Time heals all wounds

Former JSU pitcher and big-league All-Star Todd Jones will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before tonight's game with Troy.

Nine years ago, when the Gamecocks were looking for a successor for legendary coach Rudy Abbott, Jones pitched hard for longtime JSU assistant coach Skipper Jones to get the job -- to the degree of threatening to rescind his JSU Hall of Fame enshrinement if it didn't happen.

The Gamecocks went in another direction, hiring Jim Case as their new baseball coach and Case has been in place ever since, directing the club to several conference titles and NCAA Regional appearances. Jones remains in the JSU Hall of Fame.

And now he's throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for a game against one of the Gamecocks' biggest former (and perhaps future?) rivals. Apparently, time does heal all wounds.

Baseball vs. Troy, ppd.

Jacksonville State officials on Monday postponed Tuesday's scheduled baseball game with Troy in anticipation of inclement weather.

The teams still will play a home-and-home series this season.

With the change, the March 23 game originally scheduled for Troy will now be played at Rudy Abbott Field, while the return game will be played at Troy May 5.

The Gamecocks are 2-6 after dropping two of three games in a wildly scoring series with Southern Illinois. The Trojans are 3-4 after being swept by No. 17 Arkansas over the weekend.