June 16, 2004

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

A capsule look at the eight teams competing in the College World Series, which starts Friday at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb. (coaches' records at current schools through super regionals):

TEXAS (55-13)

CWS Seed: 1.

Coach: Augie Garrido (275-160-1, eighth year).

Road To Omaha: Won Austin regional: beat Youngstown State 10-3; beat Oral Roberts 7-5; beat Oral Roberts 7-3. Won Austin super regional: beat Vanderbilt 15-3; beat Vanderbilt 10-2.

2004 record vs. CWS teams: 2-0 (vs. Cal State Fullerton).

Last CWS appearance: 2003.

All-time record in CWS: 70-51 (30 appearances).

Players to Watch: RHP J. Brent Cox (1.65, 5-1, five saves), LHP J.P. Howell (14-2, 2.26 ERA), 2B Seth Johnston (.290, 6 HRs, 45 RBIs, 15 SBs), OF Carson Kainer (.351, 21 RBIs), RHP Sam LeClure (9-3, 2.40), LHP Justin Simmons (10-3, 4.21), RHP Huston Street (5-1, 1.46, 12 saves), OF Drew Stubbs (.311, 8, 44, 27 SBs), C Taylor Teagarden (.286, 9, 49), 1B Curtis Thigpen (.369, 7, 48).

Short Hops: Making NCAA-record 31st CWS appearance. It's Longhorns' third straight trip to Omaha, and fourth in five years. ... Garrido is winningest coach in Division I history with 1,483 victories. Has won four national titles, three with Cal State Fullerton (1979, '84, '95) and one with Texas (2002). ... Street - school and Big 12 career leader with 41 saves - is son of former Longhorns pitcher and quarterback James Street, who led Texas to Cotton Bowl win over Notre Dame in 1970. Golden Spikes finalist has 15 postseason saves. ... Howell, who transferred from USC two years ago, is finalist for Roger Clemens Award, given to nation's top pitcher, and Howser Award, given to country's top player. ... Howell (Kansas City, No. 31) and Street (Oakland, No. 40) were sandwich-round picks in last week's draft. ... Stubbs set school freshman record with 76 hits. ... Thigpen, second-round draft pick by Toronto, hitting .400 (36-for-90) with five homers and 23 RBIs in postseason in career.

SOUTH CAROLINA (50-15)

CWS Seed: 2.

Coach: Ray Tanner (369-150, eighth year).

Road To Omaha: Won Columbia regional: beat The Citadel 12-4; beat North Carolina 5-2; beat North Carolina 7-6. Won Columbia super regional: beat East Carolina 4-2; beat East Carolina 5-3.

2004 record vs. CWS teams: 4-6 (1-2 vs. Georgia; 1-2 vs. LSU; 2-2 vs. Arkansas).

Last CWS appearance: 2003.

All-time record in CWS: 14-14 (seven appearances).

Players to Watch: RHP Chad Blackwell (4-3, 2.79, 19 saves), RHP Billy Buckner (6-2, 3.16), LHP Matt Campbell (10-4, 2.88), OF Michael Campbell (.315, 14, 50), RHP Cliff Donald (2-0, 1.85), 2B Kevin Melillo (.304, 9, 35), 1B Steve Pearce (.327, 20, 65), C Landon Powell (.332, 19, 65), RHP Aaron Rawl (12-4, 4.29), SS Steven Tolleson (.320, 3, 23), OF Brenden Winn (.310, 18, 64).

Short Hops: Gamecocks playing in third straight CWS. ... Enter CWS on 10-game winning streak, and clinched third 50-win season in last five years. ... Gamecocks have had 12 games decided by two runs or less in last 20 games overall, and are 11-1 in those. ... Tanner coached USA National Team that won silver medal at Pan Am Games last summer. ... Gamecocks play Cal State Fullerton, first opponent in CWS, for first time in school history. ... Blackwell, Division I saves leader, has eight saves and one win in last nine appearances. ... Powell was 24th overall draft pick by Oakland and Matt Campbell went 29th to Kansas City - first time two Gamecocks selected in first round. ... Powell is finalist for Howser Award, as well as Johnny Bench Award, given to nation's top catcher. ... Pearce has 13 RBIs in nine postseason games. ... Tolleson is son of former big league infielder Wayne Tolleson. ... Buckner, not related to former major leaguer, was drafted by Kansas City in second round.

