Hurricanes Head To South Carolina For Super Regional
June 4, 2002
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University of Miami Hurricanes (33-27)
2002 NCAA Gainesville Regional Champions vs.
University of South Carolina Gamecocks (51-15)
#6 National Seed; 2002 NCAA Columbia Regional Champions
Friday – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday – 1 :30 p.m. *
* if necessary
NCAA Super Regionals
June 7-9, 2002
Sarge Frye Field; Columbia, SC
MIAMI TRAVELS TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SUPER REGIONAL — The University of Miami travels to Columbia, S.C., for Super Regional competition vs. the University of South Gamecocks at Sarge Frye Field.
By way of winning the Gainesville Regional last weekend, Miami has now advanced to the Super Regionals in all four years of the NCAA’s new postseason format. UM is only one of six current schools to have done so.
The Hurricanes, making their 31st overall postseason appearance since 1971 and their NCAA-record 30th straight since 1973, hold a 141-63 (.691) overall record in postseason action, along with a 5-2 (.714) all-time mark in Super Regional play.
Additionally, Miami has won its last nine NCAA Regionals since Head Coach Jim Morris’ arrival in 1994.
On the road in the postseason, UM holds a 73-53 (.579) record. UM has played one road Super Regional at Tallahassee in 2000, where it lost two games to one.
All three games can be heard on one of three broadcast radio stations throughout the weekend series. Friday and Saturday’s games can be heard in english on either WAXY 790 AM or WVUM 90.5 FM and in spanish on WWFE 670. Sunday’s game (if necessary) will be broadcasted on WVUM 90.5 and in spanish on WRHC 1550 AM.
MIAMI AGAINST THE 2002 NCAA SUPER REGIONAL TOURNAMENT FIELD — Miami has played 12 games during the regular season against teams qualifying for 2002 Super Regional tournaments.
STATE OF FLORIDA DOMINATES THE ROUND OF 64 AND 32 — Florida and Texas now share the lead with three schools each qualifying for the 2002 Super Regionals. Florida is represented by Miami, Florida State and FAU, while the state of Texas has Houston, Rice and Texas. California (Southern California and Stanford) and South Carolina (USC and Clemson) share the next spot with two schools in the Super Regionals.
The state of Florida placed a tournament-high nine teams in the postseason, including Miami (Independent at-large), Bethune-Cookman (MEAC champion), Central Florida (Atlantic Sun champion), Florida (SEC at-large), Florida Atlantic (Atlantic Sun at-large), Florida International (Sun Belt at-large), Florida State (ACC champion), South Florida (C-USA at-large) and Stetson (Atlantic Sun at-large). California was next wtih seven schools in the postseason.
FOUR SEASONS OF NEW FORMAT, FOURSUPER REGIONAL APPEARANCES — Miami is one six teams never to miss the Super Regional round in the four years of the new postseason format. Miami is joined by Clemson, Florida State, LSU, Southern California and Stanford.
MIAMI WINS EIGHTH STRAIGHT REGIONAL, AT HOME AND OVERALL — The Hurricanes advanced to the Super Regional round after defeating host and No. 1-seeded Florida, 8-7, in a deciding second game last Sunday at McKethan Stadium after falling earlier in the day to the Gators, 11-10, in 10 innings.
Miami sophomore Jim Burt sealed the comeback win over the rival Gators in the decisive game No. 2 with a bottom of the ninth, two-out, two-strike walk-off two-run double to the gap in right center. Earlier in the day, UF’s Mark Kiger hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th that handed UF the 11-10 win and extra game. Also in that earlier game, Burt belted a two-out three-run homer in the top of the ninth that eventually forced the game into extra innings.
Miami opened up regional play with a 9-1 victory over cross-town rival Florida International. UM then sent the Gators to the losers bracket with a 7-2 defeat over All-American pitcher Alex Hart. Florida defeated Bethune-Cookman in its first game, while the Wildcats turned around and ousted FIU in the loser’s bracket but would once again fall to the Gators to get eliminated.
Under Jim Morris, UM has earned a bid to the postseason in each of his nine seasons and continued his personal streak to 18 straight, including his final nine while at Georgia Tech.
Within Miami’s 31 postseason appearances, the Hurricanes have had to travel to road regionals 13 times, winning five of them.
