Fresh start for OSU.

Byline: Bob Clark The Register-Guard

OMAHA, Neb. - Oregon State's quest to be the first repeat winner of the College World Series since 1997 opens today with freshman Jorge Reyes matched up against one of the top pitchers in college baseball over the past three seasons, Cal State-Fullerton's Wes Roemer.

`You've got to face somebody, so why not the best?' OSU coach Pat Casey asked.

It should be that kind of challenge for the Beavers (44-18) when they bat in the top of the first inning at 4 p.m. PDT today in Rosenblatt Stadium against the Titans (38-23).

Roemer, 31-11 in his three seasons with the Titans, has thrown complete games in his past three outings, beating Long Beach State, Minnesota and UCLA, all NCAA Tournament teams. He's been an all-American and the Big West Conference pitcher of the year, and was the 50th player taken in the major-league draft earlier this month.

OSU shortstop Darwin Barney, a teammate of Roemer's on the USA team last summer, said the Titans junior is reminsicent of former Beaver Dallas Buck.

`He's a tough kid, and he's kind of crazy in a good way,' Barney said. `If you catch him on a day when he's dirty, dirty, dirty, it's going to be tough to beat him, but I think our pitching and defense is good enough that we're going to be in the game.'

Much of that will depend on Reyes, named the OSU starting pitcher for today. Quite a spot for somebody who a year ago was watching the CWS from his parents' home in Warden, Wash., and wasn't a starter for the Beavers until the middle of his first college season.

`Starting him in the first game of the College World Series, I guess you've got to feel OK about it,' Casey said. `I didn't roll the dice, you know what I mean?'

In two starts in the NCAA Tournament, Reyes went six innings while allowing two runs against Rutgers, then held Michigan to three hits over seven scoreless innings.

`I don't want to get overconfident, but I do have more confidence than I did before,' said Reyes, 5-3 with a 3.13 earned-run average this season. `It feels great, for the coaches to have the faith in me to come out here (starting) in the first game as opposed to being a reliever.'

Casey said the decision was fairly obvious, because regular No. 1 starter Mike Stutes had pitched more recently, on Monday in the win that wrapped up OSU's return trip to Rosenblatt Stadium, while Reyes last threw on Sunday.

`Stutes can't pitch," Casey said. "He doesn't have enough rest."

Joe Paterson has been OSU's third starter, but he's been extremely effective in relief of late, and the Beavers want that option today and probably again Monday when they next play, win or lose this opener.

`You just feel like, let's stay in the rotation,' Casey said of using Reyes in the opener.

For the Titans, the rotation always starts with Roemer, taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the `Sandwich Round' of the draft between the first and second rounds.

Even if his season hasn't been like last year's, Roemer is 11-6 with a 3.24 ERA. He has 22 walks with 143 strikeouts in 136 innings and has lasted eight or more innings in 10 of his 18 starts.

`He got out of the gate slow for us,' CSF coach George Horton said of Roemer's season, tracing part of that to a broken knuckle on the pinkie finger of his pitching hand that has now healed. `Every week, Wes has gotten better and better, and I hope that culminates with his best performance (this week).

`Oregon State is right. If they're going to do something against Wes, it's going to take a special effort on their part.'

In 2006 when Roemer was 13-2 with a 2.39 ERA, Horton said his `worst outings were his last two' at the College World Series, a no decision and the loss that eliminated the Titans.

`I'm hoping things happen in reverse for Wes because last year he dominated from the start and didn't necessarily pitch poorly in Omaha, but he threw some pitches that (batters) handled pretty well,' Horton said.

Like Roemer, Reyes has been his best of late, but he's still behind in experience.

`Being the first guy, it can go either way,' Reyes said. `I kind of want to get it out of the way (because) I'm still a little nervous. If I get that out of the way and can hopefully (pitch) another game it will be a great advantage for me.

`I just don't want it to be too much pressure on me when I'm out there. ... Hopefully that doesn't happen.'

COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

Today: Oregon State vs. Cal State-Fullerton, 4 p.m. TV: ESPN. Radio: KKNX-AM (840).