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CHARLESTON

South Carolina played a baseball game against the College of Charleston on Thursday. And really, it shouldn’t be a big deal. But time transforms small things into big things.

It’s why a few months ago, Charleston coach Chad Holbrook sat in his office and looked like a man who had just been told a great-great uncle he never met left him a hefty inheritance. In shock, he told everyone that new South Carolina coach Paul Mainieri had not just agreed to play his squad, but USC would come to Charleston for an exhibition.

“I think there was a hesitation because I think Chad fell off his chair and he had to pick himself up. He said, ‘Are you serious?’ ” Mainieri said. “I just noticed on the schedule that the College of Charleston hadn’t been on for a couple years and I didn’t really understand why.”

The answer made even less sense after Thursday. After 3,412 folks bought tickets for a fall scrimmage at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, home of the Charleston RiverDogs. After CoC beat its Division I counterparts to the northwest, 12-11.

It was the first time South Carolina baseball played the College of Charleston since 2018 — a 9-0 CofC win in Holbrook’s first year as Cougars coach. The last time the Gamecocks played the Cougars in the Lowcountry was in 2013, Holbrook’s first season as the head coach at South Carolina. (USC won that game 3-1.)

Before taking over the Gamecocks program, Holbrook served on coach Ray Tanner’s staff for four seasons — including the 2010 and 2011 national championship campaigns. In that time, Holbrook said, Tanner shared a philosophy.

“Hey, you’re the head coach at South Carolina,” Holbrook said Tanner told him. “You should play all the teams in the state of South Carolina.”

“He thought it was his responsibility as the flagship university in the state,” Holbrook said. “I hope we’re back on that. I think Paul agrees with Coach Tanner in that regard: ‘We’ll play South Carolina any time we can.’ ”

Mainieri seemed to enjoy the experience, just not the final outcome. He is one for using his platform as an SEC head coach to lift up smaller programs. A few weeks ago, Air Force — where Mainieri coached from 1989-94 — came to Founders Park for a unique fall exhibition.

Though South Carolina had released its full non-conference schedule, it was announced Thursday that the Gamecocks and Cougars will meet again on Tuesday, March 18 at Segra Park in Columbia.

And just like Thursday, it won’t be a guaranteed victory for the Gamecocks. Last season, College of Charleston went 41-14 but was left out of the NCAA Tournament.

“I wanted to play as good a team as we could find,” Mainieri said. “And I thought College of Charleston was a great team. I know how much Chad appreciated that we came over here.”

Holbrook joked that he came into the scrimmage with this plan for all the pitchers he wanted to use and a real solid idea about how to use the exhibition to help his squad.

Then he got into the sixth inning. The Cougars hit two home runs, scored seven runs and led 10-5. Holbrook’s plan flew to the Charleston wind.

“Oh, the hell with that. You’re trying to win,” Holbrook said with a grin.

South Carolina provided drama in the ninth inning, with a two-run Evan Stone home run that put the Gamecocks down one with one out to spare. They couldn’t pull out the miracle.

Will Tippett grounded out. CoC second baseman Ethan Plyler snatched the ball and spiked it into the dirt, letting out a primal scream. A few Cougars sprinted out of the dugout like this was a win in May.

Don’t tell them Thursday was just an exhibition, perhaps answering a question that should have never been asked.

“Yes,” Holbrook said, “we should play every year.”

This story was originally published November 7, 2024, 10:41 PM.

| Nov 07 2024 at 11:30 AM | Ports & Terminals

SC Ports, the International Longshoreman’s Association, Coalition 18 and the Maritime Association of South Carolina are partnering again this year to fulfill the holiday wish lists of South Carolina foster children.

Charleston’s maritime community is encouraging its partners, businesses and area residents to donate to the Maritime Toy Drive with the goal of filling a 40-foot ONE shipping container with toys by Dec. 13. Donations will be distributed to foster children in South Carolina by the S.C. Department of Social Services.

This is the maritime community’s third annual toy drive in Charleston. These efforts have collected thousands of toys for foster children in South Carolina.

“SC Ports is dedicated year-round to connecting with local communities and giving back to our citizens,” SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin said. “South Carolina’s maritime community is teaming up again to make the holidays brighter for foster children in our state. We encourage people and businesses to join us in supporting such a wonderful cause.”

“The International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1422, Local 1422-A and Local 1771 believe in service and giving back to our community,” said Yvette Flowers, Secretary Treasurer of ILA Local 1422. “We hope others in the Lowcountry will join our maritime community and support South Carolina children this holiday season.”