BACK IN THE TOP 25 RANKINGS — Following the NCAA Gainesville Regional championship, the Miami Hurricanes were thrown back into the nation’s Top 25 in two polls, Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America. Miami was ranked 17th by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and 20th by Baseball America. Miami has not been ranked in those two outlets weekly polls for the past 12 weeks or since being ranked 23rd by Baseball America and 24th by Collegiate Baseball on March 11.
MIAMI/SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES — Miami leads the all-time series with South Carolina 22-6 dating back to the 1974 NCAA District III Regionals in Starkville, MS. The Hurricanes and Gamecocks have met six times in the postseason, with UM holding the 5-1 advantage. Most recently, UM defeated visiting USC, 14-2, during 1998 regional play in Coral Gables. Miami has played eight games in Columbia, SC with a 7-1 record in those contests.
MIAMI/SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES MATH —
Overall Series Record: Miami leads 22-6
At UM: Miami leads 13-4
At USC: Miami leads 7-1
At Neutral: Miami leads 2-1
At NCAA: Miami leads 7-1
Total runs scored: Miami leads 194-116
One run games: Miami leads 5-1
Two run games: Miami leads 5-1
Shutout victories vs. USC: 4
Shutout victories by USC: 0
Most runs UM: 19 (19-3 win in 1982)
Margin UM: 16 (19-3 win in 1982)
Most runs USC: 15 (15-5 win in 1980)
Margin USC: 10 (15-5 win in 1980)
Streak UM: 7 (1980-82)
Streak USC: 2 (1980)
MIAMI VS. THE SEC — Miami has forged an all-time record of 168-118-1 (.587) against teams currently in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Under Jim Morris, Miami is 36-22 (.621) vs. the SEC since 1994.
SIX HURRICANES GET SELECTED TO GAINESVILLE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM — The Miami Hurricanes led all participants with six players selected to the All-Tournament team, ahead of host Florida (5), Bethune-Cookman (1) and FIU (0).
Chosen from Miami were Danny Matienzo (C), Javy Rodriguez (2B), Jim Burt (OF), Brad Safchik (DH), Kevin Howard (UT) and Kiki Bengochea (P). Matienzo has been an All-Regional pick each of his three seasons at Miami, while Rodriguez has been on the last two.
HURRICANES CONTINUE NCAA RECORD STREAK — With the 2002 regional bid, Miami extended its NCAA-record postseason streak to 30 straight since 1973. The Miami streak is the second-largest among collegiate baseball, football and basketball. Nebraska’s current football bowl streak is at 33 games, and last fell to Miami in the Rose Bowl. Other prominent on-going streaks include Michigan football’s 27-year bowl streak, FSU’s 25-year baseball regional streak and Tennessee and Louisiana Tech with 21 straight bids the NCAA Tournament. Indiana men’s basketball has a 17-year streak of going to the dance to lead the way.
Consecutive Regional Appearances
30 MIAMI 1973-present*
25 Florida State 1978-present
18 Texas 1979-95
18 Oklahoma State 1981-99
15 Northern Colorado 1952-66
* NCAA record
MIAMI AGAINST THE 2002 NCAA TOURNAMENT FIELD — Miami has played 34 games during the regular season against teams qualifying for the 2002 Division I Baseball Championships.
Overall Leaders by CWS Appearances
1. 28 Texas*
2. 21 Southern California*
3. 19 MIAMI*
19 Oklahoma State
5. 18 Arizona State
18 Florida State*
7. 14 Arizona
8. 13 Stanford*
9. 11 Louisiana State*
10. 11 Cal-State Fullerton
11. 10 Northern Colorado
* still active in 2002 NCAA Tournament.
Leaders by CWS Apps. since Miami’s first app. in 1974
19 MIAMI 2001, 1999, 1985, 1982 (titles)
13 Florida State 0
13 Texas 1983, 1975
12 Arizona State 1981, 77
11 Louisiana State 2000, 97, 96, 94, 92
11 Oklahoma State 0
11 Cal-State Fullerton 1995, 84, 79
11 Stanford 1988, 87
Consecutive CWS Appearances
7 Oklahoma State 1981-87
6 MIAMI 1994-99
6 Northern Colorado 1957-62
5 MIAMI 1978-82
5 Oklahoma 1972-76
5 Southern California 1970-74
5 Texas 1981-85
UM’S 2001 CWS TITLE PUTS HURRICANES IN SELECT COMPANY — With their 2001 College World Series championship, the Hurricanes became the fifth program all-time to win at least four National Championships (1982, 1985, 1999 and 2001). Only two independents have ever won the College World Series, Holy Cross (1952) and Miami (1999, ’85, ’82, ’01).
