, lifting weights, eating right and working on my grades. Those are the things I need to keep doing."

Moseley will join a couple of former Silver Bluff Bulldogs in Charleston. Benny Timmons played in three games and recorded a tackle last year as a freshman defensive lineman, and Bulldog defensive end Blake Robbins signed with CSU in February.

Moseley also added his name to an impressive list of South Aiken High School seniors that will be moving on to play college football this fall. David Roberson signed to play at University of Pikeville in Kentucky last month. Derrick West, LiCasio Bailey, Devin Schoultz, Decordre Johnson, Kendell Williams, DeAndre Jones and Rod Valandingham all signed to join the Southern Tech Academy program in Charlotte in March, and Josh Brown (Clemson) and Tarik Scafe (Benedict) inked their college futures on signing day in February.

"These kids have just worked hard," said West. "Coaches know if they get kids from South Aiken, they're going to work hard and do whatever they ask them to do."

Cam Huffman has been the sports editor of the Aiken Standard since November 2006. He is a Lewisburg, W.Va., native and a graduate of West Virginia University. ]]> Sat, 26 May 2012 00:14:34 GMT Local Sports http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0526-moseley-signing--4026105 http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/052612-Dammion-Pough-Feature--4024251
PELION -- It's a long way from Wagener to Chicago. But the 800-plus miles between them doesn't measure the length of the journey being taken by Dammion Pough.

After graduating next week, the Wagener-Salley High School senior will prepare to make that trip. He's committed to Chicago State University, where he expects to run for the track team. It will be the latest step for Pough, whose specialty is running the hurdles. That's ironic, because he's overcome several obstacles to get to this point.

He hasn't always seen eye-to-eye with his coaches. In spite of being a regular on Wagener-Salley's A/B honor roll, Pough didn't post the best score on a recent standardized test. Most significantly, he's had to deal with family turmoil.

When he was 10 years old, Pough said he was taken from the care of his mother - Patricia Garvin - because of issues she had relating to mental health problems. He lived with his aunt and uncle - Angela and Artis Seawright - who became his guardians.

"At first I was like, 'Wow. Why me?'ââ" Pough reflected of the turbulent time. "My uncle and aunt raised me to be a good young man. I thank God for what He's given me."

One thing Pough has is perseverance. It has helped him deal with his family struggles, although he's happy to say he has resumed living with his mother since October, which has forced him to assume more responsibility. The ability to weather a storm has also helped him endure rocky relationships with coaches.

"I've had so many people tell me I'm not going to college," Pough said. "I want to prove them wrong. I have a lot of confidence in myself."

Some of that bravado is well founded. Pough had a very strong showing for Wagener-Salley's track and field team during his junior year, when he set most of his personal bests in events including 110M hurdles, 400M hurdles, 4x100 relay, high jump, long jump and discus. He was named All-Region 4-A and helped the War Eagles win the region title.

He didn't have as much success this past season. Pough said he was hampered by foot injuries and bumped heads with a new coach. But that didn't keep colleges from inquiring after him.

In addition to Chicago State, Pough said he drew interest from North Carolina Central, Kentucky State and Weber State.

He also said he had contact with USC Upstate and was very close to committing to the Spartans. But his score on the ACT exam was a point below their minimum level, forcing the student whose GPA dropped from 3.3 to 2.9 this year to start over.

"I don't think grades are going to be a problem," Pough confidently said of admission to Chicago State and during his stay there. "I don't have anything to worry about as long as I hit the books and maintain good focus."

Fortunately for him, the coaches at Chicago State liked Pough and were looking for hurdlers.

"The 110 hurdles is my strongest event, but I'm good at anything with hurdles," said Pough, whose personal best in the 110 hurdles is 14.9 seconds. "The (Chicago State) coaches told me coming in, I'll be one of the best hurdlers on the team."

If things work out the way Pough hopes, track won't be the only team he's on at Chicago State. The former AAU player said he's hopeful of making the basketball team as a walk-on. He said the coach has encouraged him to try out, and if all goes well, he could become a two-sport standout.

"I'm ready for an adventure," Pough said of going to Chicago State, where he'll head in July.

"I'm looking forward to having great fun, staying out of trouble and being the best I can to help the team win a championship."

Pough said his ultimate aspiration is to be a professional in one of the two sports, but he's going to pursue a degree in graphic design. He's fascinated by video games and would like to learn more about how they're made and said the Chicago State program can help him go far in that field.

