News Digest, Jan. 10

Sanford proposes closing 3 USC branch campusesS.C. Governor Mark Sanford has presented a budget proposal for 2009-10 that would close the University of South Carolina's branch campuses in Allendale (Salkehatchie), Lancaster and Union.

That would, of course, spell the end for the baseball programs at Allendale and Lancaster.

Sanford has proposed killing branch campuses before, although the attempt failed.

Paladins get commitment
Alex Abrams, a junior at Charleston's Bishop England High School, has committed to play baseball at Furman, the Post-Courier in Charleston reports. Abrams plays shortstop and third base and also pitches for the Bishops.

Junior picks Paladins

Braves sign Stinger
The UNC-Pembroke Braves -- the NCAA hasn't finished bullying them into changing their nickname yet -- signed Florence-Darlington Tech shortstop Aaron Parnell as part of their recruiting class for the 2010 season.

The school was founded in 1887 by and far American Indians/Native Americans, and in 2005 received NCAA approval to keep its Braves nickname.

Just wait. The Political Correctness police will get back on the case sometime in the future.

UNCP Braves sign Parnell

Rivals begins countdownRivals.com has begun its top 25 preseason countdown, slotting Oklahoma at No. 25. If a South Carolina schools cracks the rankings, we'll post a specific link. Otherwise, click on the link below daily for the countdown.

Rivals.com countdown