By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports WriterNotre Dame and Florida State are
playing their best baseball of the season, creating one of this weekend's
most intriguing NCAA tournament super regional matchups.
The Irish (47-15) enter the best-of-3 series, which begins Friday, having
won 29 of 32 games. But host Florida State (59-12) has won a school-record
25 straight.
The other super regional matchups are: Arkansas (34-26) at Clemson (50-14);
Miami (33-27) at South Carolina (51-15); Florida Atlantic (46-19) at Georgia
Tech (49-14); Richmond (52-11) at Nebraska (45-18); LSU (44-20) at Rice
(50-12); Houston (47-15) at Texas (51-14); and Southern California (37-22)
at Stanford (43-16).
The winner of each series earn a berth in the College World Series, which
starts June 14 at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb.
At Columbia, S.C., defending national champion Miami
has a renewed sense of confidence after stumbling through the regular season
with a record barely above .500.
Morris lost 13 players from a year ago to pro contracts, and the Hurricanes
struggled. They were 25-26 on May 17 and in danger of having their
NCAA-record 29-year regionals streak end.
While Miami is used to going to Omaha, South Carolina has failed to get
there the past two years — losing in the third game of the super regionals
each time.
In Clemson, S.C., Arkansas coach Norm DeBriyn said he was worried about his
team being overmatched against the Tigers.
"It's scary," DeBriyn said. "Their numbers are scary and you fear, I don't
know, as a coach or a fan, you fear getting blown out."
Clemson, ranked No. 1 for seven weeks earlier in the season, outscored
opponents 40-4 in sweeping its regional last weekend. The offense is led by
shortstop Khalil Greene, who is riding a 30-game hitting streak and batting
.482 with 24 homers and 79 RBI, and third baseman Jeff Baker (.333, 24, 79).
Houston, which defeated host Arizona State in the
Mesa, AZ, regional last weekend, will have to win in hostile territory again
to advance to Omaha. The Cougars will challenge in-state rival Texas in
Austin.
Heading into today's first pitch at all eight sites, following is how the
teams match up for each of the best-of-three super regionals (coaches'
records and years coached are at current schools, through regionals):
NOTRE DAME (47-15) at FLORIDA STATE (59-12)
SITE: Dick Howser Stadium; Tallahassee, Fla.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Notre Dame won South Bend
regional: beat Ohio State 8-6; beat South Alabama 25-1; beat Ohio State 9-6.
Florida State won Tallahassee regional: beat Stetson 11-8, beat Central
Florida 7-3; beat South Florida 13-6.
COACHES: Notre Dame, Paul Mainieri (351-139-1, eighth
year). Florida State, Mike Martin (1,238-414-3, 23rd year).
TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES (LAST): Notre Dame, 16 (2001).
Florida State, 40 (2001).
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Notre Dame: OF Steve Stanley (.445,
109 hits, 31 stolen bases), OF Brian Stavisky (.404, 7 home runs, 49 RBIs),
3B Andrew Bushey (.333, 6, 57), 2B Steve Sollmann (.356, 43 RBIs), RHP J.P.
Gagne (8-4, 3.26 ERA), RHP Grant Johnson (8-4, 3.11), RHP Peter Ogilvie
(7-3, 3.68). Florida State: SS Stephen Drew (.395, 16, 52), 3B Ryan
Barthelemy (.367, 17, 91), OF Nick Rogers (.340, 69 RBIs, 19 SBs), C Tony
Richie (.350, 12, 73), LHP Matt Lynch (13-1. 3.34), RHP Marc LaMacchia
(11-1, 3.41), RHP Blair Varnes (9-3, 3.88), LHP Daniel Hodges (12 saves).
ARKANSAS (34-26) at CLEMSON (50-14)
SITE: Doug Kingsmore Stadium; Clemson, S.C.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Arkansas won Wichita regional:
beat Oklahoma 8-5; beat Oral Roberts 7-6; beat Oral Roberts 11-6. Clemson
won Clemson regional: beat Georgia Southern 15-1; beat East Carolina 4-2;
beat East Carolina 21-1.
COACHES: Arkansas, Norm DeBriyn (1,160-648-6, 33rd
year). Clemson, Jack Leggett (430-169, ninth year).
TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES (LAST): Arkansas, 14 (1999).
Clemson, 27 (2001).
