EMOTION, DESIRE THE KEYS TO CWS.Byline: Tim Korte Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. If two-time defending champion defending champion n (SPORT) → defensor/a m/f del tÃtulo defending champion n (Sport) → champion(ne) en titre Louisiana State wins another College World Series title this year, coach Skip Bertman said it won't happen because of any genius on his part. Talent gets a team to Omaha, he said, but it takes more to win it all. ``When teams don't win, it's not because anybody out-coached them, outworked them or out-recruited them,'' Bertman said. ``It's because the team that won played with more emotion.'' LSU LSU Louisiana State University LSU Large Subunit LSU La Salle University (Philadelphia, PA) LSU La Sierra University LSU Link State Update (OSPF) LSU Learning Support Unit can become the first school to win three in a row since USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. , which won five NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association titles from 1970-74. The Tigers already have won four championships during the 1990s. But in a tournament that has become increasingly harder to handicap because of parity among college baseball's elite, Bertman said the hunger to win might not be enough. ``We've certainly had our share of good fortune in Omaha,'' he said. ``All anybody can do is get out there with their best effort. It's really a roll of the dice.'' The World Series begins Friday at Rosenblatt Stadium when third-seeded Florida State (53-18) meets No. 6 Arizona State (38-22) and No. 2 Miami (50-10) plays No. 7 Long Beach State (41-21-1). In Saturday's games, No. 4 USC (44-16) takes on No. 5 LSU (46-17) and top-seeded Florida plays No. 8 Mississippi State (41-21). The final is June 6. Bertman said LSU's chances of a three-peat could be derailed early because the Tigers are likely to face USC ace right-hander Seth Etherton Seth Etherton (born October 17, 1976 in Laguna Beach, California) is a Major League Baseball pitcher who most recently played for the Kansas City Royals. College career Etherton played at the University of Southern California. in the series opener. ``He's a real talent, a great competitor,'' said Bertman. ``He's one of the few outstanding college pitchers who got away from the pros.'' Over the past two title runs, Bertman said the Tigers rarely faced a pitcher like Etherton, who struck out the side twice during a 15-strikeout performance against Clemson in the East Regional. ``The last few years, we were lucky enough to miss a lot of hot pitchers,'' Bertman said. ``It just worked out for us that they pitched the day after or the day before we played them.'' USC is seeking its 12th title but first since 1978. Catcher Eric Munson Eric Walter Munson (born October 3, 1977 in San Diego, California) is a catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball. He was the third overall pick in the 1999 amateur draft by the Detroit Tigers, behind Josh Hamilton and Josh Beckett. , a .380 hitter, returned for the regionals after missing the last month of the regular season with a stress fracture stress fracture n. A fatigue fracture of bone caused by repeated application of a heavy load, such as the constant pounding on a surface by runners, gymnasts, and dancers. in his foot. He's one of several players mending from injuries who are swinging hot bats for their teams. Florida shortstop Mark Ellis Mark Ellis is the name of:
``Ellis started a lot of games but for much of the season, we were just trying to get enough runs to put him on the bench,'' said Florida coach Andy Lopez. Miami also has firepower with third baseman Pat Burrell, a top pro prospect who returned from a back injury to hit five home runs in 19 at-bats as Miami advanced through the regionals. ``He lit it up,'' said Miami coach Jim Morris. ``In his first at-bat after being out for two months, he hit it over the scoreboard. I sure hope he's got some of that left this week.'' But Burrell's performance was nothing compared to Florida State outfielder Matt Diaz, a healthy freshman who hit four home runs as the Seminoles beat Auburn in their regional final. SCHEDULE Friday Game 1: No. 3 Florida St. (53-18) vs. No. 6 Arizona St. (38-22), 12:30 p.m., ESPN ESPN Entertainment and Sports Programming Network Game 2: No. 2 Miami (50-10) vs. No. 7 Long Beach St. (41-21-1), 4:30 p.m., ESPN2 Saturday Game 3: No. 4 USC (44-16) vs. No. 5 LSU (46-17), 10:30 a.m., Ch.2 Game 4: No. 1 Florida (46-16) vs. No. 8 Mississippi St. (41-21), 4:30 p.m., ESPN Sunday Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 12:30 p.m., ESPN Game 6: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 4:30 p.m., ESPN2 Monday Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 12:30 p.m., ESPN Game 8: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 4:30 p.m., ESPN Tuesday Game 9: Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 winner, 12:30 p.m., ESPN Game 10: Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 winner, 4:30 p.m., ESPN2 Wednesday Game 11: Game 5 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 4:30 p.m., ESPN2 (7:30 p.m. delayed) Thursday, June 4 Game 12: Game 7 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 12:30 p.m., ESPN Friday, June 5 Game 13: Game 5 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 12:30 p.m., ESPN (if necessary) Game 14: Game 7 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 12:30 p.m. or 4:30 p.m., if necessary Saturday, June 6 Championship Game 15: Game 5 or 13 winner vs. Game 7 or 14 winner, 12:30 p.m., Ch.2 CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO If LSU wins the College World Series again, coach Skip Bertman won't take credit. Dennis Grundman/Associated Press BOX: SCHEDULE (see text) |
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