S.C. DNR to offer

three year licenses

The state Natural Resources Department says a new law allows South Carolina residents to purchase hunting and fishing licenses good for three years.

The law was passed by the General Assembly during the recently concluded legislative session. South Carolina residents can purchase a three-year hunting license for $36. A three-year freshwater or saltwater fishing license would cost $30 for state residents.

Other categories where threeyear licenses are available are biggame permits, wildlife management areas and combination permits.

All three-year licenses sold during the 2010-2011 would expire on June 30, 2013.

Winthrop reassigns

baseball coach

Joe Hudak thought Winthrop baseball was ready to rebound and make another run at the NCAA tournament.

However, school officials decided on Thursday that a different coach will lead that resurgence.

The Eagles' longtime baseball coach was relieved of his duties after 19 seasons that included five trips to the NCAA tournament. Hudak, 59, was to be reassigned within the athletic department.

"I think probably the most disappointing thing for me is I've not been given any reasons why," Hudak told The Associated Press. "The decision was made by a president (Anthony J. DiGiorgio) and I have not been told anything."

Athletic director Tom Hickman said in a statement he felt a change of leadership was necessary. Hickman was out of the office and unavailable for further comment, Winthrop athletic spokesman Jack Frost said.

Winthrop won three Big South Conference championships and was 662-467-5 under Hudak. However, the school's release noted that the team had not advanced to the NCAAs since 2006 and was slightly above .500 (121-116) over the previous four years.

Hickman thanked Hudak for his nearly two decades of work. "However, the program has not progressed in recent years as we would have liked, particularly when you take into account the outstanding facilities and support services that we have to offer prospective student-athletes," Hickman said.

S. Williams to try for

Wimbledon repeat

After Serena Williams moved within a victory of her fourth Wimbledon championship and 13th Grand Slam title overall, she was asked to assess the woman she'll face in Saturday's final, little known Vera Zvonareva of Russia.

"I don't think she does anything terrible. I think that's the best way to describe her game," Williams said. "She does everything good."

That's a fair, if not necessarily charitable, scouting report. Minutes later came a follow-up: Is there anything Williams herself does "terrible" in tennis or in life?

She hemmed and hawed, then replied, "I don't know. That's a good question. I'm stumped."

It's difficult to find any flaws in Williams' play right now. The No. 1-ranked American has won all 12 sets she's played this fortnight, set a Wimbledon record with 80 aces in the tournament, and reached a third consecutive final at the All England Club by beating Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (5), 6-2 Thursday.

Well," the defending champion said, "I'm hoping to still peak in the final."

That must be a daunting prospect for the 21st-ranked Zvonareva, who eliminated Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in Thursday's other semifinal.