MIAMI AND THE PSEUDO-RPI — Following the close of the regular season, Miami finds itself ranked 19th in the latest Boyd’s World pseudo-Ratings Power Index (pseudo RPI). UM have five top-13 opponents in Florida State (#2), Georgia Tech (#5), Houston (#8), Florida (#10) and North Carolina (#13), while 16 are rated among the top 64.
Miami has 2002 quality pseudo RPI victories over #2 Florida State, #5 Georgia Tech, #13 North Carolina, #21 Long Beach State (two), #24 Cal State Fullerton, #27 FIU, #37 South Florida, #42 FAU, #45 Elon, #48 Rutgers, #52 Tennessee (two), #63 Bethune-Cookman (two) and #64 Kansas State.
2002 HURRICANE TEAM AWARDS — The following players were voted as team award winners:
Bob Werner Memorial Award (the player who most exemplified the qualities of a winner as selected by his teammates): Vince Vazquez.
Home Run Trophy (given to UM’s home run champion by Power Bar): Danny Matienzo (14).
Rookie of the Year (UM’s top rookie either freshman or JUCO transfer as voted on by the coaches): Danny and Paco Figueroa.
MVP Trophy (UM’s Most Valuable Player as voted on by the coaches): Javy Rodriguez.
Arnold Novins Memorial Award (UM’s most popular player as voted by the Miami fans): Kevin Howard.
Ron Fraser Pitcher of the Year Award (awarded to the top hurler on the staff as determined by the coaches): J.D. Cockroft.
FIVE REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS AND FOUR TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS ON THE 2002 SCHEDULE — Miami has faced five regular season conference champions in FSU (ACC), Houston (C-USA), Minnesota (Big 10), USC (Pac-10) and Bethune-Cookman (MEAC) in 2002. Additionally, Florida State (ACC), UW-Milwaukee (Horizon League), Bethune-Cookman (MEAC) and USC (Pac-10) won their respective conference tournaments.
THE CLASS OF 2002 — The 2002 season marked the final campaign for six Hurricane seniors: Luke DeBold, Matt Dryer, Troy Roberson, Javy Rodriguez, Brad Safchik and Vince Vazquez.
Senior Notes
DeBold, Roberson, Rodriguez and Vazquez joined the program as freshmen in 1999. All four earned National Championship rings playing with the CWS winning teams in 1999 and 2001. Rodriguez and Vazquez are currently the only two players in the nation to have won participated and won two College World Series titles. Both DeBold and Roberson played throughout the 1999 season, but did not participate in the postseason.Dryer and Safchik each joined the team as juniors in 2000. Dryer transferred from Indian River Community College, while Safchik played his first two seasons for the University of Tampa. Dryer and Safchik each earned National Championship rings with last season’s squad.On May 10, DeBold (Systems Analysis), Roberson (Liberal Arts) and Vazquez (Finance) each walked across the stage as part of graduation commencement ceremonies.Rodriguez is listed throughout the career offensive record books, including hits, stolen bases, at bats, run scored, total sacrifices and total bases.DeBold holds the school-record for consecutive appearances with a 13-game span in 2000. He is also tied for third in overall and relief appearances.Roberson is the lone player on the squad to be drafted twice, so far. He was drafted in 1998 by the Baltimore Orioles out of high school and again last season by the Texas Rangers in the 28th round. Roberson did not a throw a single pitch in 2001.
PLAYING TOUGH ON THE ROAD — Eight of UM’s nine losses from road games at the Gainesville NCAA Regional, Kia Baseball Bash in Fullerton, Calif., Florida State, North Carolina and Georgia Tech were decided over the last three innings. The lone loss on the road that was dealt early was at FSU, 13-3, on 4/5. The lone loss to Florida at the Gainesville Regional came on a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Two of these road seven losses were last at bat ones occurring at Florida State, 9-7, in 13 innings on 4/7 and at Georgia Tech, 7-6, in a 9-inning game on 5/10. Three additional road defeats were in the next to last inning at Georgia Tech, 16-8, on 5/12, at North Carolina, 5-4, on 4/26, and vs. Southern California, 11-10, on 3/1. All three games at UNC were decided by one run each. The Houston game saw Miami leading 4-0 then having six straight errors lead to seven unearned Houston runs in a 8-6 for the tourney title.
