By MONTE DUTTON

Two baseball memories for a Wednesday. I’ve got a lot of Furman baseball memories. Apparently, I’m not getting any more.

Dum spiro spero.

I was in San Diego, Calif., in the middle of Fernandomania. I saw Valenzuela pitch against the Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium. It was the wildest scene I’ve ever seen at a baseball game and, mind you, I’ve seen the Yankees play the Red Sox at Fenway.

I’m not sure if the players hated one another, but the fans did. I remember there were platforms in front of lower outfield stands, where police were posted to break up frequent fights between fans.

I was safe, but I’m glad I brought binoculars. My mind’s eye tells me I was watching from the third-base side.

San Diego is near the Mexican border, and thousands of Dodger-loving immigrants were there, worshipful of El Toro.

Valenzuela died at 63. Younger than I.

Charlie did stats at several race tracks. He was a stereotype of Yankees fans. I may have been a stereotype of Red Sox fans. Charlie knew I loved the Beantown lads, and he had ragged me mercilessly after Aaron Boone’s homer beat Boston in the 2003 ALCS.

When the teams played again in the 2004 ALCS, I watched six of the seven games. In the third game, I was at Charlotte Motor Speedway (it may have been Lowe’s then), distracted but not much because New York won at Fenway Park, 19-8.

Charlie took time off from his hectic duties to walk down to my seat in the press box to rag me mercilessly again. I took it. How could I not? The Yankees led, 3-0.

The next four games I remember better than some that were last week.

I didn’t see Charlie again until February in Daytona Beach, Fla. I was in the infield media lounge having lunch, and Charlie walked in. He walked over and said, reluctantly, “Congratulations on the Red Sox finally winning one.”

I wanted so badly to take the high road. “Thanks a lot, Charlie.”

He couldn’t resist. “I guess even the biggest chokers in history can get it right once.”

One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three …

“I guess I take some consolation in the fact that, when the Sox finally beat them, it was the biggest choke in the history of sports,” I said.

How could it be 20 years?

Furman held Wofford to just one shot on target, and Wilfer Bustamante and Christian Kraus netted goals as the Paladins blanked the Terriers, 2-0, in Southern Conference men’s soccer on Tuesday evening at Stone Stadium.

After a scoreless first half, Furman jumped on top in the 53^rd minute when Diego Hernandez played a pass ahead to Bustamante inside the right side of the box, and the freshman cut inside his defender and placed a shot into the left-hand corner. The goal at the 52:46 mark was the third of the season for Bustamante.

The Paladins added an insurance goal in the 86^th minute. Wofford was whistled for a handball on the left side of the box and Kraus converted from the penalty spot for his team-best fifth goal of the campaign.

The Furman defense limited Wofford to just three total shots and one shot on target, and sophomore Aaron Salinas needed just one save to record the shutout. All told, the Paladins managed a 15-3 advantage in total shots and 6-1 edge in shots on goal. Leo Ledin made four saves in a losing effort for the Terriers.

Furman improves to 7-3-2 overall and 2-1 in league play, while Wofford slides to 5-5-2 and 1-2 in the SoCon.

The Paladins travel to Johnson City, Tenn., on Saturday to face ETSU. Kickoff is 6 p.m.

Women’s cross country is ranked 20th nationally and fourth in the NCAA Southeast Region, while the Paladin men’s team ranks 23rd nationally and fourth in the region, according to the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association rankings.

The previously unranked Paladin men took down eight ranked teams, including No. 13 Washington, 14th-ranked Michigan, and No. 15 Eastern Kentucky, at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals Saturday in Madison, Wis.

The Paladins defend their titles at the SoCon championship on Nov. 2 in Greenville.

Defender Slade Starnes received SoCon Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week accolades.

Starnes, a native of Dallas, Texas, totaled a goal and two assists while helping the Paladins to a 2-0 record with victories over Presbyterian and VMI.

CBS Sports Network will televise a pair of Furman men’s basketball games this season as part of its five-game Southern Conference package.

Furman’s Jan. 29 meeting versus defending SoCon champion Samford at Bon Secours Wellness Arena will air live on the network at 6 p.m. Just four days later, CBS Sports Network will air Furman’s road contest versus ETSU in Johnson City, Tenn., on Feb. 2. The game is set for a 2 p.m. tip-off at Freedom Hall.

Furman opens its season on Sunday with a charity exhibition versus SEC power Auburn at Bon Secours.

SoCon Men’s Basketball on CBS Sports Network
Wednesday, Jan. 1                  UNCG at Wofford, Noon
Thursday, Jan. 9                      UNCG at Chattanooga, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 18                     ETSU at Samford, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 29                Samford at Furman, 6 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 2                        Furman at ETSU, 2 p.m. (moved from Feb. 1)

I’ve laid around and played around this old town too long / Summer’s almost gone, Lord, winter’s coming on – Billy Grammer

Wellpilgrim.com is trying its best – translation: I’m trying – to describe the highs and lows and avoid the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Highs and lows are inevitable because all the games have a loser and a winner, and  Wellpilgrim.com is trying its best – translation: I’m trying – to describe the highs and lows and avoid the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

Highs and lows are inevitable because all the games have a loser and a winner, and when it’s done, they are the same number.

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