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Arkansas: 2B Scott Bridges (.315,
2, 25), DH Andrew Wishy (.311, 4, 30), OF Michael Conner (.273, 15, 46), OF
Ryan Fox (.254, 9, 51), RHP Gary Hogan Jr. (3-6, 4.68), RHP Charlie Isaacson
(5-7, 3.81). Clemson: SS Khalil Greene (.482, 24, 79), 3B Jeff Baker (.333,
24, 79), Michael Johnson (.387, 21, 74), RHP Steve Reba (13-2, 3.70), RHP
Matt Henrie (11-4, 2.98), RHP Steven Jackson (6-1), RHP Paul Harrelson
(eight saves).
FLORIDA ATLANTIC (46-19) at GEORGIA TECH (49-14)
SITE: Russ Chandler Stadium; Atlanta.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Florida Atlantic won Tuscaloosa
regional: beat Auburn 16-11; beat SE Missouri St. 10-6; lost to Alabama 7-2;
beat Alabama 6-5. COACHES: Florida Atlantic, Kevin Cooney (519-344-4, 15th
year). Georgia Tech, Danny Hall (393-170, eighth year).
TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES (LAST): Florida Atlantic,
three (1999). Georgia Tech, 18 (2001).
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Florida Atlantic: 3B Mike Cox
(.340, 18, 65), OF L.J. Biernbaum (.352, 16, 66), 1B Rusty Brown (.354, 11,
46), RHP Chris Pillsbury (10-2, 4.32), RHP Tim McNab (12 saves), RHP Danny
Core (8-5, six complete games). Georgia Tech: SS Victor Menocal (.360, 93
hits), OF Jeremy Slayden (.345, 17, 58), OF Matt Murton (.346, 10, 55), C
Tyler Parker (.314, 10, 56), LHP Kyle Bakker (11-2, 3.38), RHP Jeff Watchko
(11-1, 3.46).
LOUISIANA STATE (44-20) at RICE (50-12)
SITE: Reckling Park; Houston.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: LSU won Baton Rouge regional: beat
Southern 5-4; lost to Louisiana-Lafayette 5-0; beat Tulane 4-2; beat
Louisiana-Lafayette 12-2; beat Louisiana-Lafayette 12-2. Rice won Houston
regional: beat Harvard 8-3; beat Texas Tech 6-0; lost to Washington 7-6;
beat Washington 14-2. COACHES: LSU, Smoke Laval (first year). Rice, Wayne
Graham (473-210, 11th year).
TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES (LAST): LSU, 17 (2001). Rice,
seven (2001).
PLAYERS TO WATCH: LSU: OF Matt Heath (.297, 10, 48),
SS Aaron Hill (.341, 9, 47), 3B Wally Pontiff (.335, 6, 50), LHP Lane
Mestepey (11-4, 2.66), RHP Brian Wilson (10-4, 3.56), RHP Jake Tompkins
(7-1, 2.81). Rice: 1B Vincent Sinisi (.438, 11, 78), 2B Eric Arnold (.328,
7, 71), 3B Hunter Brown (.294, 7, 34), DH Enrique Cruz (16 HRs, 35 RBIs),
LHP Justin Crowder (9-2, 2.04), RHP Phillip Humber (11-1, 2.67), RHP Steven
Herce (12-2, 3.07).
HOUSTON (47-15) at TEXAS (51-14)
SITE: Disch-Falk Field; Austin, Texas.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Houston won Mesa regional: beat
New Mexico St. 9-0; beat Arizona St. 8-4; beat Arizona St. 8-3. Texas won
Austin regional: beat Central Conn. St. 7-2; beat Baylor 10-8; beat Baylor
2-0.
COACHES: Houston, Rayner Noble (293-192, eighth
year). Texas, Augie Garrido (221-141-1, sixth year).
TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES (LAST): Houston, 13 (2001).
Texas, 45 (2001).
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Houston: SS-RHP Jesse Crain (.317,
11, 47/ 4-0, nine saves, 0 ER in 34 innings), RHP Brad Sullivan (11-1, 1.93,
151 Ks), LHP Keith Whatley (8-3, 2.96), LHP Danny Zell (8-1, 2.09), 1B Brett
Cooley (.338, 18, 54), C Chris Snyder (.347, 15, 70), OF Michael Bourn
(.326, 32 SBs). Texas: LHP Justin Simmons (14-1, 2.42), RHP Alan Bomer (9-3,
3.84), RHP Huston Street (4-1, 10 saves, 0.92), 1B Jeff Ontiveros (.302, 16,
51), DH J.D. Reininger (.346, 12, 47), OF Dustin Majewski (.402, 9, 44), 2B
Tim Moss (.383, 39 SBs).
