College World Series Capsules

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.

AP Sports Writer

An in-depth look at the eight teams competing in the College World Series,which starts Friday at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb. (coaches’ records atcurrent schools through super regionals):

TEXAS (48-18)

CWS Seed: 1.

Coach: Augie Garrido (275-160-1, eighth year).

Road To Omaha: Won Austin regional: beat Bucknell 7-0; beat Lamar 7-3;lost to Lamar 6-2; beat Lamar 6-3. Won Tallahassee super regional: beat FloridaSt. 8-3; beat Florida St. 6-5.

2003 record vs. CWS teams: 1-4 (1-2 vs. Stanford, 0-1 vs. Cal StateFullerton, 0-1 vs. Rice).

Last CWS appearance: 2002.

All-time record in CWS: 68-49 (29 appearances).

Players to Watch: LHP J.P. Howell (9-2, 2.34 ERA), OF Dustin Majewski(.389, 12 home runs, 82 RBIs), 2B Tim Moss (.327, 32 RBIs), SS Omar Quintanilla(.351, 70 RBIs), LHP Justin Simmons (5-5, 4.28), RHP-3B Huston Street (8-0,1.35, 14 saves), OF Eric Sultemeier (.324, 9, 53).

Short Hops: Longhorns trying to become just fifth team to repeat as CWSchampions, joining Texas (1949-50), Southern California (1970-74), Stanford(1987-88) and Louisiana State (1996-97). … Making NCAA-record 30th CWSappearance. … Garrido is winningest coach in Division I history with 1,428victories, passing former Longhorns coach Cliff Gustafson with superregional-clinching win over Florida State. Has won four national titles, threewith Cal State Fullerton (1979, ’84, ’95) and last year with Texas. … Street- school’s career leader with 28 saves – is son of former Longhorns pitcher andquarterback James Street, who led Texas to Cotton Bowl win over Notre Dame in1970. Has 12 postseason saves. … Moss is third on school list with 17 careertriples. … Majewski leads Big 12 players in RBIs. … Catcher Tyler Teagarden(.310) was Big 12 freshman of year. … Quintanilla’s 27 doubles are most byTexas player since Brooks Kieschnick had same number in 1993.

LOUISIANA STATE (45-20-1)

CWS Seed: 2.

Coach: Smoke Laval (89-41-1, second year).

Road To Omaha: Won Baton Rouge regional: beat Northeastern 11-7; beatTulane 13-5; beat N.C.-Wilmington 9-8 in 11 innings. Won Baton Rouge superregional: lost to Baylor 4-1; beat Baylor 6-5; beat Baylor 20-5.

2003 record vs. CWS teams: 2-1 (vs. South Carolina).

Last CWS appearance: 2000.

All-time record in CWS: 29-13 (11 appearances).

Players to Watch: RHP Nate Bumstead (11-3, 3.97), 1B Clay Harris (.333,15, 60), SS Aaron Hill (.366, 9, 67), RHP Justin Meier (8-3, 2.83), DH RyanPatterson (.350, 15, 49), RHP Bo Pettit (9-2), OF Jon Zeringue (.333, 13, 44).

Short Hops: Tigers making 12th trip to CWS since 1986, and first underLaval. … Won CWS in 1991, ’93, ’96, ’97 and 2000. … Enter CWS with 99-34NCAA tournament record, and rank first with .739 winning percentage. … Tigershave 82 homers, 10th time in 11 seasons they hit 80 or more. … Laval, SECcoach of year, won two national titles (1991, ’93) as assistant under formercoach Skip Bertman. … Hill, SEC player of year, was first-round pick ofToronto – 13th overall. Needs six hits to become 10th LSU player with 100 hitsin a season. … Pettit has 300 career strikeouts – only one of nine Tigers toaccomplish feat – and has pitched 300 innings. … Four of Harris’ sevenpostseason hits have been homers. … Only Pettit and RHP Chad Vaught remainfrom 2000 championship team, but neither was on postseason roster that season.

SOUTH CAROLINA (44-20)

CWS Seed: 3.

Coach: Ray Tanner (318-133, seventh year).

Road To Omaha: Won Atlanta regional: beat East Carolina 4-0; beat Stetson7-2; beat Stetson 9-3. Won Columbia super regional: beat North Carolina 5-4;beat North Carolina 14-4.

2003 record vs. CWS teams: 1-2 (vs. LSU).

Last CWS appearance: 2002.

All-time record in CWS: 13-12 (six appearances).

Players to Watch: LHP Steven Bondurant (7-3, 3.90), 3B Brian Buscher(.390, 14, 64), OF Jon Coutlangus (.335), SS Justin Harris (.358, 32 RBIs), LHPDavid Marchbanks (15-2, 2.39), 2B Kevin Melillo (.323, 11, 42), C Landon Powell(.338, 10, 59), RHP Aaron Rawl (6-3, 2.75, six saves).

