USC’s Moon Eager to Show World

Freshman third baseman Michael Moon will be the most inexperienced player on the field for USC today when the Trojans play Georgia in their College World Series opener.

Every other USC starter got through his World Series jitters in last year’s appearance. Shortstop Seth Davidson is playing in his third series.

“I want to get that first at-bat and that first ground ball because I’m going to be nervous,” Moon said. “I kind of wish we played on the first day because I need to get out there.”

Moon, who graduated from Rancho Cucamonga High, has been forced to wait because of USC’s marquee value.

For the fourth time in their last four World Series appearances, the 12-time national champions will play their first game before a national TV audience on CBS. Junior right-hander Mark Prior (14-1), the No. 2 pick in the amateur draft, will face Georgia junior right-hander Jeremy Brown (7-3) at 10:30 a.m. PDT.

“I’ve had about 500 phone calls from family and friends saying they’re going to be watching,” said Moon, who is batting .318 with five home runs and 33 runs batted in. “I’m just trying to control my emotions and get ready for the job we need to do.”

Moon’s game-winning, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against Pepperdine in a regional at USC on May 26 went a long way toward helping the Trojans (44-17) advance to a super regional and, subsequently, their 21st World Series appearance.

USC faces a Georgia team familiar with heart-stopping finishes. The Bulldogs (47-20) won 16 games in their final turn at-bat.

Georgia is making its third World Series appearance--its first since winning the title in 1990.

Coach Ron Polk, in his second season with the Bulldogs, is one of only two coaches to bring teams from three schools to Omaha. Polk guided Georgia Southern to the World Series in 1973 and brought Mississippi State five times. Larry Cochell did it once at Oral Roberts, twice at Cal State Fullerton and has done it three times with Oklahoma.

Prior is no stranger to Georgia. Two years ago, when he was a freshman at Vanderbilt, the Bulldogs scored four runs and had seven hits in five innings against him in a 9-1 Southeastern Conference victory.

Shortstop Jeff Keppinger, who is batting .387 with 16 homers and 68 RBIs, designated hitter Doc Brooks (16 homers, 53 RBIs) and third baseman Andy Neufeld (.339, 10 homers) are the top run producers for the Bulldogs.

“I’m sure they’re going to come looking for me,” Prior said.

Moon is keeping an eye out for opportunities to help USC win its second title in four years.

Moon, 5 feet 10 and 175 pounds, would not be a Trojan if he had made it through a high school football game uninjured.

On the night he was to catch a red-eye flight to visit Baylor, Moon suffered a knee injury and was taken to a hospital for X-rays. He called Baylor’s baseball coach to tell him he would miss the flight and rescheduled for the next week.

USC coaches called the next morning.

“Fate kind of took over,” Moon said. “If I had gone on that trip, I probably would have given my verbal commitment to Baylor.”

Moon was a shortstop in high school, but with Davidson at shortstop and Anthony Lunetta coming off a successful freshman season at second base, USC Coach Mike Gillespie installed Moon at third.

Moon committed only six errors in 130 chances and battled through a midseason batting slump to emerge as one of the Trojans’ key players.

“When I was slumping, [Gillespie] told me they were not going to go with anyone else, that I had to work through it,” Moon said. “That gave me confidence and it’s carried me to this point.”