It’s May Madness for Local Teams

Perhaps the best thing that happened to USC this season was the NCAA’s decision to let Stanford be the host for the West Regional of the Division I tournament that begins today for 48 college baseball teams.

If Fresno State, or Long Beach State, had been awarded the regional, then the No. 1-ranked Trojans would have been the top-seeded team and ended up playing in probably the most competitive regional. Because the NCAA does not put schools from the same conference in the same regional, USC was sent to the Central II Regional and should have a less difficult road to the College World Series, which begins May 31 at Omaha.

Sixth-ranked Florida State will join No. 7 Stanford and No. 10 Cal State Northridge in Palo Alto. But USC’s path is not without obstacles, nor is that of Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton or UCLA. A look at their regionals:

WEST

At Stanford

The Stanford-Northridge matchup is the best of the opening round, and although the NCAA selection committee showed little respect for the Matadors by seeding them fifth in the West, don’t expect Stanford to do the same. Stanford has the best pitching staff in the region with freshmen Chad Hutchinson (7-1) and Jeff Austin (6-3), along with sophomore Kyle Peterson (9-5), but they are all right-handers. Northridge’s Eric Gillespie, Robert Fick and Adam Kennedy, who have combined for more than 300 hits, all bat left-handed. Fick tops the group with a .420 average, 24 home runs and 88 runs batted in.

Mississippi State will ride ace pitcher Eric Dubose (9-4, 3.18 earned-run average) against UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos’ best player, outfielder Ryan Kritscher, is questionable after breaking his hand, and even with him Santa Barbara is unlikely to overcome a staff ERA of 5.58.

Florida State would have been top seeded in the South I Regional had Alabama not defeated Florida in the Southeastern Conference tournament. But instead the Seminoles were sent west, bringing All-American outfielder J.D. Drew (.394, 18 homers, 79 RBIs) and pitcher Randy Choate (14-3, 2.63 ERA) to face Northeastern Illinois.

CENTRAL I

At Austin, Texas

Long Beach State should have little trouble getting past Southwest Missouri State in the opening round and will probably save all-Big West Conference pitcher Marcus Jones (9-4, 2.10 ERA) for the UCLA-Texas winner. The Bruins have enough talent with third baseman Troy Glaus (.355) and pitcher Jim Parque (8-3, 3.89). If UCLA loses to the third-seeded Longhorns, they must face top-seeded Miami, and that will probably lead to an early flight home.

No. 13-ranked Texas is good, but No. 2 Miami is better, and freshman third baseman Pat Burrell may be the regional’s best player. He is batting .456 in 49 games with an .877 slugging percentage.

CENTRAL II

At Lubbock, Texas

Second-seeded and host Texas Tech will give USC all it can handle. The Red Raiders are 24-3 at Dan Law Field, and are led by Clint Bryant, who leads the nation with 100 RBIs. Like USC, Texas Tech has an experienced pitching staff, led by juniors Matt Miller (11-2, 4.16 ERA) and Jimmy Frush (10-4, 3.02). Frush will probably start the opening game against Fresno State.

Oklahoma State played USC tough in the fifth game of the season, losing, 6-5. Since then it has beaten up on Big Eight opponents, including 11 in a row to close the season. But their four starters have a combined ERA of 5.70. Missouri is the only top-25 team the Cowboys have played in the last 30 games.

USC should be able to handle Akron in the first round. The Zips won the Mid-American Conference tournament after finishing fourth during the regular season. Their best player is junior outfielder Brian Petrucci, who has 67 RBIs and a .384 average. Trojan Coach Mike Gillespie will hold his top three pitchers against Akron and start freshman Steve Immel (4-1, 4.75), who has started only six games.

MIDWEST

At Wichita, Kan.

Fullerton pitching coach George Horton called the regional a “fresh start” for the defending champions. The second-seeded Titans, who lost 10 of their last 15 games, regained some respect by getting a victory at Miami and losing two others by one run. All-American center fielder Mark Kotsay is batting .391 with 17 homers and 77 RBIs. Top-seeded Wichita State lost in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament to Southwest Missouri State, 8-7, and Bradley, 18-11, costing the Shockers their No. 1 national ranking.

Fullerton and Wichita State are headed for a showdown unless upstart Rice, which won the SWC tournament but finished 9-15 and fourth during the regular season, continues to play well. The Owls will be without center fielder Bubba Crosby, who broke his hand last week. They play No. 22 Missouri in the opening round.

THE REST

Georgia Southern and Tennessee are solid in the Atlantic Regional, but Clemson, playing at home, has one of the best pitching staffs in the nation. Florida is at home and has the benefit of a weak bunch in the East. Alabama is the class of the South I region, and Louisiana State and Big West champion Nevada Las Vegas will battle to get out of South II.