He's already come so far. In spite of his ups and downs, Pough is focused on making the most of his opportunity.

"It's good to go to college and do something with my life," Pough said, crediting his mother, aunt and uncle and former track coach Kevin Wright as being the main positive influences on his life. "I'm going to do something with my life rather than be on the streets and be a statistic."

Noah Feit is a reporter for the Aiken Standard, primarily covering sports, and has been a professional journalist for more than a dozen years after graduating from Syracuse University. ]]> Sat, 26 May 2012 00:14:25 GMT Local Sports http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/052612-Dammion-Pough-Feature--4024251 http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0526-home-school-sports--4024660
A bill is moving through the state legislature that would allow home-school students to participate on groups and teams at public schools.

There's a glaring hole in this plan. There is great potential for fraudulent addresses from home-schooled athletes who want to play for a particular school.

I would hope every measure would be taken to prevent such shenanigans, but the responsibility of enforcing that would fall on athletic directors. At best, an overworked AD just might not look into a case thoroughly enough; at worst, schools just might let things pass or warp the rules so their teams are better.

From the perspective of the currently home-schooled child who just wants to be on the school track team, the issue seems like a wholesome enough idea. But what about the other perspectives? There would be no way to stop the unsavory characters that exist at every level of competition from finding a way to work the home-schooling angle to their advantage and create a super-team that practices all day at home during "classes."

Beyond fraudulent possibilities, why would parents of home-schooled children want them on public-school teams anyway? If you don't want your children in school with students and teachers who don't meet your standards, there's no reason to think their teammates and coaches will be any different. If you don't mind having your kid on a public-school athletic team with public-school coaches, there's probably no reason not to just put them in public school.

The real reason for this movement is a problem that plagues our society: No one wants to deal with the negatives of their decisions. They think it's the government's job to save them from those negatives.

People want to educate their children at home, keeping control of what their children learn and how they learn it; but they don't want their children to miss out on the other opportunities afforded to public-school students. Similarly, they don't even want to foot the bill for this private or home education - let the government help me pay that, too!

We enjoy high-school sports for the competition and the action, but the best part is that young people learn life lessons. Pull your weight, find your role and do the best you can. You can't do it all on your own, and you should be gracious whether you're winning or losing. These are all valuable bits of wisdom, gleaned from sports experience, that help mold contributing members of society.

So what will young people learn if this bill is passed?

It teaches them that things should always go their way. Decisions shouldn't have drawbacks, and, when you find that they do, get the government to erase them for you.

It doesn't matter that you might be taking the spot on the team away from someone who actually goes to that school and whose parents don't have the time to home-school them or even be home when they get out of school. It doesn't matter if your concession allows others to cheat to an even greater extent.

All that matters is that you don't have to deal with the cons of your actions, only the pros.

Jeremy Timmerman has a journalism degree from Mercer University and has been at the Aiken Standard since June 2010. ]]> Sat, 26 May 2012 00:14:21 GMT Local Sports http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0526-home-school-sports--4024660 http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0526-Clemson-USC-baseball--4026837
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Jon McGibbon lined a three-run walkoff homer over the wall in right-center in the ninth inning to lift Clemson to a 9-7 victory over No. 1 Florida State in the ACC Tournament in front of 3,282 fans at NewBridge Bank Park on Friday afternoon. The Tigers, who moved to 1-1 in the ACC Tourney and won their third game in four meetings with the top-ranked Seminoles this season, improved to 33-25. The Seminoles, who fell to 0-2 in the ACC Tournament, dropped to 43-14 in 2012.

Florida State scored four runs in the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. Clemson scored a run in the fourth inning and two more runs in the fifth to narrow Florida State's lead to 5-4. A pair of two-out singles by Florida State in the top of the eighth inning gave it a 7-4 lead, but Spencer Kieboom's two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning cut its lead to one run again. Two one-out singles in the ninth inning set up McGibbon's walkoff blast, keeping the Tigers alive for the ACC Tournament title.

McGibbon's walkoff homer was Clemson's second in ACC Tournament history and first since April 24, 1981, when Jimmy Key hit a walkoff solo homer in the 10th inning to give Clemson a 6-5 victory over Wake Forest in Chapel Hill, N.C. It was also the Tigers' 23rd all-time walkoff home run and McGibbon's second career walkoff hit. McGibbon's walkoff single in the 10th inning against Coastal Carolina on April 5, 2011, gave the Tigers a 5-4 win.

Freshman righthander Patrick Andrews (2-3) retired all four batters he faced with one strikeout to earn the win.

