North Carolina State University Athletics
Tough ACC Slate Has Pack Prepared for Postseason
5/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 29, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-When the NCAA Baseball Tournament begins at 16 regional sites across the country this weekend, the usual line-up of suspects will be favored to move a step closer to Omaha. Teams like LSU, Miami, Stanford and Cal State Fullerton almost feel like it's their birthright to appear in the College World Series. NC State, of course, will be considered an underdog if it is fortunate enough to advance beyond the regional it will host in Wilson on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. But if it does play its way into a super regional, the Wolfpack will be hardly intimidated if, as expected, it is pitted against one of college baseball's traditional heavyweights later in the tournament.
If playing in the always tough ACC doesn't prepare a team for the regionals, then nothing else will. League tournament champion Georgia Tech, a club against which NC State went 2-3 this year, was ranked No. 1 in the Baseball America Poll for the first six weeks of the regular season. Not to be outdone, ACC regular season champ Florida State is currently No. 1 in all the major polls along with also being the top seed in the NCAA Tournament. By the way, the Pack was a respectable 2-2 against the Noles in 2003.
"It's a huge advantage for us because it gives us confidence," said NC State shortstop Chad Orvella, who made only seven errors in 57 games this season. "We've gone in and played head-to-head with some of the toughest teams in the country. If we can match-up with those guys we can match-up with anybody."
The Wolfpack didn't start grabbing anyone's attention until it captured back-to-back series against Florida State and Clemson in March. After that, State started inching its way up the national polls, at one point rising to as high as No. 5 in the Collegiate Baseball rankings.
Because it has done well against tough competition this season, NC State could very well be viewed as somewhat of a darkhorse candidate to reach the College World Series.
"You know we're not going to see anybody out there that's any better than what we've already seen," said ACC Coach of the Year Elliott Avent. "We've gone up against Florida State, Georgia Tech, and I'll add to that North Carolina. We won't see any teams that are any better than those three. We may run into some pitchers that are having some great nights, but we know we won't play any ball clubs that are any better than what we've already played."
NC State's success against a very challenging schedule hasn't raised eyebrows in all parts of the country. LeMoyne College out of Syracuse, New York-the Pack's first opponent in Wilson on Friday night at 7 p.m.-hardly seems impressed with the opening pairing or with the location of the regional.
"I'd rather go West or maybe to Auburn," LeMoyne junior shortstop Anthony Aquilino told The Post-Standard of Syracuse. "But when you think about it, where we're going is the best situation for our team to have a chance to be successful ... and maybe make a name for ourselves."
Then there was this from Dolphins pitcher Brian Mattoon: "I was a little disappointed in that we're not going to play some big-name school."
On the flip side, of course, NC State's players looked at each other quizzically when the word LeMoyne popped up in the same bracket.
"I've heard of LeMoyne but I have no idea where they're at," NC State catcher Colt Morton said on Monday. "We're looking forward to seeing what they have on Friday."
When told that LeMoyne was located in Syracuse, a slightly surprised Morton responded, "are they really?"
But whether it's Georgia Tech, Florida State or LeMoyne, NC State hopes to reap the benefits from what has been a very tough ACC schedule.
Dutton's Dilemma: Jeremy Dutton, one of NC State's most productive hitters, is being listed as day-to-day because of a hamstring pull suffered in last Saturday's ACC Tournament game against North Carolina. Without the senior third baseman, the Wolfpack's line-up would certainly take a hit. In 52 games this season, Dutton batted .316 with 11 homers and a team leading 48 RBIs. If he can't go, utility man Dustin Murphy would likely get the call at third.
