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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, June 12, 2009

College baseball: Capsules for the College World Series


By Blair Kerkhoff
McClatchy Newspapers

Here are capsules of the teams in the College World Series.
The games begin Saturday at Rosenblatt Stadium at Omaha, Neb.
Arkansas plays Cal State Fullerton and Virginia plays LSU.
Sunday, Arizona State plays North Carolina and Southern Mississippi plays Texas.

Arizona State (49-12)
Statistically, the Sun Devils have the best hitting/pitching combination in the field. Arizona State leads the nation in earned run average at 2.78 — it’s 2.00 in the NCAA Tournament — and top the field in runs per game (8.0). Starting pitcher Mike Leake, taken by the Reds with an overall No. 8 pick, has been dominant with a 16-1 record, 1.36 ERA and 150 strikeouts.

Arkansas (39-22)
After a fast start to the season, the Razorbacks stumbled, losing five of six SEC series at one point. But they caught fire at the right time, winning regionals at Oklahoma and Florida State. Coach Dave Van Horn, a Kansas City native, joins the short list of coaches who has brought two teams to Omaha at least twice. He also did it with Nebraska. The leader is shortstop Ben Tschepikow, who is hitting .310 with nine homers. Relief pitcher Mike Bolsinger has come on strong with a pair of victories in the tournament.

Cal State Fullerton (47-14)
An Omaha fixture, Fullerton brings a solid offensive team that puts plenty of pressure on defenses with bunting, stealing and hit-and-run action. The Titans have the nation’s top RPI and had an easy run through the regionals. Two of the three starting pitchers, Noe Ramirez and Tyler Pill, are freshmen. First baseman Jared Clark has 81 RBI and he’s hitting .565 in the postseason.

LSU (51-16)
The Tigers, making their 15th trip to Omaha and looking for their first title since 2000, are the nation’s top-ranked team after winning the SEC regular season and tournament. Left fielder Ryan Schimpf is LSU’s big numbers guy, 19 home runs, 63 RBI, 18 stolen bases. Senior pitcher Louis Coleman is a 6-5 righty with an unusual delivery that gets results. Anthony Ranaudo is a power pitcher with 147 strikeouts.

North Carolina (47-16)
If experience counts, the Tar Heels could be dangerous. They make their fourth straight trip to Omaha but with less profile than in previous years. North Carolina soared through the regionals and its stars are at the top of their games. First baseman Dustin Ackley, the second overall selection to the Mariners, swings the big bat, and starting pitcher Alex White also was a first-round selection.

Southern Mississippi (40-24)
This will be the team Omaha adopts. The Eagles make their first trip to Omaha in Coach Corky Palmer’s final season, and it happened despite losing top player, shortstop Brian Dozier, to a broken collarbone in April. Beating Georgia Tech in Atlanta and Florida in Gainesville should give Southern Mississippi all the confidence it needs. Sophomore pitcher Todd McInnis is the staff workhorse. Centerfielder Bo Davis (.371, 14 homers) is the offensive leader.

Texas (46-14-1)
Terrific pitching, suspect hitting for the Big 12 regular season and tournament champion. The Longhorns rank second nationally in team ERA at 2.84 and first in fewest hits allowed (7.34 per nine innings). The lineup doesn’t include a big bopper, and Texas ranks 229th nationally in home runs per game at .64. Coach Augie Garrido knows about all the good Omaha restaurants. This is his 13th trip and he’s looking for his sixth championship.

Virginia (48-13-1)
A young but solid all-around team makes its first visit to the World Series, although Coach Brian O’Connor knows the territory. He grew up across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and played in the 1991 World Series for Creighton. The Cavaliers turned in a team 1.45 ERA in the NCAA Tournament, and will start freshman lefty Danny Hultzen, who also plays first base, in the opener.