Here are some quick notes from today’s practices. The Rebels are on the field now, and Bethune-Cookman will follow.
Look for an expanded notebook in tomorrow’s print edition.
– Missouri ace Aaron Crow (12-0, 2.56), the junior right-hander who will throw against Ole Miss tomorrow, had a streak of 43 consecutive scoreless innings earlier this season.
– Miami coach Jim Morris will save his ace, freshman left-hander Chris Hernandez (11-0, 2.44 ERA) for the second game against either Ole Miss or Missouri. Hernandez is the ACC freshman of the year.
– Morris called the Coral Gables Regional “one of the toughest” in the field of 64, but not so tough that he had to burn Hernandez in Game 1 against Bethune-Cookman. The Wildcats, of Daytona Beach, were the 4 seed in the Oxford Regional in 2006, probably the best 4 seed that’s been sent to Oxford.
Bethune has four pitchers with sub-3 ERAs including national ERA leader Hiram Burgos (9-1), the Game 1 starter, at 1.20.
Morris said he hasn’t looked at Ole Miss or Missouri much yet, focusing instead on Bethune, which lost here 10-5 and 7-6 March 25 and 26.
“We’ll be here at 12 tomorrow and will watch the first game, and then we’ll make some calls and get some tape,” Morris said.
– Missouri infielder Steve Gray expects to see very good pitching from Ole Miss starter Lance Lynn, but he’s not too worried about it.
“He’s one of the better pitchers in the SEC. We know we’ll face tough pitching, but we’ve faced tough pitching all year. We’ll be all right. We know we’re facing a good team, but we’re confident we’ll come out on top,” he said.
Gray batted .400 in the Big 12 tournament.
– PA
