Head Coach Ray Tanner (far right) and his players talk to fans.
Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Hundreds of Gamecock baseball fans gave the team a big sendoff as the squad left for the College World Series.
The crowd gathered at Carolina Stadium to wish the team well before they departed for Omaha, Nebraska.
Fans heard from pitcher Michael Roth, USC President Harris Pastides, and Head Coach Ray Tanner.
"Thank you for your enthusiasm, thank you for your passion, thank you for your inspiration," Tanner told fans. "These players are good players, but it makes a difference when you show up and you become that 10th man."
"We're gonna do our very best to represent you with class, and dignity, and competitive nature like nobody else," he added.
The team then loaded onto buses to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport to catch their flight.
South Carolina begins play at the 2012 College World Series on Saturday against Florida at 9 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN.
If you are heading to Omaha, The South Carolina team headquarters will be the Hilton Omaha located on 1001 Cass Street in Omaha.
You can follow the Gamecocks all series long on WLTX. We will have Gamecock reports with Sports Director Reggie Anderson and News 19's J.R. Berry throughout the ThreePeat Dreams run for USC.
Only one other team has won three straight College World Series titles. Southern Cal won five straight in the early 70's. Their first round opponent, Florida, is also making their third straight trip to the CWS. The Gamecocks are 1-2 against the Gators this year, but swept them for the title a year ago.