News digest, April 24

In Tim Wallace's 33-year tenure at Spartanburg Methodist,
dozens of his players have gone on to play at four-year
 schools or for professional teams. (Palmetto State Baseball photo) 

Pioneers' Wallace hits another milestone

Wednesday's 11-0 win over Caldwell Tech was victory No. 1,350 of Tim Wallace's tenure as coach at Spartanburg Methodist College.

Wallace, in his 33rd season, has taken seven SMC teams to the NJCAA College World Series in grand Junction, Colo.

The Lancaster native played and Baptist College (now Charleston Southern) and Wofford before spending seven seasons as a professional player. He is in the Wofford College Athletic Hall of Fame and the NJCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

SMC is in its final season as a two-year school and will begin fielding teams as a four-year school beginning in 2025.

Gamecocks to honor Bradley

Lindell Bradley, the first African-American baseball player at the University of South Carolina, will be honored by the school in conjunction with Baseball Alumni Weekend.

Bradley came to USC from Butler High School, a black high school in Hartsville.  He played on the freshman team in 1986 and the varsity in 1969 before concentrating on his academic career.

He will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Sunday's game with Kentucky.

Below are links to details about him being honored and to a feature story written by Brad Muller of Gamecocksonline.com
Bradley honors
Bradley interview

Rankings

NCAA DII Southeast Region (in alphabetical order): Barton, Catawba, Columbus State, Lander, Lincoln Memorial, Mount Olive, North Greenville, UNC Pembroke, Young Harris.
NCAA

NCBWA DII
* National: 1. Tampa. 3. North Greenville.
* Southeast Region: 1. North Greenville. 2. Young Harris. 3. Mount Olive. 4. Catawba. 5. Lander. 6.

UNC-Pembroke. 7. Barton. 8. Georgia College. 9. North Georgia. 10. Georgia Southwestern.
Scribes

Honors

* Stopper of the year midseason watch list: Davis Aiken, College of Charleston; Garrett Gainey, South Carolina; Johnny Hummel, Kentucky (Erskine transfer).

Stopper