CWS NOTEBOOK

By Cliff Kirkpatrick
Gazette-Times Reporter

OMAHA, Neb. — Freshmen will play an important part in the outcome of the College World Series.

Both Oregon State and North Carolina baseball teams have key first-year players in the lineup.

Jorge Reyes starts on the mound for the Beavers today in the first game of the best-of-3 championship series, and second baseman Joey Wong is one of the hottest hitters and fielders in the CWS.

“It’s awesome being a freshman,” Reyes said. “I want to be the best freshman in the country. I want to prove that (today). I’m grateful I have the opportunity to do this. It’s the greatest feeling in the world.“

North Carolina depends on freshman position players such as Dustin Ackley, Tim Fedroff and Kyle Seager. Alex White is the starting pitcher today.

“It’s just shows you the caliber of talent that can come into college baseball,” North Carolina coach Mike Fox said. “You have to have freshman come and play an important role on your team because you are losing players to graduation and the draft every year. You better have some young guys who can come in and perform at a high level or your program is going to slip.”

OSU coach Pat Casey gives freshmen chances to make the lineup throughout the year. If they have at this point, he believes they are seasoned veterans.

There was a question if Reyes was emotionally ready going into the CWS series, starting the first game last weekend. He only took over as a starter in April.

He responded by allowing one run in six innings in a win over Cal State Fullerton. White didn’t make it out of the second inning in the same situation.

“It’s happening so quick,” Reyes said. “It was a goal of ours (to be here), but it seems like yesterday I was taking my first class at Oregon State and now I’m going to pitch in the championship series.”

Hit by pitch

Much has been made of the record number of batters (46) hit by a pitch at this CWS. Runs have been driven in by being plunked with the bases loaded.

“It’s part of the game, especially the college game,” North Carolina pitcher Robert Woodard said. “Hitters like to stand on the plate and put pressure on the pitchers to throw inside.”

Woodard claims that the problem is caused by the heat, as sweat causes the ball to slip out of the pitcher’s hand.

“I know I’ve hit a couple batters because of that,” Woodard said. “But you have to pitch inside. There’s no ill-will. It’s part of the game.“

Confident Canham

One of the popular topics Friday was the odds of both of last year’s finalists being back to do it again with the turnover of the rosters.

OSU catcher Mitch Canham, however, has been saying all year the Beavers would hold up their end.

“The day after we won last year, we knew what kind of talent we had coming in from the recruiting trips,” Canham said. “With the kind of work ethic we have in Corvallis, it was going to set us up for a chance to be back here. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind when we had our whole team together for our first meeting that we were going to be back here.”

Tired Heels

After three games in three days with the pressure to win to reach the championship series, Fox felt his team was tired.

The Tar Heels didn’t practice at Rosenblatt Stadium on Friday. He let most of them sleep in and take the day off. But he expects them to be ready today.

“It’s three days in a row, and you just take a deep breath,” Fox said. “You are playing in the championship finals, you can’t be tired mentally or physically. You shouldn’t be.”

Post series party

When Oregon State returns from the CWS there will be a welcoming ceremony at Parker Plaza outside Reser Stadium.

The Beavers will return either Monday at about 2:30 p.m. or Tuesday around 1:30 p.m., depending upon the length of the championship series.