“The trucking community delivers goods to homes and businesses every day, and we are proud to participate in the Maritime Toy Drive to give back to children who are so deserving of happy holidays,” said Juan Gordon, president of trucking organization Coalition 18. “We want to inspire the community to go even bigger this year. Every little bit counts.”

"Collaboration and community service are at the heart of the maritime industry," said Taylor Jackson, President and CEO of the Maritime Association of South Carolina. "We're honored to support this meaningful initiative and invite others to join us in making a lasting impact on the lives of South Carolina children during this season of generosity."

How to donate:

Please bring unwrapped toys to SC Ports headquarters (200 Ports Authority Drive, Mount Pleasant, SC), or purchase toys online through the wish lists below. When checking out, please make sure to select the gift registry shipping address.

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November 7, 2024 - ECHL (ECHL)

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - The South Carolina Stingrays are proud to announce a new partnership with Mercedes-Benz Vans Charleston for the 2024-25 hockey season. Together, they are launching the "Sprinting Forward, Winning for STEM" initiative to support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in the Lowcountry.

For every Stingrays victory this season, Mercedes-Benz Vans Charleston will pledge $100 towards a scholarship fund that will be awarded to a local teacher or school. This scholarship will help provide essential equipment and materials for STEM education in the classroom, furthering the community's commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators.

The initiative will be celebrated as part of the Stingrays' annual STEM Night, which engages students and families in hands-on learning activities. This year's STEM Night will take place on March 21, 2025. By tying each Stingrays win to a positive impact on education, the "Sprinting Forward, Winning for STEM" program will bring added excitement to every game while making a lasting difference in local classrooms.

"The partnership was a natural integration for our STEM Night," said Kerri White, Stingrays Vice President of Corporate Partnerships. "The initiative provides an opportunity to further connect our fans with Mercedes-Benz Vans Charleston and showcase their impact in the community."

This partnership aligns with Mercedes-Benz Vans Charleston's broader corporate responsibility platform, Sprinting Forward, Giving Back, which focuses on supporting the communities in which they operate.

"At Mercedes-Benz Vans Charleston, we are proud to strengthen our commitment to the communities we serve through this exciting partnership with the South Carolina Stingrays. The 'Sprinting Forward, Winning for STEM' initiative is more than just a sponsorship; it's a tangible investment in the future of our children and the industries that will shape tomorrow. By supporting STEM education in the Lowcountry, we are fostering the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders. Together with the Stingrays, we are not only cheering for victories on the ice but also empowering educators and students with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving world," said Axel Bense, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Vans Charleston.

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After months of ‘Vote Yes’ and ‘Vote No’ throughout Charleston County, residents overwhelmingly voted against passing a third transportation sales tax with about 60% voting no.

As the 2004 half-cent sales tax reaches the end of its timeframe, this tax was proposed to replace it, leaving people paying no more than they were previously. The sales tax would have generated funds for over a dozen infrastructure projects including the long-debated Interstate 526 extension — deemed a priority by the Charleston County Council and Charleston Mayor William Cogswell.

The extension, also known as the Mark Clark extension, has been in planning for nearly 40 years and was planned to receive the most funding from the tax. Other projects the tax was intended to fund included:

Related: Got questions on the half-cent sales tax in Charleston County? Here’s a primer

Related: Groups clash over half-cent sales tax vote in Charleston County

Hesitation for the approval of the sales tax focused primarily on environmental concerns for marine life and various bodies of water, as well as impacts on small businesses along its path. Faith River James, executive director of the Coastal Conservation League, said there are other ways to solve the traffic issues in the area.

“We are so proud of Charleston County voters standing up for the environment in our community,” James said. “One of our opportunities now is to move forward with traffic solutions that will enhance the way of life for folks who are living on Johns and James islands.”

James said that the CCL intends to focus their efforts on more small-scale solutions to better traffic flow as well as safety measures. Additionally, they plan to contribute to completing the 2016 referendum project list such as the Main Road Corridor in Johns Island.

In July, the CCL filed a lawsuit with the Southern Environmental Law Center against the county regarding the language of the options on the ballots about the tax. The lawsuit was dismissed after the election and James said the legal team will look back into it soon.

“It was definitely a team effort, it was a successful grassroots campaign, and I think the people of Charleston spoke very loudly,” James said. “We hope council will hear their concerns and give us an opportunity to come back to the table to work on traffic and safety solutions.”

Charleston County Councilwoman Jenny Honeycutt said that since the tax wasn’t approved, the projects it was intended to fund will not go through at this time. She said Charleston does have a contract with the state to complete the Mark Clark extension so how to do it will be further discussed.

