Baseball: College World Series is loaded with local players
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The College World Series begins on Saturday at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, with lots of former Southern California high school standouts in action.
Of course, UCLA has the most locals on its roster. Coach John Savage has built his team around players from Orange County and Los Angeles County. Former Orange Lutheran pitcher Gerrit Cole should get the call on the mound when the Bruins play Florida at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Florida State, which plays TCU at 11 a.m. on Saturday, has former Encino Crespi pitcher Sean Gilmartin. He’s the lone player from California on Florida State’s roster.
Top-seeded Arizona State plays Clemson Sunday at 4 p.m. and has a key player from Southern California in infielder Zach Wilson from Long Beach Wilson. He’s batting .352 with eight home runs. Sophomore infielder Austin Barnes from Riverside Poly has 22 RBIs.
Jarrett Semler, a pitcher from Cypress College and Glendora High, has made 12 appearances for Oklahoma, which plays South Carolina Sunday at 11 a.m.
-- Eric Sondheimer