MIAMI (49-11)

CWS Seed: 3.

Coach: Jim Morris (521-176-2, 11th year).

Road To Omaha: Won Coral Gables regional: beat St. Bonaventure 6-3; beat North Carolina St. 19-5; beat Florida Atlantic 19-6. Won Coral Gables super regional: beat Florida 8-7; beat Florida 3-1.

2004 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.

Last CWS appearance: 2003.

All-time record in CWS: 44-32 (20 appearances).

Players to Watch: OF Brian Barton (.365, 6, 45), SS-DH Ryan Braun (.347, 9, 43, 20 SBs), 1B Jim Burt (.373, 14, 72), LHP Brandon Camardese (6-2, 3.86), RHP Cesar Carrillo (11-0, 2.73), LHP J.D. Cockroft (9-4, 3.41), RHP Danny Gil (8-0, 3.11, five saves), OF Jon Jay (.364, 5, 49, 19 SBs), 2B Adam Ricks (.336, 10, 48), C Erick San Pedro (.330, 12, 52).

Short Hops: Enter CWS on 12-game winning streak, longest for team since Hurricanes won last 17 games of 2001 season and first game of 2002 season. ... Tied with Southern California for second-most CWS appearances with 21. Texas leads with 31. ... Morris has led Miami to Omaha nine of 11 seasons, and won national titles in 1999 and 2001. ... Carrillo, a freshman, threw first career complete game - and first by Miami pitcher in super regional - in series-clinching win over Florida. Also struck out career-high nine. ... Miami is 15-0 when Carrillo starts game, and 18-0 when he makes appearance. ... Team has overcome numerous injuries to key players, and suspensions of all-time saves leader George Huguet and top setup man Shaun Valdes-Fauli for violating team rules. ... Gil, a freshman and brother of former Hurricanes All-American pitcher David Gil, stepped in for Huguet and opponents hitting just .180 vs. him. ... Burt is son of former Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jim Burt, who won two Super Bowls with New York Giants and San Francisco.

GEORGIA(43-21)

CWS Seed: 4.

Coach: David Perno (104-76, third year).

Road To Omaha: Won Athens regional: beat Middle Tennessee 16-2; beat Clemson 6-3; lost to Clemson 10-9; beat Clemson 7-6 in 10 innings. Won Atlanta super regional: beat Georgia Tech 7-5; beat Georgia Tech 5-3.

2004 record vs. CWS teams: 4-3 (2-1 vs. South Carolina; 2-2 vs. LSU).

Last CWS appearance: 2001.

All-time record in CWS: 4-5 (three appearances).

Players to Watch: OF Bobby Felmy (.295, 9, 45), SS Justin Holmes (.328, 8, 54, 17 SBs), RHP Michael Hyle (7-2, 3.10), OF Kyle Keen (.291, 4, 30, 15 SBs), RHP Bo Lanier (4-1, 2.61, two saves), 1B Josh Morris (.319, 16, 68), RHP Sean Ruthven (7-1, 2.94), 3B Josh Smith (.320, 3, 38), LHP Will Startup (7-2, 2.34, 10 saves), 2B Marshall Szabo (.306, 6, 36).

Short Hops: Bulldogs have advanced to CWS four times in six NCAA tournament appearances. ... Perno played in 20 games for 1990 Georgia team that won CWS title. ... Defense has turned 70 double plays, second-most in school history. Only 1990 CWS champs had more (85). ... SEC co-champions have hit 64 homers after hitting just 38 last season. ... Startup leading SEC in opponents' batting average (.192). ... Bulldogs are 40-4 when leading after seven innings, but 1-16 when trailing after seven. ... Morris is four homers and two RBIs away from matching Ron Wenrich's school freshman records, set in 1985. ... Ruthven carried no-hitter into fifth inning, and allowed one hit in seven innings but got no-decision in Bulldogs' win over Georgia Tech in super regional clincher. Freshman OF Jonathan Wyatt hit first career homer to win game. ... Have hit 12 homers and scored 47 runs in six NCAA tournament games. ... Hyle missed senior year of high school in 2001 and redshirted freshman year at Georgia after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but bounced back with two solid seasons for Bulldogs (13-3 with 3.17 ERA).