Miami has been tough in its 26 losses, with 18 of them by four runs or less. Eight losses have been by one run, five by two runs, three by three runs and two by four runs.
RELIEVER GOES FROM BOTTOM TO TOP IN ONE SEASON — Sophomore J.D. Cockroft enters the Super Regionals with a team-best ERA of 2.08. Last year, he finished last among pitchers with a 43.20 ERA over five appearances. He is the first UM pitcher since Chris Sarmiento (1985-86) to go from last to first in team ERA over one season. Sarmiento finished 1985 with a 7.63 ERA and responded with a team-best 1.80 in 1986.
FIVE HURRICANES AMONG BASEBALL AMERICA’S FLORIDA TOP 70 — Miami has five Hurricanes rated among the state of Florida’s top 70 prospects, college and high school. Leading the list was Kiki Bengochea (#19) followed by Javy Rodriguez (#22), Kevin Howard (#23), T.J. Prunty (#40) and Troy Roberson (#45).
JAVY RODRIGUEZ LISTED THROUGHOUT MIAMI CAREER RECORDS — Senior All-American Javy Rodriguez has etched his name on numerous Miami career record lists this season, including hits, stolen bases, at bats, total sacrifices, total bases and run scored.
For the past two seasons, Rodriguez, the 2001 and 2002 Team MVP, has led the team in nearly every offensive category. He is also the single-season record holder with 66 stolen bases in 2001.
KEVIN HOWARD TIES SCHOOL-RECORD FOR CAREER DOUBLES — Kevin Howard hit two doubles in the Gainesville Regional to move into a first-place tie with Jose Trujillo (1985-88) with 65 career doubles. Additionally, Howard has a team-high 23 doubles on the season. He has led the Hurricanes in doubles in all three of his seasons, 23 in 2002, 20 in 2001 and 22 in 2000.
Additionally, Howard recently had eight hits in the Regional to give him 256 for his career, jumping him to No. 4 all-time.
DANNY MATIENZO CHARGES ONTO CAREER POWER LISTS — Danny Matienzo hit three home runs in the Gainesville Regional to give him a team-best 17 on the season, 11 career postseason and 39 overall career. The 39 home runs places him in a fifth-place tie with Randy Guerra (1976-99) and Manny Crespo (1998-00). The 17 home runs are also a career-season-high after hitting 13 in 2001.
Additionally, Matienzo recently had 10 RBI during the Regional to give him 184 for his career, ranking No. 7 all-time.
LUKE DeBOLD FINISHES WITH THIRD-MOST APPEARANCES — Luke DeBold will finish his University of Miami career ranked third all-time in overall pitching appearances, as well as appearances in relief. DeBold currently is in third with his 101 career appearances, all in relief. Robbie Morrison (1996-98) sits in second in both categories with 112 career appearances with 110 in relief. Since his return on May 2, DeBold has had eight appearances, seven of which he held the opponent off the scoreboard. Prior to May, DeBold had made just three appearances. He appeared in over 40 innings in each of the past two seasons.
JIM MORRIS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI — In his ninth season as Head Coach at Miami, Jim Morris has compiled a current 426-146-1 (.744) record with the Hurricanes. He has guided Miami to the College World Series in seven of his eight previous seasons in Coral Gables, including a NCAA-record six straight trips in his first six years.
In 2001, Morris’ club went 53-12 and won its final 17 games en route to the 2002 College World Series title. The 12-1 victory over Stanford marked the second National Championship in the last three seasons after Morris’ 1999 club claimed the title with a 6-5 win over rival Florida State.
Morris has been named the National Coach of the Year five times by Baseball America in 1994 and Collegiate Baseball and the American Baseball Coaches Association in 1999 and 2001.
JIM MORRIS IS A REGIONAL REGULAR — Jim Morris earned his 18th consecutive NCAA regional bid as the Hurricanes travel to the 2002 NCAA Gainesville Regional. He has led Miami to a Regional in each of his nine seasons (1994-2002), as well as from 1985-93 with Georgia Tech. Additionally, Miami has advanced to the Super Regionals in all four years under Morris.
2002 MARKS JIM MORRIS’ 25TH SEASON AS A HEAD COACH — Head Coach Jim Morris currently has a 930-390-2 (.704) record at the Division I level. As a head coach, Morris has compiled a 1,061-431-2 (.711) record over 25 years.
