Friday, Jan. 04, 2008

Conway, CF baseball players sign letters of intent

Baseball players from Conway and Carolina Forest will sign letters of intent to attend South Carolina universities during the early signing period, which began Wednesday for all sports except football.

Carolina Forest first baseman and pitcher John Gump had decided to play collegiately at Erskine University, and Conway shortstop Jeff Caskey will play at Lander University.

Gump has started for Jack Jolly's Panthers for two seasons and lettered for three.

As a junior, Gump batted .393 with 26 RBIs and eight home runs, earning all-region honors. He also scored 27 runs and had 10 doubles. He had a 5-3 record as a pitcher with a 2.75 earned run average. Those numbers were improved from 2005, when he batted .348 and was 4-2 on the mound with a 3.55 ERA.

``I like Erksine because of the atmosphere,'' Gump said. ``Everybody was really nice and they made me feel at home.''

Gump said Erskine - a Division II member of the Conference Carolinas - recruited him because of his ability at the plate and is considering playing him at third or first base or in the outfield. Erskine is in Due West, S.C., about halfway between Greenwood and Anderson.

Caskey, a Toast of the Coast performer during the 2007 season, will sign with Lander today. Caskey, also a standout receiver for Conway's football program, batted .402 with 25 RBIs, three home runs and seven stolen bases.

``I went on my visit about a month ago and I just felt comfortable with the coaches and their vision for the program,'' he said. ``It's a smaller school and I never really wanted to go to a big school.''

Lander is a member of the Division II Peach Belt Conference, which includes schools from Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Lander is in Greenwood.

The early signing period ends Wednesday. Any high school athlete can sign during that period except football players, who must wait until Feb. 6.

Several other area athletes will sign or have already signed letters of intent, including Waccamaw tennis player Wesley Moran, who is bound for Clemson. Conway softball player Evan Childs will play at South Carolina.

Moran, the reigning Toast of the Coast boys Player of the Year, led Waccamaw to its first state championship this year. He committed to the Tigers last March and hasn't wavered on his commitment.

Moran started as Waccamaw's No. 5 and slowly improved each season.

``Clemson always tries to recruit the best kid they can get out of South Carolina,'' Waccamaw coach James Brown said. ``I think he can come in now and play. It's unbelievable how far he's come.

``He's got to be one of the top 20 18-year-olds in the country.''

Childs committed to South Carolina in September. A three-sport athlete at Conway, she chose the Gamecocks over numerous other offers, including ones from Mississippi State, Liberty, Charlotte, Charleston Southern, Winthrop and Belmont. She batted .551 with six home runs and 37 RBIs last season.