Short Hops: Gamecocks lost to Texas in CWS championship game last season…. Has outscored opponents 39-13 in NCAA tournament this year. … Marchbanks,finalist for Dick Howser Trophy, was Southeastern Conference pitcher of year.Tied for fifth on school’s career list with 32 wins. … Powell, finalist forJohnny Bench Award given to nation’s best catcher, received general equivalencydiploma after junior year of high school, became free agent and attendedvarious big league tryout camps before deciding to go to college. Junior leadsSEC players with 44 walks. … Buscher leads SEC players in batting average andleads team with 32 multihit games. … Buscher and Powell each hit two homersin Gamecocks’ super regional-clinching win over North Carolina. … Harris ishitting .524 (11-for-21) in postseason. … IF Steven Tolleson is son of formermajor leaguer Wayne Tolleson.

SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE (40-24)

CWS Seed: 4.

Coach: Keith Guttin (751-421, 21st year).

Road To Omaha: Won Lincoln regional: beat Coastal Carolina 8-3; beatNebraska 4-2; lost to Nebraska 9-5; beat Nebraska 7-0. Won Columbus superregional: beat Ohio St. 13-8; beat Ohio St. 13-7.

2003 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.

Last CWS appearance: First appearance.

All-time record in CWS: 0-0 (first appearance).

Players to Watch: OF Dant’e Brinkley (.349, 8, 47, 24 SBs), 3B BrooksColvin (45 RBIs), SS-RHP Shaun Marcum (2.51, 13 saves; 6 HRs, 41 RBIs), OF GregMathis (.320, 48 RBIs), RHP Chad Mulholland (10-3, 2.98), C Tony Piazza (.306,15, 55), RHP Brad Ziegler (12-1, 4.29).

Short Hops: Bears in CWS for first time in program’s 21 years at DivisionI level. … Made it to super regionals for first time after being within onewin last year, losing to Nebraska, and in 1999, when Bears lost to Clemson. …Scored 21 of 26 runs against Ohio State in super regionals with two outs. …Hit 28 homers in regular season, but have eight in postseason. … Ziegler,Bears’ career leader in wins (32), strikeouts (328), complete games (18) andinnings pitched (359), was Missouri Valley Conference pitcher of year afterwinning school-record 12 games. … Mulholland, MVC newcomer of year, hasschool-record 114 strikeouts. … Mathis is second on school’s career list ingames played (866), at-bats (230) and is tied for first with Colvin with 16career sacrifice flies. … Marcum is career leader with 18 saves. … Brinkleyhas school-record 69 stolen bases and is within one triple of school mark of20.

RICE (53-11)

CWS Seed: 5.

Coach: Wayne Graham (531-223, 12th year).

Road To Omaha: Won Houston regional: beat McNeese State 3-2 in 10 innings;beat Wichita State 10-1; beat Wichita State 5-2. Won Houston super regional:lost to Houston 5-2; beat Houston 10-2; beat Houston 5-2.

2003 record vs. CWS teams: 1-0 (vs. Texas).

Last CWS appearance: 2002.

All-time record in CWS: 1-6 (three appearances).

Players to Watch: RHP David Aardsma (5-3, 11 saves), IF Enrique Cruz(.347, 10, 51), OF Austin Davis (.346, 5, 60), RHP Philip Humber (10-3, 3.28),OF Chris Kolkhorst (.350, 43 RBIs), RHP Jeff Niemann (16-0, 1.63, 142 Ks), 1BVincent Sinisi (.355, 9, 57), RHP Wade Townsend (10-1, 1.90, 150 Ks).

Short Hops: Owls in CWS for fourth time in seven years. … Only win inseven CWS games came against Oklahoma State in 1999. … Had 30-game winningstreak – longest in school history – and set school mark by starting 33-1. …Graham played briefly under Casey Stengel with 1964 Mets. … Pitching staffhas 2.74 ERA, and set school records with 10 shutouts and 19 saves. …Niemann, WAC pitcher of year, is 6-foot-9 and has won last 17 decisions,including 16 this season. … Townsend is third in nation with 13.2 Ks per nineinnings. … Kolkhorst has reached base in 26 straight games. … Aardsma, 22ndoverall pick by San Francisco, is school’s single-season and career leader insaves. … Owls rank second in country with .980 fielding percentage. … Cruzis son of former major leaguer Jose Cruz and brother of San Francisco Giantsoutfielder Jose Cruz Jr.

STANFORD (46-15)

CWS Seed: 6.

Coach: Mark Marquess (1,139-548-5, 27th year).

Road to Omaha: Won Stanford regional: beat Illinois-Chicago 9-2; beat UCRiverside 13-6; beat Richmond 19-6. Won Stanford super regional: beat LongBeach 5-1; beat Long Beach State 4-2.

2003 record vs. CWS teams: 2-4 (2-1 vs. Texas, 0-3 vs. Cal StateFullerton).

Last CWS Appearance: 2002.

All-Time Record in CWS: 33-24 (14 appearances).

