Local Sports

USC Softball Adds NJCAA All-American Shannon Plese for 2016-17

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina head coach Beverly Smith added a fourth member to her incoming group for the 2016-17 academic year, inking NJCAA All-American outfielder Shannon Plese to a scholarship after Plese’s two-year stint at Chattanooga State. A two-time NJCAA All-American for the Tigers, Plese hit .436 with a .623 slugging percentage in two years, scoring 142 runs and…

Clemson Finishes 5th in Capital One Cup Standings

CLEMSON, S.C. – Spurred by national championship appearances in football and men’s soccer, Clemson finished 2015-16 ranked 5th in the men’s standings of the Capital One Cup, the Tigers’ highest finish in the six years of the Cup. Stanford claimed its first Capital One Cup on the men’s side, with Southern California earning the women’s Cup. Schools earn points based…

Clemson’s Watson/Boulware to Attend ACC Kickoff Next Week

GREENSBORO, NC (ACC) –The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Monday the names of the 28 football student-athletes who have been chosen by its 14 league schools to attend the 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference Football Kickoff, July 21-22 at the Westin Charlotte located in Charlotte, N.C. Coaches and student-athletes from ACC Coastal Division schools will be available on Thursday, July 21, with…

Steve Spurrier’s New Book Available in August

NEW YORK, NY (Penguin Random House) — College football’s most colorful, endearing, and successful pioneer, Steve Spurrier, shares his story of a life in football — from growing up in Tennessee to winning the Heisman Trophy to playing and coaching in the pros to leading the Florida Gators to six SEC Championships and a National Championship to elevating the South…

Tankersley Named to Thorpe Watch List

Clemson, S.C. (CAC) — Clemson senior cornerback Cordrea Tanklersley has been named to the Watch List for the 2016 Jim Thorpe Award. The award was established in 1986 and is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled not only as a running back, passer, and kicker on the offensive side of the ball; but also stood out…

Dawn Staley Hires Melanie Balcomb as Director of Analytics

COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) – South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley announced today that veteran coach Melanie Balcomb will join the Gamecocks’ staff as director of coaching offensive analytics for the 2016-17 season. The addition of Balcomb, who brings 22 years of head coaching experience, including 13 in the SEC, will assist the staff in developing strategies for…

Gamecock Men’s Basketball Set for August Foreign Tour to Costa Rica

COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) — The University of South Carolina men’s basketball team will embark on a six-day foreign tour in Costa Rica, August 6-12, fifth-year head coach Frank Martin announced on Monday. The Gamecocks will play two games versus the Costa Rica National Team and will have one day of combined practice with the Team while on the tour,…

Irmo’s Dustin Johnson to Tee Off at 9:04 a.m. Thursday at the Open Championship

ROYAL TROON (AP) — Colin Montgomerie will hit the opening tee shot at Royal Troon in what likely will be his final Open Championship. Montgomerie’s father was a longtime secretary at Royal Troon, so this effectively is his home course on the Open rotation. The 53-year-old Scot went through final local qualifying to make it back to golf’s oldest championship….