Robert Benincasa (4-1) suffered the loss, as he gave up four hits and three runs with two strikeouts in one innings pitched. The Seminole closer had been nearly unhittable all season. He had 13 saves while allowing only 16 hits and two earned runs in 32.0 innings pitched prior to Friday's game. Clemson had been 0-21 when trailing entering the ninth inning in 2012, while Florida State had been 38-0 when leading entering the ninth inning and 36-0 when leading entering the eighth inning.

McGibbon led Clemson's 11-hit attack by going 3-for-5 with a homer, double, four RBIs, and two runs. Kieboom went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Pohl added two hits and a run.

Clemson will take on eighth-seeded Georgia Tech today at 11 a.m. A Georgia Tech win would send the Yellow Jackets to the ACC title game on Sunday. A Clemson win and a Florida State win over Virginia today at 3 p.m. would send the Tigers to the ACC Championship game. A Tiger win and a Cavalier win over the Seminoles would send Virginia to the ACC title game by virtue of the Cavaliers' regular-season ACC winning percentage.

Today's 7 p.m. matchup is between No. 2 seed North Carolina and No. 3 seed NC State in Pool B.

Friday's other games

Georgia Tech 17, Virginia 4

Miami xx, Wake Forest xx.

Florida x, South Carolina x

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) -- Matthew Britton's single up the middle brought home the winning run in Mississippi State's 4-3, 10-inning victory over top-seeded LSU Friday in the Southeastern Conference tournament.

Mitch Slauter drove a one-out double to the center field wall for the Bulldogs (37-22), who had rallied with two runs in the ninth and face Kentucky Saturday for a berth in the championship game.

Reliever Nick Rumbelow came in to face Britton, who entered as a pinch-runner in the ninth and scored the tying run.

LSU second baseman JaCoby Jones made a diving stab for the ball but it bounced off his glove. Britton was hitting .149 coming in, but wound up getting swarmed by teammates.

Jonathan Holder (2-0), who hasn't allowed a run in 22 appearances this season, pitched around an error for a scoreless top of the 10th. Holder ran his streak of scoreless innings to 26-1/3 to break Bobby Reed's school record.

Florida will play Vanderbilt in one semifinal game today after Mississippi State and Kentucky play in the first one at noon.

Friday's other game

Mississippi State 4, LSU 3 ]]> Sat, 26 May 2012 00:14:18 GMT Local Sports http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0526-Clemson-USC-baseball--4026837 http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0525-clemson-baseball
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- With two outs, the bases empty and trailing 2-1 in the eighth inning, No. 17 Virginia used a single, two hit-by-pitches, and two walks to score two runs in the frame and defeat Clemson 3-2 in the ACC Tournament in front of 3,331 fans at NewBridge Bank Park on Thursday. The Cavaliers, who moved to 1-0 in the tourney, improved to 37-16-1 on the season. The Tigers, who fell to 0-1 in the event, dropped to 32-25 in 2012.

Jon McGibbon's solo homer in the sixth inning tied the score 1-1, then Clemson took advantage of two Virginia miscues in the top of the eighth inning to score another run. But Virginia put together a two-out rally, as five straight Cavaliers reached base with two outs to allow them to score two runs.

Kyle Crockett (5-2), the second of three Virginia pitchers, earned the win. He allowed one hit, one unearned run and no walks with two strikeouts. Starter Branden Kline tossed seven strong innings, as he surrendered only four hits, one run and five walks with five strikeouts. Tiger reliever Mike Kent (1-2) suffered the loss, as he gave up two runs on one hit in 2âÑ3 innings pitched. Daniel Gossett, like Kline, was effective in a starting role. He yielded just one run 62âÑ3 innings pitched.

The Cavaliers broke through with the game's first run in the third inning. Branden Cogswell was hit-by-pitch with one out. Two batters later with two outs, Derek Fisher walked. Jared King followed with a line-drive single to left field on an 0-2 pitch to score Cogswell.

Clemson put its first two batters of the fourth inning on base when Jay Baum reached on an error and McGibbon singled. But Spencer Kieboom flied out and Jason Stolz lined into a double play to end the inning.

In the fifth inning, Steve Wilkerson led off with a walk and moved to second two batters later on Richie Shaffer's walk. With one out, both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch, but the next two Tigers were retired. Clemson put nine batters on base in the first five innings, but failed to score.

McGibbon finally put the Tigers on the scoreboard in the sixth inning when he belted a solo homer to right field, his fourth long ball of the season.