Honeycutt said the state views Charleston as self-sustaining, so it doesn’t typically send as much funding for projects such as these.

“This does not mean that the problems we were trying to solve don’t exist anymore,” Honeycutt said. “We will continue to look for solutions to solving those problems, mainly the impact that rapid growth has had on our region and keeping pace with infrastructure to address those needs.”

This story has been updated.

The Mark Clark Extension has long been promoted as the best chance to relieve traffic on Johns Island. But the referendum to fund that road failed to win a single precinct on the island.

It wasn't an isolated rejection.

Voters countywide sent the Charleston County sales tax referendum down in a crushing defeat, with more than 61 percent opposed.

In many areas — Johns Island, James Island, Mount Pleasant, Seabrook Island, the Charleston peninsula and others — the referendum didn't pass in even one precinct.

Opponents say that should be the end of the Mark Clark Extension, which would carry Interstate 526 from West Ashley to Johns and James islands as a lower-speed parkway.

"The reality is, it was a 526 referendum," said John Zlogar, a cofounder of Rational Roads for Johns Island.

He called the results "just astounding" and said he had hoped the referendum might fail by one or two percentage points, not more than 21.

County Councilman Larry Kobrovsky, who opposed the referendum, said after results were tallied that voters made clear their opposition.

"They said 'no' and 'hell no,' " he said.

Some supporters believe that voters weren't rejecting the road at all, but the proposed sales tax to raise $5.4 billion. The referendum was designed to fund the Mark Clark Extension, but was crafted to avoid any mention of that specific road project.

“My perception is, this was about voting down another tax," said County Councilman Joe Boykin, a Johns Island resident who supports the road plan. “It just means we need back up and find another way to fund it."

Charleston County voters supported two previous transportation sales tax referenda, together adding one percent to the county's sales tax rate. The referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot would have continued one of the half-percent taxes for up to 25 more years, when an existing one expires in 2027.

While the referendum question didn't mention the Mark Clark Extension, it was the only priority project listed in the referendum ordinance and would have consumed the largest share of the money raised.

“One thing that was clear to me last night is that we could do a better job of communicating," said Councilwoman Jenny Honeycutt, who supports the Mark Clark Extension and lives on James Island.

“I would have thought that the people who stood to gain the most would have supported it," she said, referring to residents of Johns and James islands.

Business and real estate groups supported the referendum, along with elected officials from the county, Charleston and North Charleston.

Charleston County needs more than $1.8 billion for it's share of the $2.33 billion project. The state's contribution to the Mark Clark has been capped at $420 million.

“We’re contractually bound to do this, so we’ll have to find a way to finance it," Boykin said. "It’s not going away."

Council Chairman Herb Sass said the referendum results surprised him.

“I thought we had a really good program," he said. "I had an awful lot of people tell me they were voting for it."

In Mount Pleasant, where Sass lives, the referendum failed by a more than two-to-one margin, a difference of more than 20,000 votes.

Opponents have long argued that residents would be better served if the county pursued less costly improvements to roads and intersections.

People on both sides of the issues expect the county to come back in two years with another tax referendum to put before voters. The potential sales tax money would also support green space preservation and mass transit.

"We look forward to working with citizens and Charleston County to come together to decide what road projects should be prioritized to create a better referendum in 2026," said The Coastal Conservation League, "one that prioritizes the completion of effective traffic solutions, restores the Greenbelt program’s purchasing power, supports public transit, considers flooding on our roadways, and promotes pedestrian safety."

The League has long been a vocal opponent of the Mark Clark plan, and took the county to court over the ballot question — a fight the county won.

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The League had argued that the referendum question was misleading because it didn't mention the Mark Clark Extension or inform voters how the money would be spent, among other things.

Boykin said he has talked to people who voted against the referendum because it didn't mention the Mark Clark.

Even on Kiawah Island, seen as a main beneficiary of the proposed highway extension, the referendum barely passed with just under 51 percent of the vote.

The remaining 10 voting precincts where the referendum received more "yes" than "no" votes were in West Ashley (four), North Charleston (five), and in Charleston's Neck Area.

County voters have rejected tax referenda in the past, but not by such huge margins.

Four years ago — during the height of the COVID pandemic in the fall of 2020 — voters rejected the county's plan for a modest property tax increase to fund affordable housing efforts. That referendum won 90 of 182 precincts and only lost by 3,466 votes in an election where 199,468 were cast.

The Mark Clark tax referendum lost by 47,456 votes, according to the Nov. 5 results that remain unofficial until certified.