Former USC All-America pitcher Earl Bass says he keeps up with his team and hopes to see them back in Omaha.

     "I told Ray Tanner it would be great to three-peat," Bass said.

     Earl was 34-3 at USC, helping the Gamecocks to the College World Series and a runner-up finish in 1975. He went straight from college to Class AAA with the St. Louis Cardinals, but arm injuries short-circuited his career.

     "It was great times," Bass said.  "We had a lot of competitors by then."