MIAMI (33-27) at SOUTH CAROLINA (51-15)
SITE: Sarge Frye Field; Columbia, S.C.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Miami won Gainesville regional:
beat Fla. International 9-1; beat Florida 7-2; lost to Florida 11-10; beat
Florida 8-7. South Carolina won Columbia regional: beat Va. Commonwealth
6-3; beat North Carolina 9-6; lost to North Carolina 8-4; beat North
Carolina 3-1.
COACHES: Miami, Jim Morris (426-146-1, ninth year).
South Carolina, Ray Tanner (268-110, sixth year).
TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES (LAST): Miami, 20 (2001).
South Carolina, 17 (2001).
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Miami: 2B Javy Rodriguez (.378, 98
hits, 37 SBs), 3B Kevin Howard (.366, 11, 51), OF Jim Burt (.327, 9, 47), C
Danny Matienzo (.333, 17, 62), RHP Kiki Bengochea (6-6, 5.01), RHP George
Huguet (7-4, eight saves, 4.20 ERA), RHP Dan Touchet (5-2, 4.68). South
Carolina: SS Drew Meyer (.379, 36
SBs), 1B Yaron Peters (.392, 27, 89), OF Garris Gonce (.303, 16, 51), 3B
Brian Buscher (.323, 13, 55), LHP David Marchbanks (9-3, 4.44), LHP Gary
Bell (10-2, 4.68), RHP Blake Turner (6-1, 1.97, 20 saves).
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (37-22) at STANFORD (43-16)
SITE: Sunken Diamond; Stanford, Calif.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: USC won Los Angeles regional: beat
BYU 5-4 in 12 innings; beat Cal State Northridge 7-5; beat BYU 13-10.
Stanford won Stanford regional: beat Cal State Fullerton 3-2 in 13 innings;
beat Long Beach St. 5-4; beat Long Beach St. 8-4.
COACHES: USC, Mike Gillespie (645-354-2, 16th year).
Stanford, Mark Marquess (1,089-531-5, 26th year).
TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES (LAST): USC, 34 (2001).
Stanford, 22 (2001).
PLAYERS TO WATCH: USC: C Alberto Concepcion (.376,
11, 48), DH Joey Metropoulos (.366, 13, 65), 1B Bill Peavey (.360, 15, 71),
OF Brian Barre (.333, 12, 42), RHP Anthony Reyes (4-1, 3.26), RHP Brett
Bannister (8-3, 3.70), LHP Cory Campos (6-2, six saves, 4.09). Stanford: RHP
Jeremy Guthrie (11-1, 2.34), LHP Tim Cunningham (9-2, 3.86), RHP John
Hudgins (9-1, 4.80), OF Sam Fuld (.385, 6, 43), 2B Chris O'Riordan (.335,
10, 43), OF Jason Cooper (.351, 13, 52), C Ryan Garko (.307, 14, 52).
RICHMOND (52-11) at NEBRASKA (45-18)
SITE: Haymarket Park; Lincoln, Neb.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Richmond won Winston-Salem
regional: beat Navy 15-5; beat Wake Forest 3-2; lost to Wake Forest 5-4 in
10 innings; beat Wake Forest 7-5. Nebraska won Lincoln regional: beat
Wisconsin-Milwaukee 7-2; beat Marist 9-1; beat SW Missouri St. 14-3.
COACHES: Richmond, Ron Atkins (559-403-4, 18th year).
Nebraska, Dave Van Horn (212-89, fifth year).
TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES (LAST): Richmond, six (1999).
Nebraska, five (2001).
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Richmond: RHP Tim Stauffer (15-2,
1.57), RHP Mike McGirr (12-1, 3.76), 1B Vito Chiaravalloti (.364, 22, 81),
SS Matt Craig (.376, 18, 82), 3B David Reaver (.411, 54 RBIs, 104 hits), C
Adam Tidball (.342, 11, 45). Nebraska: RHP Shane Komine (8-0, 1.93); LHP
Aaron Marsden (8-1, 2.23); LHP Jamie Rodrigue (7-3, 4.03); C-DH Jed Morris
(.386, 21, 81); OF Jeff Leise (.381, 12, 49, 104 hits); 1B-DH Matt Hopper
(.311, 9, 48).
Copyright 2002
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
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