ARIZONA (35-25-1)

CWS Seed: 5.

Coach: Andy Lopez (101-72-1, third year).

Road To Omaha: Won South Bend regional: beat UC Irvine 7-3; beat Kent State 7-4; beat Notre Dame 7-6. Won Long Beach super regional: beat Long Beach State 6-5; lost to Long Beach State 9-4; beat Long Beach State 4-3 in 11 innings.

2004 record vs. CWS teams: 2-1 (vs. Cal State Fullerton).

Last CWS appearance: 1986.

All-time record in CWS: 32-25 (14 appearances).

Players to Watch: 1B Jordan Brown (.306, 11, 53), OF Trevor Crowe (.339, 5, 33, 25 SBs), SS Jason Donald (.321, 8, 43), 2B Moises Duran (.312, 6, 47), C Nick Hundley (.311, 4, 26), RHP Koley Kolberg (9-6, 4.56), RHP Mark Melancon (6-4, 4.63) RHP John Meloan (9-0, 4.80), DH Richard Mercado (.337, 4, 30), RHP Derek Rodriguez (1-3, 4.74, seven saves), OF Jeff Van Houten (.325, 3, 39).

Short Hops: Wildcats making first trip to CWS since 1986, when they beat Florida State for national championship. ... Friday's game vs. Georgia will be the latest in a year Arizona has played since beating Eastern Michigan for CWS title on June 18, 1976. ... Lopez is third coach to lead three schools to CWS, joining Larry Cochelle and Ron Polk. Lopez also coached Florida and Pepperdine, which won 1992 title, in Omaha. ... Five postseason wins have been by two runs or less. ... Arizona, No. 3 seed in their regional, is lowest seed to reach Omaha this year. ... Wildcats' 35 wins are fewest by CWS team since California (35-26) in 1992. ... 2B John Hardy had streak of 114 consecutive games played end after suffering concussion in first game of super regional. Missed last two games, but will be ready for CWS. ... Donald has played in every game this season, and is three hits away from breaking teammate Brad Boyer's Arizona freshman record of 83.

LOUISIANA STATE (46-17)

CWS Seed: 6.

Coach: Smoke Laval (135-61, third year).

Road To Omaha: Won Baton Rouge regional: beat Army 9-0, beat Southern Mississippi 6-2, beat College of Charleston 11-3. Won Baton Rouge super regional: beat Texas A&M 11-8; beat Texas A&M 4-0.

2004 record vs. CWS teams: 4-6 (2-1 vs. South Carolina; 2-2 vs. Georgia; 0-3 vs. Arkansas).

Last CWS appearance: 2003.

All-time record in CWS: 29-15 (12 appearances).

Players to Watch: RHP Nate Bumstead (10-3, 3.59), LHP Clay Dirks (8-2, 3.35), SS Blake Gill (.344, 5, 41), 3B Clay Harris (.295, 7, 51), OF J.C Holt (.390, 6, 51, 20 SBs), C Matt Liuzza (.330, 9, 45), RHP Justin Meier (6-2, 3.75), LHP Lane Mestepey (7-3, 3.43), OF Ryan Patterson (.340, 14, 64), DH Nick Stavinoha (.335, 8, 42), OF Jon Zeringue (.387, 12, 55).

Short Hops: Tigers have won at least 40 games in 15 straight seasons. ... Tigers making 13th trip to CWS since 1986, and second under Laval. ... Won CWS in 1991, '93, '96, '97 and 2000. ... Tigers are 104-37 in NCAA tournament history, top winning percentage in Division I at .738. ... Laval won two national titles (1991, '93) as assistant under former coach Skip Bertman. ... Zeringue was SEC co-player of year, sharing honors with Mississippi's Stephen Head. ... Holt, Patterson and Zeringue form most productive outfield in SEC with 170 RBIs, and pace one of top offenses in country. ... Meier has allowed more than four earned runs in just one of 15 starts this season. ... Holt needs eight hits to set school single-season mark of 111, breaking Brandon Larson's record set in 1997. Holt, drafted by Atlanta in third round, was MVP of prestigious Cape Cod League last summer. ... Mestepey was Tigers' top pitcher in 2001 and 2002, but missed last season after undergoing shoulder surgery. ... Tigers have brothers at infield corners, with sophomore Will Harris at first base and junior Clay Harris at third.

