South Carolina's Tanner likes young arms

COLUMBIA, S.C. - They&#39;re far from South Carolina&#39;s vaunted ``Killer Bs&#39;&#39; of a few years back. But Gamecocks coach Ray Tanner says the young arms in his starting rotation are more than up to the job of winning games down the stretch this season.<br> <br> ``I don&#39;t know you ever feel that you&#39;re locked in,&#39;&#39; Tanner said Tuesday. ``But for the most part we&#39;ve done a good job on the mound this season.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Tanner hopes his trio of young starters in sophomore Wynn Pelzer and freshmen Mike Cisco and Will Atwood continue to pitch well as the Gamecocks (32-12) head into the final month.<br> <br> When the season began, Tanner knew he wouldn&#39;t have a group like 2000 when Kip Bouknight, Peter Bauer and Scott Barber dubbed the ``Killer Bs&#39;&#39; combined for 39 victories and helped the Gamecocks to a school-record 56 wins. All three were drafted after the season ended.<br> <br> Still, Tanner figured on more experience than he&#39;s trotting out there now.<br> <br> Juniors Arik Hempy and Forrest Beverly were supposed to anchor the rotation. Instead, Hempy had ``Tommy John&#39;&#39; surgery on his left elbow last month and is gone for the year. Beverly was moved from his starting spot after allowing 23 runs in six Southeastern Conference starts.<br> <br> That opened the door for Pelzer, who had only one SEC start last year, and Atwood to move up.<br> <br> Cisco is the ``veteran&#39;&#39; of the group, who became the Gamecocks Friday starter before the SEC season began and owns wins against Auburn, Florida, LSU and Ole Miss.<br> <br> ``We&#39;re using, probably, a little more youth than I can ever remember,&#39;&#39; the coach said.<br> <br> Does Tanner like counting on so many untested pitchers?<br> <br> ``Not particularly,&#39;&#39; he said. ``But they&#39;ve earned it. That&#39;s the thing.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The three showed their moxie this past weekend in a three-game series with Mississippi State.<br> <br> Pelzer kicked things off Friday night with a stellar performance against the Bulldogs. He gave up five hits and two runs over 8 1-3 innings in South Carolina&#39;s 11-5 victory.<br> <br> Cisco, shuffled to Saturday, probably had one of his shakier outings. He gave up six runs (just three were earned) and eight hits as the Gamecocks fell 7-2.<br> <br> Then Atwood held Mississippi State to two runs over six innings as the Gamecocks used a five-run rally in the bottom of the 11th to win 9-7.<br> <br> Beverly will be used in the bullpen and in midweek starts. He&#39;ll throw at Wofford on Wednesday night.<br> <br> ``You&#39;d like to have every situation offensively, defensively, on the mound, out of the bullpen with guys that have a lot of stripes on their sleeve,&#39;&#39; Tanner said. ``But that&#39;s not always the case.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> With less than a month left before the SEC and NCAA tournaments, Tanner said his pitchers aren&#39;t as young as they used to be.<br> <br> Cisco agrees. ``We&#39;ve all had experience to this point, which has been good,&#39;&#39; said Cisco, a right-hander who is 5-1.<br> <br> South Carolina has three SEC series left at Georgia, home against Tennessee and then at Vanderbilt before the league tournament starts May 24. Barring a total collapse, the Gamecocks should reach the NCAA tournament and have solid shot at hosting a regional.<br> <br> What Tanner likes best about his mound choices are the way they&#39;ve kept South Carolina in games long enough for the offense to click in.<br> <br> Cisco thinks South Carolina is blessed with depth in its starters and relievers. ``Us being good is good enough,&#39;&#39; he said. ``If we just do our job and put the team in position to win, it&#39;ll work out for us.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)