In the top of the eighth inning, leadoff batter Brad Felder reached on a passed ball after striking out. Two batters later with one out, Felder stole second. McGibbon followed with a grounder to shortstop Chris Taylor, who booted the ball, allowing Felder to score the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the first two Cavaliers were retired. However, Brandon Downes lined a two-out single to right field, then Nate Irving was hit-by-pitch. After pinch-hitter Kenny Towns walked on six pitches to load the bases, Taylor was hit-by-pitch to plate pinch-runner Mitchell Shifflett and tie the score. Cogswell then walked on five pitches to score the go-ahead run in Irving.

Shaffer walked for the fourth time in the game with one out in the ninth inning, but Phil Pohl grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

King went 1-for-2 with an RBI and two walks to lead Virginia, who had only five hits, all singles. However, Virginia batters combined for eight walks and three hit-by-pitches. Stephen Bruno added a single to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. All three RBIs for the Cavaliers came with two outs.

McGibbon had a game-high two hits, including Clemson's only RBI on his solo homer. The Tigers stranded 11 runners on base.

Clemson will take on top-ranked and #1-seeded Florida State on Friday at 3 p.m. in the ACC Tournament. The Tigers' only path to the ACC Tournament Championship game is if Clemson wins its final two games and Virginia loses its final two games in Greensboro. ]]> Fri, 25 May 2012 00:31:48 GMT Local Sports http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0525-clemson-baseball http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/052512-USTA-Aiken--4023603
For the fourth year in a row, South Carolina's tennis elite are coming to Aiken.

The approximately 600 players, participating on 60 teams, are on hand this weekend to compete in the state's USTA South Carolina Adult League Championships. The event, which runs Saturday through Monday, is scheduled to be held at six area tennis facilities - primarily at the H. Odell Weeks Tennis Center.

This weekend will determine championships of the top-rated adult league players (4.0-5.0). There will also be three Aiken-area teams vying for titles in the 4.0 and 4.5 levels.

"They're predicting hot weather, so we're looking for a hot tournament," said Mark Calvert, the head teaching professional at the Odell Weeks Tennis Center, who has successfully coordinated the USTA championships the past three years.

"The thing that makes (the tournament) special is how nice the facilities are and how nice the town is. I hear it over and over," Calvert said of the reaction he receives from participants and USTA officials.

According to a release from the USTA, prior to the inaugural tournament in 2009, players from across the state were skeptical of the event being hosted in Aiken. They quickly changed their tunes when they discovered Aiken had such a large, high-quality tennis complex and such dedicated volunteers working at the tournament.

Melanie Peebles, a player from Columbia, said she was impressed with "the huge number of courts, the nice restaurants downtown and the great playground beside the courts where I could take my daughter when I wasn't playing."

Now, the championships are looked forward to by players and volunteers alike. According to the release, USTA South Carolina director of leagues Mary Goins has been impressed by the Odell Weeks Tennis Center each year.

"The staff of the tennis center has been fantastic every year we've been here," Goins said, describing their ability to deal with issues ranging from extreme heat, rain and even sore losers. "They have been eager to go above and beyond everything we've asked of them."

"At the end, there's only one winner, so you try to accommodate the best you can so (the players) have a good experience, even if they don't win," said Calvert, who pinpointed the caliber of participants as one of the key ingredients to the tournament's previous success. "They have to win their local league championship to advance here. The players are the best from across the state."

He also said his staff and others running the event in Aiken play a pivotal role because of their hospitality as well as the quality of the facilities. Under Calvert's guidance, the Odell Weeks Tennis Center has been transformed from a few paved courts into an ideal site for USTA events. It has 10 clay courts and six hard courts. The clay courts are made of Har Tru materials and maintained with a Hydro Court irrigation system. Each court has eight Musco light fixtures. There's also a top-of-the-line pro shop.

"I'm so proud to have had the opportunity to work for the City of Aiken. This is by far the biggest event we do all year, and I'm proud of the city and the people," Calvert said of the championships, which will return next year and potentially beyond since he said he hopes to continue hosting it. "We have it again next year for sure and will bid again. ... USTA officials have said they're excited to come back, and all of the tennis players here love watching it. It's some of the best tennis that comes to the city. That's a good thing."

Noah Feit is a reporter for the Aiken Standard, primarily covering sports, and has been a professional journalist for more than a dozen years after graduating from Syracuse University.

