Titans Not Ready to Party Yet

When Cal State Fullerton won the NCAA regional tournament at Notre Dame Sunday against Michigan, it was a subdued celebration.

There were only a few high-fives and hugs, and no pile on the pitcher’s mound. There was more emotion when the Titans won Friday against Michigan in the first round with a ninth-inning rally.

That’s because a regional title no longer means a trip to the College World Series. The new 64-team format has changed that, creating another stop on the road to Omaha in eight super-regionals.

For Fullerton, the big question is whether the Titans will host that super-regional, or travel to Ohio State for the best-of-three playoff that begins on Friday.

The announcement on the host sites is scheduled to be made today.

“I think it would be an injustice if we don’t get to host,” Titan Coach George Horton said. “We’re a higher-seeded team, and we had to play on the road this week, while they played at home. If we don’t get the bid, it would be all about money.”

Both teams have bid for the super-regional, and the NCAA Division I baseball committee will decide which team will host.

The Titans have never hosted an NCAA regional tournament in baseball.

Horton said he thinks the capacity of Titan Field can be boosted to about 2,500 for a playoff with additional temporary bleachers. Ohio State’s baseball field has a capacity of about 5,000.

Sunday’s regional title game at Ohio State drew 3,242.

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Michigan Coach Geoff Zahn refuses to be drawn into any predictions about a winner of a best-of-three series between the Titans and the Buckeyes.

“They’re both very good clubs,” Zahn said. “We finished fourth in the Big Ten during the regular season, and Ohio State won it. They had an outstanding year.”

Michigan players also had good things to say about both teams.

“They both do a lot of the same things well,” said Michigan second baseman Bobby Scales.

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Fullerton pitcher Adam Johnson was chosen as the most outstanding player in the Notre Dame regional for his eight-hit, complete-game victory Saturday against the Irish.

Three other Titans were named to the all-tournament team: first baseman Chris Beck, outfielder Reed Johnson and designated hitter Aaron Rifkin.