Dec. 3, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – USA Baseball, in coordination with the United States Olympic Committee, announced Wednesday that Ray Tanner is the 2003 USA Baseball Coach of the Year. Tanner, who served as head coach for the 2003 USA Baseball National Team, led his team to a 27-2 record this summer and a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Team USA finished with a 27-2 record this summer and the highest ever winning percentage in the history of the program (.931). The Red, White & Blue started off on a 25-game winning streak that included the first five-game series sweep of Japan in the annual USA/Japan Collegiate Championship Series. The sweep of Japan extended a USA tradition of never having lost the annual series on USA soil.

Right-handed pitcher Huston Street (University of Texas) was named 2003 USA Baseball Athlete of the Year after posting a 0.00 ERA in 14 games and earning his only victory in a 3-2 win over Mexico in 14 innings. Street hurled eight 2/3 innings not allowing a run in the victory for Team USA. Other 2003 USA Baseball award winners were Don Freeman (Developmental Coach of the Year), and Jim Phipps (Volunteer Coach of the Year).

Coach Tanner is entering his eighth season as head coach at the University of South Carolina. Under Tanner, Carolina has made two straight appearances in the College World Series (2002, 2003) and reached the NCAA Super Regionals four consecutive years. Carolina has also won two of the last four SEC Championships and four of the last five SEC Eastern Division Titles. South Carolina is the second winningest program in the nation over the last four years (207-70). Coach Tanner owns a 319-135 record at South Carolina and is 714-308-3 in 16 years as head coach in collegiate baseball.

South Carolina returns to the field to open the 2004 season on Saturday, February 7 at Wofford. The Gamecocks’ home opener is scheduled for Friday, February 13 at 3 p.m. vs. Charleston Southern at Sarge Frye Field.