By MONTE DUTTON
I don’t know anything about new Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales – I only recently learned what he looks like – but I’ve noticed from his remarks on the NFL draft that he is a major-league “you-knower.”
Saying “you know” an average of twice a sentence is not a disqualifier. Many successful people say you know, you know.
Some keep asking questions as they talk. We turned the ball over too much, right? Why? Well, we played hard but stupid, right? You saw it. Right?
I say “actually” too much. Like Gomer Pyle’s girlfriend, Lou-Ann Poovie. Wayul, Gomuh, actuuuaaaalllyyy …
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., last aired in 1969.
Shazam.
As times goes on, people start skipping T’s more, which plays right into the hands of those of us who grew up in Clinton. Or, Clinnon. It’s morphing into Cli’un.
I di’unt know.
This isn’t unusual. Broadcasters often say the county seat Lorins, as if the Lorax lived there, instead of Laurens. I’ve watched heated arguments over Climzon or Climpson. Some pronounce the state Saw Cuhlina. A Southerner might vacation in How are ya instead of Hawaii.
Well, I’m great. I’m in Hawaii.
The way to pronounce a place is the way the natives do. In Egypt, it’s Kyro. In Illinois, it’s Karo, like the syrup.
Meanwhile, reckon what’s going on at Prezbuhterian? No, no, no. It’s Pressbuhterian.
Late Saturday afternoon, with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the ninth inning, USC Upstate sent in a pitcher with an 8.44 earned average, Darin Kuskie, to face a batter, Joel Dragoo, with a .407 batting average.
And lived to tell the tale.
The Spartans led, 5-2. Kuskie walked Dragoo, unintentionally but carefully, and the bases were still loaded at 5-3, which became the final score because Noah Lebron grounded out to end the Big South Conference baseball game.
The middle game of three at Elton Pollock Field also got tense at the end. PC won the opener, 10-9.
Leader USC Upstate (28-15, 13-4) pulled two games ahead of Presbyterian (21-22, 11-6) in the conference standings. Only the top four of Big South’s nine members qualify for the conference tournament on May 23-25.
At present, Upstate is first, followed by High Point (11-4), PC (11-6) and Charleston Southern (9-6). UNC Asheville is fifth at 8-9.
First baseman Eli Lazio put the Blue Hose on top in the bottom of the third inning with a solo bomb off Upstate starter Henry Proger, but the Spartans took the lead in the fourth with a pair of runs off PC starter Charlie McDaniel, who wasn’t around for the decision because the Blue Hose tied it in the fifth on shortstop Brody Fahr’s RBI single.
It was McDaniel’s record 52nd start at PC.
It was Sean Hollister (1-2) who took the loss. McDaniel, Hollister, Yechiel Saint and Robbie Boykin saw mound action. The last two turned in shutout innings that kept the Spartans at bay.
The star was Upstate’s right fielder, Koby Kropf, who went 5/5 with a solo homer and scored twice. Grant Sherrod doubled for his only hit in five at-bats, and Jake Armsey went 2/3.
Three Blue Hose hitters – Fahr, catcher Ryan Becker and Lazio – each collected two hits.
No one in the game had more than one run batted in. One difference in the game was the Upstate had one more hit (10-9) and PC had one more error (2-1).
The series comes down to Sunday’s finale at 2 p.m.
Take a look at the box here.
The Blue Hose endured a doubleheader loss in Boiling Springs, N.C., where Gardner-Webb (32-19, 8-9) crashed Presbyterian (14-33, 4-10) by scores of 7-1 and 4-1 on Saturday.
Andrea Lyon (W, 12-7) stopped the Blue Hose on two hits, a walk and six strikeouts.
The PC hits were a double by third baseman Kelby Goodrum and a single by second baseman Kaitlyn Tucker.
Jenna Greene (L, 7-14) lasted 4-2/3 innings, yielding seven hits and earned runs along with five walks and five strikeouts. Kasey Wolfe finished up.
Lyon doubled and left fielder Adrienne Visintine homered for the Bulldogs, who banged out nine hits, two by catcher Taylor Dreher.
Lyon doubled again in the nightcap, going 2/3.
Tucker and left fielder Morgan Farthing doubled. Tucker drove in the PC run. Goodrum, Emily Yanes and Mallory Fletched singled.
Peyton Duncan (L, 3-10) went five innings before yielding the circle to Wolfe.
Elle Doolittle (W, 5-6) allowed four hits but no walks in 5-13 innings for GWU, Kalyn Kyle earned a save.
Presbyterian has lost nine consecutive games. The next is the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Two PC athletes used the occasion of the Appalachian State Open in Boone, N.C., to set school track records.
Senior William Johnson capped his career with a record mile time of 4:30.42. Nizeyimana Aristide set a 200-meter mak with a 23.47 time.
I’d like to thank Steamers Restaurant, which I will miss for many reasons, for its longtime support of this site. It’s been one of my hangouts as well as one of my advertisers.
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