Earlier this season Jim Morris notched his milestone 900th win at the Division I level with a 10-4 victory over Minnesota on Feb. 15. Eight days later, Morris would earn his 400th win at the University of Miami with a 11-4 victory over Kansas State on Feb. 23. Morris’ 1000th win as a head coach, including four years at DeKalb Junior College, came last season in a 5-3 win over Northeastern on March 23, 2001.
Prior to his nine seasons in Coral Gables, Morris went 504-244-1 at Georgia Tech from 1982-1993. In his first stint as a head coach, he guided DeKalb Junior College to a 131-41 mark from 1976-79.
JIM MORRIS MAKING HISTORY —
Guided the Miami Hurricanes to College World Series National Championship in 1999 and 2001.The only coach in NCAA history to take a school to the College World Series in each of his first six years at a program. Morris has gone to Omaha with Miami in seven of eight previous seasons.Named National Coach of the Year five times while at Miami, by Baseball America in 1994 and by the ABCA and Collegiate Baseball in 1999 and 2001.Sent over 137 players to the Pro’s, including Pat Burrell (Phillies), Danny Graves (Reds), Alex Cora (Dodgers), Nomar Garciaparra (Red Sox) and Kevin Brown (Dodgers).Has served three stints with the U.S. National Team: Asst. Coach for 1987 Pan American Games (Silver), Head Coach for 1989 Presidential Cup (Silver) and Head Coach for 1990 Goodwill Games (Bronze).
SHORTSTOPS AND JIM MORRIS — Jim Morris, who played shortstop during college at Elon and then in the Boston Red Sox organization, has had great success developing the position while a head coach. Over the last decade Morris has taught prominent shortstops such as Nomar Garciaparra, at Georgia Tech and Bobby Hill and Alex Cora at Miami.
Since 1999, Morris has been working with Javy Rodriguez, who entered 2002 as a preseason All-American. Rodriguez led UM in just about every category as a junior in 2001, including a national-high 66 stolen bases.
Prior to Rodriguez Morris coached Hill, who is now regarded as the Chicago Cubs top infield prospect. Before Hill was Cora and Mike Metcalfe. Both players went on to play at the Major League level with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where Cora is currently the starter. Garciaparra played under Morris during the coaches’ final two seasons in Atlanta and went on to become an All-Star with the Red Sox.
JIM MORRIS’ 2002 RETURN TO ATLANTA — The Hurricanes series at Georgia Tech last weekend marked the second return to Atlanta for UM head coach Jim Morris, who served 12 seasons (1982-93) as the head coach of Georgia Tech compiling a 504-244-1 record to become the school’s all-time coaching leader in any sport.
During Morris’ tenure, the Yellow Jackets became one of the ACC’s premiere programs claiming four tournament championships and two regular season titles.
Georgia Tech also advanced to the NCAA tournament in his final nine seasons (1985-93). Morris was also named ACC Coach of the Year, three times, in 1983, 1987 and 1993 and was inducted to the Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999.
50-40-30 PLATEAU — With its 11-5 win over New York Tech in the regular season finale, UM extended its streak to 32 consecutive seasons with at least 30 wins. The last time UM failed to win 30 games was 1970 when the Hurricanes finished 28-15-1. Morris’ previous lowest single-season total at Miami was 41 in 2000, while his all-time low is a 29-20 record in his first season at Georgia Tech in 1982.
Prior to 2002, UM had won at least 40 games for eight straight years (1994-2001), 13 of the last 14 years and 27 of the last 29 years. Miami also has five 50-win seasons under Morris.
FIVE HURRICANES WERE LISTED ON SMITH AWARD WATCH LIST — Five Hurricanes, including Kiki Bengochea, Jim Burt, Kevin Howard, George Huguet and Javy Rodriguez, are listed among the candidates for the 15th annual Rotary Smith Award.
HOME GROWN HURRICANES — Of the 31 rostered Hurricanes in 2002, 20 are from the tri-county (Dade, Broward, Palm Beach) area. Additionally, 12 were raised in Dade County. The Miami roster also features players from eight other states than Florida.
HURRICANES HARD TO NO-HIT — Entering the NCAA Super Regionals Miami has not been no-hit in 2,303 games. The last time the Hurricanes were no-hit was by Ken Huebner of Florida Southern on April 18, 1964 in Lakeland.
TWO HURRICANES CRACK BASEBALL AMERICA DRAFT 2002 TOP 50 — Kevin Howard (#46) and Javy Rodriguez (#50) were recently listed among Baseball America’s top 50 college prospects for the 2002 MLB Draft.