CAL STATE FULLERTON (42-21)

CWS Seed: 7.

Coach: George Horton (351-153-1, eighth year).

Road To Omaha: Won Fullerton regional: beat Minnesota 7-1, lost to Pepperdine 7-6 in 10 innings, beat Arizona State 5-0, beat Pepperdine 15-1, beat Pepperdine 16-3. Won Fullerton super regional: beat Tulane 9-0; beat Tulane 10-7.

2004 record vs. CWS teams: 1-4 (0-2 vs. Texas; 1-2 vs. Arizona).

Last CWS appearance: 2003.

All-time record in CWS: 27-20 (12 appearances).

Players to Watch: OF Danny Dorn (.329, 4, 56), OF Clark Hardman (.363, 31 RBIs), DH Felipe Garcia (.342, 6, 43), RHP Mike Martinez (8-2, 4.06), OF Sergio Pedroza (.340, 7, 39), 1B P.J. Pilittere (.354, 4, 49), 3B Ronnie Prettyman (.329, 34 RBIs, 12 SBs), LHP Ricky Romero (12-4, 3.36), C Kurt Suzuki (.437, 16, 86), RHP Jason Windsor (11-4, 1.84).

Short Hops: Titans are in CWS for fourth time in six years, but are making back-to-back trips for just second time in school history (1994-95). ... Won CWS in 1979, '84 and '95 under current Texas coach Augie Garrido. ... Titans had to win twice on final day of regionals, beating Pepperdine both times to advance to super regionals. ... Have won 27 of last 32 games after starting season 15-16. ... Suzuki is outstanding defensively and is finalist for Johnny Bench Award, given to nation's top catcher. One of nation's top hitters was Big West player of year and could set school record if he finishes with batting average higher than .431. Second-round draft pick by Oakland walked on to team as freshman. ... 2B Justin Turner, former Titans batboy, has not made error in 41 games. ... Martinez was just third pitcher in past 10 years to shut out Arizona State when he blanked Sun Devils in regionals. ... Windsor, third-round draft pick by A's, has won 10 consecutive games and thrown nine complete games.

ARKANSAS (45-22)

CWS Seed: 8.

Coach: Dave Van Horn (80-44, second year).

Road To Omaha: Won Fayetteville regional: beat LeMoyne 4-1; lost to Wichita State 4-3 in 11 innings; beat Missouri 10-7; beat Wichita State 11-9; beat Wichita State 4-3. Won Fayetteville super regional: beat Florida State 7-5; beat Florida State 4-2.

2004 record vs. CWS teams: 5-2 (2-2 vs. South Carolina; 3-0 vs. LSU).

Last CWS appearance: 1989.

All-time record in CWS: 7-8 (four appearances).

Players to Watch: RHP Charley Boyce (10-2, 3.10), LHP Clint Brannon (4-3, 3.53), OF Jake Dugger (.299, 8, 44), 3B Clay Goodwin (.327, 4, 32), DH Danny Hamblin (.309, 8, 41), SS Scott Hode (.293, 7, 53), 1B Haas Pratt (.317, 8, 52), OF Casey Rowlett (.298, 3, 21, 22 SBs), LHP Jay Sawatski (10-3, 3.32, seven saves).

Short Hops: Razorbacks were picked to finish next-to-last in preseason SEC poll, but won Western Division and share of regular-season title. ... Van Horn, SEC co-coach of year, is making third CWS appearance as head coach, after guiding Nebraska to Omaha in 2001 and 2002. ... Razorbacks had to win three straight in regionals while facing elimination. ... Boyce threw 99 pitches in first game vs. Wichita State, and 104 pitches in second game vs. Shockers. ... C Brady Toops hit winning grand slam in 11-9 victory over Wichita State, forcing deciding game between teams in regionals. ... Hode entered super regionals in 2-for-38 slump, but went 5-for-8 with two RBIs vs. Florida State. ... 2B Devin Day served Mormon mission in Peru from 1999-2001. ... Pratt transferred from Miami after 2002 season, and was member of Hurricanes' College World Series championship squad in 2001. ... Sawatski is grandson of Carl Sawatski, who was catcher in majors for parts of 11 seasons in 1950s and 1960s.