Latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Midlands

COLUMBIA (USC) -- The South Carolina baseball team has announced its schedule for the 2011 season featuring 25 games against 2010 NCAA Tournament teams as well as 35 home games at Carolina Stadium. The defending national champions open the season on

Friday, February 18 hosting a three-game series vs. Santa Clara. The schedule also includes 30 Southeastern Conference contests and a three-game series with in-state rival Clemson.

March 4 with Carolina hosting the Tigers at Carolina Stadium with first pitch set for 7 p.m. The two teams will travel to the Upstate for game two in Greenville, S.C. and face off at Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive, a minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. First pitch on Saturday is 2 p.m. The series then concludes on Sunday afternoon at Clemson. The series finale at Doug Kingsmore Stadium is slated for 2 p.m.

host Kentucky (April 1-3), Vanderbilt (April 15-17), Auburn (April 29 – May 1) and Arkansas (May 13-15). SEC road games include Florida (March 25-27), Tennessee (April 8-10), Mississippi State (April 22-24), Ole Miss (May 6-8) and Alabama (May 19-21).

The Citadel, USC Upstate and Wofford.

The SEC Tournament is scheduled for May 25-29 at Regions Park in Hoover, Ala. with the NCAA Regionals and NCAA Super Regionals the following two weeks. The College World Series in Omaha, Neb. is slated from June 18-29.