AT A GLANCE

What: South Carolina USTA 2012 adult league tennis championships (4.0-5.0)

When: Saturday through Monday

Where: Aiken facilities hosting the event

* H. Odell Weeks Tennis Center^

* Houndslake Tennis Club

* Woodside Country Club

* USC Aiken

* Reserve Tennis Club

* Fermata Tennis Club

^The semifinals and finals will be held Monday at H. Odell Weeks Tennis Center ]]> Fri, 25 May 2012 00:28:52 GMT Local Sports http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/052512-USTA-Aiken--4023603 http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/052512-hall-of-fame-burkhart--4023664
Former USC Aiken golf teammates Scott Brown and Dane Burkhart have shared countless memories on the golf course together, and they'll go into the USCA Athletic Hall of Fame side-by-side as the only two members of the Class of 2012. But their current lives couldn't be more different.

While Brown is playing his first season on the PGA Tour, Burkhart has turned his focus to other areas of his life.

"I decided last year after the tournament at Woodside on the eGolf Tour that I wanted to do something different," said the South Aiken High School graduate, who was the 2005 NCAA Division II Player of the Year. "A week to the day after that, we found out that my wife was pregnant. So the timing was perfect."

Burkhart left USCA after helping lead the Pacers to their third straight Division II national championship in 2006. He ended third all-time in career scoring for the Pacers with a 73.31 stroke average through 130 rounds. He finished the 2004-05 season with a 71.74 average, the lowest in school history, and he was the individual medalist at the 2005 national championship. A three-time All-America selection, Burkhart won six times as an individual during his college career, and the competition with his fellow Hall of Famer was a big reason for his success.

"Brownie (Scott Brown) and I had this love-hate relationship with each other in every tournament," he said, pointing out that after he won the National Player of the Year honor in 2005, Brown followed by capturing the award in 2006. "We were such fierce competitors. We were more concerned with trying to beat each other than anything else. That carried through with the rest of our team.

"I loved every minute that I was at USCA, and I learned so much from Coach (Mike) Carlisle."

Burkhart began playing professionally on eGolf's Tarheel Tour. He participated in 14 events in 2007, making 10 cuts and earning $20,687. The next year, he made 12 cuts in 15 events, taking home $27,228.

In 2009, Burkhart made 10 out of 16 cuts, his best a tie for second at the Columbia Championship. He took home $45,541 that season.

Burkhart played in only six eGolf events in 2010, making three cuts. Last year he made two cuts in six events.

During that time, the former Pacer also played events on the NGA Hooters Tour, trying to work his way toward the top.

"Every week was a good week," he said of his time as a professional. "I was getting to live the dream of playing a professional sport. I loved every minute of it. But everything that went along with it was tough.

"It was such a grind to travel, and I think that's something that anybody who plays professionally will talk about. It's a really tough life, and I knew what it was going to take to get to (the top) level. I just didn't have that drive."

So Burkhart decided it was time to spend more time with his wife, Keila, but how to make a living was another question.

"Really, all I've known for the last decade is playing golf," he said. "It took me a while to get in the swing of things and know what I wanted to do."

He first started a lawn care business, something he called his "second love," and then recently took a job with Carolina Outdoors, something he said he's really enjoyed.

Eight weeks ago, Keila gave birth to the couple's first child, a son named Asher Ryan, and now everything finally seems to be in place.

"I had wanted to be a father for some time, and it's been everything everybody said it would be," said Burkhart. "I can't believe how fast he's grown. He changes so much every day."

The good news got even better Wednesday, when, on his way to Charlotte for a Dave Matthews Band concert, Burkhart received the news from USCA athletic director Randy Warrick that he was now a Hall of Famer.

"It just made the trip even better," he said. "I'm really glad to be inducted the same time as Scott. We had such a good relationship and great teams the four years we were there together. To be inducted into any Hall of Fame is a great honor, especially USC Aiken, where we've had so many good athletes. What we did there is pretty special."

As much as he's enjoying his current career as a father, Burkhart isn't quite ready to completely give up the game that's been so good to him over the years. When asked if he missed competitive golf, his response was swift.

"Every day," he said. "I still want to compete in some respect."

Burkhart said he'll be eligible to regain his amateur status at the beginning of next year, and he is leaning toward playing future tournaments on that level.

"I had such a great time as an amateur golfer, getting to play in the U.S. Amateur and the Palmetto Amateur, and there are so many great amateur tournaments around here.

"Honestly, I always felt like I had a better chance of playing in The Masters as an amateur than as a professional."

