News digest, polls, June 3

Cougars' Thornton named regional MVP
The latest sign I'm getting old: College of Charleston freshman Tyler Thornton, who was named the most valuable player of the Gainesville regional of the NCAA Tournament, is the son of former Wade Hampton High pitcher Mark Thornton, whom I covered during my newspaper days.

The younger Thornton pitched a complete game as the Cougars beat Long Beach State, 4-2, on Monday to cap a 3-0 run through the regional.

The Cougars of coach Monte Lee travel to Texas Tech for a best-of-three super regional matchup this weekend. The series winner advances to the College World Series in Omaha later this month.

Teammate joining Thornton on the all-regional team were catcher Ben Boykin of Nation Ford High and Spartanburg Methodist College and outfielders Brandon Murray and  Morgan Phillips.

Conway's Holmes No. 16 on Baseball America list
Pitcher Grant Holmes of Conway High School is Np. 16 on Baseball America's list of the top 500 prospects for the Major League Baseball Draft. Holmes, a Florida signee and brother of former University of South Carolina pitcher Colby Holmes, is scheduled to attend the draft's first round Thursday night. Also scheduled to be in the New York area for the draft is No. 26 prospect Michael Chavis, an infielder and Clemson recruit from Marietta (Ga.) Sprayberry High.

Other players with S.C. connections (please share other ties you may know of):
68. Austin DeCarr, RHP, Salisbury, Conn. (Clemson recruit)
86. Grayson Greiner, C, U. of South Carolina & Blythewood High
90. Daniel Gossett, RHP, Clemson & Byrnes High
115. Chad Sobotka, RHP, USC Upstate
119. Nick Wells, LHP, Gainesville, Va. (College of Charleston recruit)
120. Jordan Montgomery, LHP, USC & Sumter High
157. Mason McCullough, RHP, Lander
206. Joey Pankake, 3B/OF, USC & Easley High
211. Clark Scolamiero, OF, Greenville High (USC recruit)
212. Tanner English, OF, USC & St. James High
230. Gunnar Heidt, SS, College of Charleston & St. James High
241. Hunter Cole, OF/3B, Dorman High (University of Georgia)
243. Wesley Rogers, OF, Spartanburg Methodist & Mann High
246. Alex Destino, P/OF, North Buncombe High, Weaverville, NC (USC recruit)
248, Hunter Taylor, C/3B/OF, Onley, Va. (USC recruit)
331. Drew Ellis, OF/1B, Blythewood High (The Citadel recruit)
347. Madison Stokes, 2B/3B, Flora High (USC recruit)
351. Ben Smith, LHP, Coastal Carolina
385. Brandon Murray, RHP, Hobart, Ind. (USC recruit)
426. Caleb Smith, LHP, USC Aiken & South Aiken High
481. K.J. Bryant, OF, Wade Hampton High (Greenville)
495. Braden Webb, RHP, Owasso, Okla. (USC recruit)

BA 500

Polls
Collegiate Baseball
NCAA DI: 1. Louisiana Lafayette. 16. College of Charleston. 25. South Carolina
CB DI

NCAA DII: 1. Southern Indiana. 4. Lander. 24. USC Aiken.
CB DII

High school: 1. Lambert (Suwanee, Ga. ) 18. Sumter.
CB HS

PerfectGame.org
NCAA DII: 1. Southern Indiana. 5. Lander. 20. USC Aiken.
PG DII 

Junior college: 1. Orange Coast (Calif.) 10. Spartanburg Methodist. 32. USC Sumter
PG JC

High school: 1. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.). 17. Sumter. 23. Flora.
PG HS

Honors
NJCAA All-American
Honorable mention: Matt White, IF, Spartanburg Methodist.
JC AA