A study in contrasts
Miami pits tradition against Long Beach St.'s nicknames
Posted: Friday May 29, 1998 12:40 PM
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A new tradition? Miami's players decided to shave their heads before the regionals started and will keep them shaved this weekend (AP) |
OMAHA, Nebraska (AP) -- Miami has a lengthy College World Series resume and a big-time slugger in third baseman Pat Burrell. Long Beach State counters with the Dirtbags and the Bleach Boys.
Friday night's matchup between the No. 2 seeded Hurricanes (50-10) and No. 7 Long Beach State (41-21-1) follows the series opener, No. 6 Arizona State (38-22) against No. 3 Florida State (53-18).
Every year, Miami has one of the most polished programs in college baseball. By contrast, Long Beach State, for years an accomplished West Coast program, is making only its fourth trip to Omaha.
The study in contrasts suits the 49ers just fine. Long Beach began the season 2-8, endured a stretch of seven losses in nine games and then came through the loser's bracket to win the West regional.
"We survived a very competitive regional to be here," said 10th-year Long Beach State coach Dave Snow. "This is a team that has done it all, and we've done everything the hard way this year."
That's the route the 49ers face against Miami, which reached Omaha for the 17th time, but hasn't won it all since 1985.
Burrell leads the Hurricanes. A possible No. 1 draft pick who hit a two-run homer in his first at-bat following a month-long back injury, he's hitting .431 with 16 homers.
Opposing pitchers will be challenged by Miami's 3-4-5 hitters: Jason Michaels, Burrell and Aubrey Huff, who have combined to hit .407 with 55 home runs this season.
Long Beach, on the other hand, has some really cool nicknames.
The Dirtbags date to 1989, when the 49ers' infielders worked out at a scrubby practice field in Snow's first year. The Bleach Boys are this year's relievers, who have dyed their hair blond in a show of bullpen solidarity.
These colorful personalities have won 15 of their last 16, and Snow said he'll take his chances against anyone.
"I've put a lot of pressure one them," he said. "I feel we're very deserving to be here, even if we're not going to muscle up, home run-wise, with a lot of clubs that are here."
The 49ers' batting leader is Big West player of the year Paul Day, who's hitting .404 with 15 home runs. Mike Gallo (6-1, 3.25 ERA) will throw for Long Beach against Miami ace Alex Santos (14-1, 2.74).
Florida State enters the College World Series as an offensive dynamo, averaging 19 runs per game last week as the Seminoles went unbeaten to win the Atlantic II regional.
Leading the way is freshman outfielder Matt Diaz, who went 15-for-20 with five doubles, seven home runs and 19 RBIs in the four regional games. He made headlines with four homers in a 23-2 victory over Oklahoma.
"For him to do what he has done is amazing," Seminoles coach Mike Martin said. "Fifteen-for-20 in a four-game spurt? It's hard for me to even say it. There's no question that he was quite a role player last week."
Outfielder Brian Cox has a 23-game hitting streak and 18 homers. With Diaz (21 home runs) and catcher Jeremy Salazar (17), the Seminoles had three players hit at least 17 homers for the first time since 1982.
"I'd like them to miss the bus," Arizona State coach Pat Murphy said. "I know they're always going to be a well coached club, and the way they're hitting right now is a bonus for them."
Compounding the challenge for the Sun Devils, their staff ace isn't available. Ryan Mills (7-3, 4.32) pitched Monday in the Midwest regional final, so Phill Lowery (8-6, 4.98) will start.
"I wasn't going to bring him back too early," Murphy said.
Seven of the eight regionals were decided on Sunday, but Arizona State's game against Georgia Tech in Wichita, Kansas, was postponed that evening by a tornado warning.
Wes Crawford (9-3, 3.04) was scheduled to start for the Seminoles.
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