He also may stay connected to the game from a coaching capacity. He spent the spring working with the Pacers as a volunteer assistant coach under Carlisle. Work responsibilities kept him away more than he would have liked, but he's hopeful he can spend more time on the course with USCA in the future.

"It's something I would love to do," said Burkhart. "I really love teaching golf, and I really love working with the college guys. It's something that I definitely want to have more involvement in over the next few years."

And he's confident that more national championships could be in the Pacers' future.

"The talent is there," he said. "They just need to get that taste of winning and put it all together. But they'll get there. There's no doubt they have the talent."

Two Hall of Fame coaches certainly can't hurt, either. ]]> Fri, 25 May 2012 00:28:49 GMT Local Sports http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/052512-hall-of-fame-burkhart--4023664 http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0525-clemson-meeting--4024395
Clemson trustees met Thursday to discuss conference realignment, expansion and the ACC's new television deal. The board took no votes, rather discussed issues and separated fact from Internet rumors in a private session.

Board Chairman David Wilkins said Clemson has not been in contact with any conference about leaving the ACC but said if a viable option is presented to Clemson from another conference, Clemson would have a "responsibility" to study such a proposal.

There was no indication from Wilkins that there was a serious push from board members to explore leaving the ACC. Rather, the meeting was set to gather information in response to the volume of speculation that has occurred publicly regarding realignment scenarios.

Wilkins said no other meetings have been planned and one will only take place "if necessary."

"(The ACC) is our home, and we want to make it the best home," Wilkins said.

What can the conference do to make itself a better home for Clemson and other members?

Said Wilkins: "Win football games."

If the ACC can improve its football product, its new television deal calls for renegotiation opportunities in the fifth year and the 10th year of the deal.

Thursday's meeting was called in part because Clemson has been connected to the Big 12 in Internet rumors over the last several weeks.

When asked why the Big 12 would be a good fit for Clemson - the conference is not a geographic fit and would substantially increase Clemson' travel expenses - Wilkins told the Post and Courier specifics, like travel costs, in joining the Big 12 or any other conference were not discussed Thursday.

Fueling the speculation has been the Big 12's superior TV contract to that of the ACC, a deal which offers programs $3 million more per year in average annual value and the right to sell third-tier football games. It's also unclear if the Big 12 would welcome expansion.

ACC commissioner John Swofford said in a radio interview Wednesday he would be surprised if any ACC member left the conference.

"That is part of the world we live in, unfortunately," Swofford said of realignment rumors. "Consequently, what I pay attention to, and what we pay attention to in this league, are what is said from our presidents and their ADs, and quite honestly, I have talked to each of those presidents within the last 48 hours, and that's not at all what I'm hearing from our schools."

Clemson board members held a similar meeting last year when rumors had connected Clemson to the Southeastern Conference. And last year Clemson President James Barker and the board stated their commitment to the ACC, where Clemson is an original member. ]]> Fri, 25 May 2012 00:28:34 GMT Local Sports http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0525-clemson-meeting--4024395 http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0525-pojah-draft--4023926
GASTONIA, N.C. -- Former USC Aiken men's basketball player Jeremiah Pojah was selected in the third round of the 2012 World Basketball Association Exposure League Draft by the Gastonia Gamers.

Music business mogul Leroy McMath founded the WBA Exposure League to educate, develop and expose talented players to the NBA, the D-League and International scouts. The WBA (headquartered in Atlanta) has served as home to hoop stars such as Jamario Moon of the Charlotte Bobcats, the Los Angeles Lakers' Josh Powell and Anthony Grundy, who played for the Atlanta Hawks.

The Gastonia Gamers are the newest addition to the WBA Exposure League, which features seven organizations in total, including the Gamers, in the Gwinett Majic (Buford, Ga.), Conyers Court Kings (Conyers, Ga.), Atlanta Blaze (Atlanta), Upstate Heat (Anderson), Mauldin Stars (Mauldin) and Rome Gladiators (Rome, Ga.).

Pojah ended his lone season in a Pacer uniform in the 2011-12 season starting 25 games. He played in all 29 USCA games.

Pojah averaged 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He scored in double figures nine times this past season for the Pacers. He claimed two double-doubles.

Pojah joins a decorated list of former players under two-time Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year Vince Alexander who have gone on to play professional basketball. ]]> Fri, 25 May 2012 00:22:17 GMT Local Sports http://www.aikenstandard.com/story/0525-pojah-draft--4023926