Players to Watch: OF Sam Fuld (.327, 32 RBIs), C Ryan Garko (.411, 18,88), RHP John Hudgins (11-3, 3.18), RHP Matt Manship (3.54, nine saves), OFDanny Putnam (.355, 14, 57), OF Carlos Quentin (.398, 10, 56), LHP MarkRomanczuk (12-0, 3.39).

Short Hops: Cardinal are in CWS for school-record fifth straight year. …Playing in 15th CWS, and have won at least one game in previous 14 appearances…. Won CWS in 1987 and ’88. … Enter CWS having won nine straight, and 18 of19. … Have won 40 or more in nine straight seasons. … Marquess is 100-43 inpostseason with Stanford. … Garko, Pac-10 co-player of year and finalist forJohnny Bench Award, has career batting average of .426 (12-for-26) at CWS. …Quentin is Golden Spikes finalist and has 11 hits in 20 postseason plateappearances. … Garko and Quentin are trying to become first Cardinal playerssince David McCarty in 1991 to finish season above .400. … Hudgins was Pac-10pitcher of year. … Romanczuk is first Stanford pitcher to win first 12decisions, and attempting to become only second Cardinal to go unbeaten withmore than eight decisions – joining Sandy Vance, who went 11-0 in 1967. … 1BJohn Mayberry Jr. is son of former major leaguer John Mayberry.

CAL STATE FULLERTON (48-14)

CWS Seed: 7.

Coach: George Horton (309-130-1, seventh year).

Road To Omaha: Won Fullerton regional: beat San Diego 3-1; beat Notre Dame4-3; beat Notre Dame 8-1. Won Fullerton super regional: beat Arizona State 5-1;lost to Arizona State 7-6; beat Arizona State 7-1.

2003 record vs. CWS teams: 4-0 (3-0 vs. Stanford, 1-0 vs. Texas).

Last CWS appearance: 2001.

All-time record in CWS: 25-18 (11 appearances).

Players to Watch: OF Kyle Boyer (.342, 49 RBIs, 24 SBs), RHP Chad Cordero(5-1, 1.42, seven saves), OF Shane Costa (.372, 54 RBIs, 28 SBs), OF Danny Dorn(.366, 7, 54), 3B Ronnie Prettyman (.356, 34 RBIs), LHP Ryan Schreppel (5-3,2.45), RHP Jason Windsor (10-2, 1.82).

Short Hops: Titans are in CWS for third time in five years. … Won CWS in1979, ’84 and ’95 under current Texas coach Augie Garrido. … Titans are 41-0when leading after seven innings. … Join Arizona State as only schools in top20 in country in hitting, pitching and defense. … Pitching staff hassecond-lowest ERA in country at 2.75. … Held Arizona State, top hitting andscoring team in nation, to one run twice in super regionals. … Have hit just37 homers, and no Titans team has hit less than 40 since 1976. … Costa,second-round pick of Kansas City, was Big West player of year and ranks fifthon team’s career list with .371 batting average. … Dorn broke Phil Nevin’sschool freshman RBI record. … Cordero, one of nation’s top closers, wasdrafted in first round by Montreal – 20th overall. Cordero is active Division Icareer saves leader with 33, tied for 11th in NCAA history. … 2B JasonCorapci and SS Justin Turner are former Titans batboys.

MIAMI (44-15-1)

CWS Seed: 8.

Coach: Jim Morris (471-163-2, 10th year).

Road To Omaha: Won Coral Gables regional: beat Bethune-Cookman 10-5; beatFlorida Atlantic 1-0; lost to Florida 15-5; beat Florida 13-10. Won CoralGables super regional: beat North Carolina St. 10-9; beat North Carolina St.10-5 in 11 innings.

2003 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.

Last CWS appearance: 2001.

All-time record in CWS: 43-30 (19 appearances).

Players to Watch: SS Ryan Braun (.374, 17, 74), 1B Jim Burt Jr. (.296, 10,39), LHP Brandon Camardese (9-1, 4.95), LHP J.D. Cockroft (11-2, 2.20), OFDanny Figueroa (.332, 40 SBs), RHP George Huguet (3-2, 1.88, eight saves), 3BAdam Ricks (.338, 54 RBIs).

Short Hops: Hurricanes won CWS titles in 1982, ’85, ’99 and 2001. … Wonnational championship in last two trips to Omaha. … Burt, Huguet, Cockroftand LHP Andrew Cohn are only holdovers from 2001 championship team, butCockroft wasn’t on postseason roster. … Morris has led Hurricanes to CWS ineight of 10 seasons. … Offense is averaging 8.83 runs per game – eighth incountry. … Braun, who broke Pat Burrell’s school freshman record for RBIs,hit game-winning walkoff homer in first game of super regionals vs. NorthCarolina State. … RHP Shawn Valdes-Fauli is 3-0 with 1.64 ERA in postseason…. Huguet missed regionals with broken right hand, but came back in superregionals. … Burt is son of former NFL defensive lineman Jim Burt.