Loyola Marymount Will Try to Have Fun in the Sun : Lions Play Washington State in NCAA Regional at Tempe

What are the odds of the Loyola Marymount baseball team winning the NCAA West II Regional at Arizona State and earning a trip to the College World Series in Omaha?

The Lions (45-15) are a hard-hitting team (.342 average) playing in a park conducive to offense. Those are the positives.

Now comes the hard part: Arizona State, the top-seeded team in the regional, has failed to advance only once in the many times it has played host to the NCAA regional. The Sun Devils are 36-4 at home this year.

Nonetheless, the 13th-ranked Lions don’t have to worry about the Sun Devils in the opener. Loyola open at noon today against Washington State (46-17).

In today’s other openers, Oklahoma State faces UC Santa Barbara at 3:30 p.m. and Arizona State plays Penn at 7.

The Lions’ slim pitching depth could be magnified as there are several other powerful offenses--notably Oklahoma State--in the six-team, double-elimination tournament. And if the Valley of the Sun really heats up, the series could become a war of attrition, favoring the more acclimatized team or the teams who get to play at night.

The Lions are gunning for their first College World Series appearance since 1986. They have playoff experience, making their third consecutive regional appearance, and have shown a knack for comebacks and big plays. In the words of outfielder Tim Williams, “This team never feels it’s over until the last out.”

Loyola Coach Chris Smith expects hitting will dominate the tournament.

“Arizona State has won so many regionals in its own home,” Smith said. “However, Oklahoma State and us are both offensive teams. (Arizona State) is gonna have to score some runs. There could be a lot of runs scored in all of ‘em.”

All eight position players for Loyola are batting .331 or better, led by outfielder Rick Mediavilla (.421). Outfielders Williams and Tony Kounas and catcher Miah Bradbury supply the power, having combined for 45 home runs and 186 runs batted in. Freshman shortstop Chris Gomez is hitting .376 with 24 doubles and 61 RBIs.

On the mound, left-hander Jon Willard is 13-3 with seven complete games. Right-hander Darryl Scott is 12-4.

The Lions will face another strong offensive team in Washington State. Six Cougar starters are hitting .328 or better, led by catcher Scott Hatteberg at .390 and outfielder Jim Connor at .372. First baseman Rob Nichols is the top power hitter with 14 homers and 57 RBIs. Pitcher Aaron Seles (12-2) is the staff ace, followed by Tom McGraw (9-4).

The temperature was 105 in Tempe, Ariz., at midweek, and highs in the upper 90s are forecast today. The Sun Devils’ stadium has natural grass, but it’s burnt and hard.

“Not only does the ball fly there, but it gets in the alley and goes to the wall fast,” Smith said. “It’s hard for a pitcher to go out there for a long time and not get punished. In that park, (Washington State) is fairly physical, as we are. You could see some runs thrown up there.”

If the Lions lose to the Cougars, they play another of today’s losers at noon Saturday, with one team being eliminated. If the Lions win, they probably play at 3:30 Saturday.