Top-seeded Jackets head to NCAAs

| TOP OF ISSUE | TOP OF SECTION | NEXT STORY |

Top-seeded Jackets head to NCAAs

By Mindy Wiggins
No postseason for her

The time for postseason baseball has finally arrived, and things look promising for Yellow Jacket fans as the Jackets, who have earned the top seed in the NCAA Mideast Regional, take their shot at a College World Series berth. The Jackets opened play yesterday against Tennessee Tech, the sixth seed, in Starkville, Mississippi.

This postseason marks the fourth time since 1987 that Tech has earned a number one seed for an NCAA baseball regional. The Yellow Jackets were selected for the NCAA Tournament for the 13th consecutive year.

The Jackets hope to have more luck in Mississippi than they had at the ACC Tournament last week in St. Petersburg, Florida. Despite clinching the ACC regular season title with a 19-4 conference record, the Jackets were eliminated after three games.

Tech salvaged a win against North Carolina in the first game of the tournament, but lost to Clemson and Duke in the second and third games of the double-elimination tournament.

Despite scoring five runs during the first inning in the May 15 matchup against Clemson, the Jackets were defeated by a score of 7-4. David Elder, who was the Jackets' regular season ace with a record of 9-3, received the loss. He went six and one-third innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits. Only two of the runs were earned. Elder walked three and struck out six.

Southpaw Chuck Crowder came in to relieve Elder in the seventh inning, and he combined with Jase Wrigley to shut down the Tigers for the remainder of the game by not allowing any runs and giving up only one hit. Matt White got the win for Clemson.

With a few exceptions, most of the Jackets' bats were pretty cold throughout the game. Catcher Eric McQueen went 3-for-4 with one RBI. Wilson, who played first base, went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Left-fielder Scott Prather contributed Tech's other run with his only hit of the game.

The Jackets were eliminated from the ACC tournament as a result of their May 16 loss to Duke. Tech was held scoreless for the first eight innings of the 5-3 contest and only managed three hits off of Duke pitchers Richard Dishman and Vaughn Schill.

The Jackets attempted to pull off another upset in the bottom of the ninth inning, but fell short by scoring only three runs. Wilson went 1-for-3 in the game with two RBI which came off of a double.

Tech right-hander L.J. Yankosky started the game and went seven innings. He gave up four runs on two hits. Wrigley pitched the eighth inning, surrendering a run on one hit. Rich Thieme breezed through the ninth, facing only three batters. Yankosky (8-2) received the loss.

The Jackets hope to redeem themselves in the Mideast Regional. Tech's chances this week are enhanced by the return of shortstop Jay Hood, who missed the Jackets' last 11 games because of a chronic hamstring injury. In 31 games, the sophomore batted .357 with four homers and 30 RBI. His return will allow Heath Honeycutt to move back to third base and shore up a defense which was shaky in the ACC tournament.

Offensively, the Jackets are led by Mark Fischer and J.J. Thomas. Fischer, who maintained a batting average of .360 for the season and hit 24 home runs, leads the team in those categories. He also leads the team in RBI after driving in 97 runs during the season. Thomas has a batting average of .295 and drove in 63 runs with 19 home runs. Thomas made the all-ACC first team, while Fischer made the second team.

The pitching staff seems to be in good shape, also. Wilson, with his 11-2 record and 3.38 earned run average, made the all-ACC first team. Elder made the second team.

"Our chances are good," Head Coach Danny Hall said. "Hood should give us a big boost. He will make us better defensively, and he gives us another outstanding hitter. I was encouraged by our pitching in the ACC Tournament. If we can shore up our defense and swing the bat--you have to hit the ball to win the regional--then we have a good chance."

If the Jackets defeat Tennessee Tech, they will face the loser of the first-round game between third-seeded Southwestern Louisiana (43-16) and number four Pac-10 champion Washington (43-18). A loss would send Tech to the losers' bracket to face the loser of number two Mississippi State (41-18) and the fifth-seeded Big Ten champions Ohio State (42-16).

Regardless of their performance in the postseason, it can be said that the Jackets have had a remarkable season. Their 19-4 ACC record is the best conference record that the Jackets have had since joining the league in 1978. The Jackets' 44-13 overall record isn't too shabby, either. They head to the Mideast Regional ranked fifth by Collegiate Baseball.

In addition to the team's exceptional records this season, there have been some notable individual achievements. For example, righthander Elder has put together a gem of a season. In the fall, Elder expected to be Tech's closer this spring, a role he relished as a purveyor of a 90 mile-per-hour fastball and an excellent curve.

Early on, with top starter Chuck Crowder out indefinitely with an elbow injury and Tech's other starters off to slow starts, it became apparent that the Jackets would need Elder to return to the starting rotation. Elder didn't let anyone down; he pitched his way to a 9-3 record and a 3.41 ERA. His 6-1 ACC record ties him for third in the ACC in wins.

Elder, with 28 career wins at Tech, is tied with the Florida Marlins' Kevin Brown for third place in career wins at Tech. He also ranks fourth in career strikeouts at Tech with 279.

Elder and the rest of the pitching staff, along with the return of Hood, could make a big difference for the Yellow Jackets.

"I can go after people with the defense we have behind me," said Elder. "I can throw it down the middle. If they hit the ball, it's good because our defense will make the plays. I'm not worried about striking out people."

To add to the list of individual achievements for the season, Hall was named ACC Coach of the Year following the Jackets' clinch of the ACC regular-season title. In his fourth season at Tech, Hall was voted the ACC's top coach for the first time. Hall has led the Jackets to the NCAA Tournament all four seasons of his tenure.

All Tech games in the regional will be broadcast on WCNN-radio (680 AM), with Wes Durham and Randy Carroll calling the play-by-play.

For a complete schedule of the Jackets' road the World Series, visit www.msstate.edu/athletics/Baseball/NCAAreg.html.