OMAHA, NE � Notre Dame pitcher J.P. Gagne might be starting a new
family tradition, breaking from one that dealt with body slams, not
grand slams.
Coming from a family known for playing football and
wrestling professionally, he is playing baseball at a school
synonymous with college
football.
Gagne's grandfather, Verne, played football and
wrestled at the University
of Minnesota before beginning a pro wrestling career. His other
grandfather, Bob Graiziger, also played football, hockey and baseball
at Minnesota.
J.P.'s father, Greg Gagne, played football at
Minnesota and Wyoming before his pro wrestling career.
J.P. played several sports in high school but ended up
in baseball almost by accident.
``It just turned out that baseball ended up being the
best sport for me, and the easiest on my body,'' he said.
The Notre Dame closer said he thought about playing
football but felt a 6-foot quarterback wouldn't have much of a chance
at Notre Dame with the recruits the Irish had.
``Had baseball not worked out for me, yes, I would
definitely have considered it,'' he said.
He's less likely to follow the family in its
professional wrestling footsteps, however.
``I was a fan of my dad's when I was growing up, but
other than that, I wasn't into it,'' he said. ``I really think the
business has changed a lot. In my opinion, it's just like watching a
soap opera.
``My focus has always been on baseball and something a
little bit easier on my body,'' he said.
DIMENSIONAL STAT
Moving the Rosenblatt Stadium fences back in the power
alleys of the outfield apparently has made a difference in the home
run totals at the College World Series this year.
A crossing wind blowing in from left field also has
helped knock down high fly balls, several times denying players
possible homers.
Through eight games this year there were 18 homers,
compared with 33 at the same point in the 2001 tournament. Nebraska
had a tourney-leading four homers in its two games.
Teams are still hitting well, however, averaging .284
and scoring runs at a combined 12.4 per game.
MOTIVATED GAMECOCK
Forgive South Carolina All-American first baseman
Yaron Peters if he takes extra glee in each of his hits, homers or
RBIs at the College World Series. He is just offering a little
``told-you-so'' emphasis for all those West Coast teams that failed to
give him a look.
Peters came out of junior college in California with a
.350 batting average, 18 home runs and 70 RBIs. But he said none of
the West Coast schools even wanted him to walk on to their programs.
South Carolina, however, is very happy Peters was
snubbed. The 6-foot-2, 224-pounder set school records for home runs
(29), RBIs (94) and total bases (213) this season.
His two-run homer in the ninth ousted Nebraska 10-8 in
Sunday's first CWS elimination game this year.
``None of the schools on the West Coast gave me any
respect,'' he said. ``I was willing to go to any Pac-10 team. I took
it personally that I wasn't recruited by any of those teams.''
YOUTHFUL TECH
Georgia Tech won one of its three games at the College
World Series but few people really believed coach Danny Hall would
bring this team to Omaha.
The Yellow Jackets had 17 new players and three new
assistant coaches. But Hall said his senior leaders led that bunch of
youngsters to a school-record 52 wins. Tech's 1987 team under coach
Jim Morris had 51 wins.
CLEMSON-SOUTH
CAROLINA
Clemson and South Carolina will meet for a fifth time
this season when they face off in Wednesday's College World Series
semifinal.
Clemson won three of the regular-season meetings by
scores of 9-7, 11-10 and 4-1. The one South Carolina victory was 8-6
in mid-April with Gamecock freshman Aaron Rawl getting the win.
Rawl also pitched a complete game Tuesday to get South
Carolina past Georgia Tech 9-5.
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Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
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