May 25, 2002

ONE STRIKE FROM A BUS RIDE !

With one out in the ninth, Matt Pali singled to left center. Jeremiah Creech pinch ran and represented the tying run at first base against JU. Robbie Orton ripped a line drive to left center that looked to be in the gap for extra bases. But Chad Oliva raced to his left and made a diving catch. How many times lately have we seen this happen to us?

Freshman Derek Hutton stood in for his biggest college at bat. He drew a walk. The winning run was on base as we fought to stay alive in the tournament, and quite possibly, the season.

Walking to the plate was senior shortstop Bobby Spano. As he stepped into the box, I thought back to last year when he started to switch hit against this same JU team. I wondered how he felt stepping in for what could be his last at bat in college.

The count was 0 - 2 before you could blink. One more strike. One strike and JU is celebrating the second straight year sending us home. One more strike and I have to think of something to say to my kids. One more strike and we sit nervously watching ESPN on Monday, praying we see our name go up as a regional team. One more strike and we are on a bus back to Boca!

Everyone told Bobby Spano for the last three years that he can't hit. Be happy you are such a good fielder. You save more runs than some guys drive home. Bobby's heard it all. But this year he has been different. He's never stopped battling, and never stopped working to get better.

With two strikes and the hopes and hearts of teamates and families riding on his back. Bobby swung and ripped a single to right field! Jeremiah raced home as Hutton slid into third.

Hold the bus!

Now. Gabe Somarriba takes his two practice swings, turns to look at me and steps in to hit. A ball in the dirt moves Spano to second, but Hutton doesn't immediately see it and he wisely stays at third.

Our captain up at the end. One of the finest young men I have ever coached. Gabe swings and drives a single to right. FAU 6 JU 4. Gabe looked at me from first and gave me the signal that two were out. Then he gave me that shy, happy smile, and I know he was thinking about his Dad..

Tim McNab closed it out and we shut down the bus.

Travis NeSmith gave us a great start, with six and two third strong innings. Exactly what we needed. D-Roc and Cooney were perfect out of the pen to get us to Timmy.

Mike Cox pulled us within one with a big homerun and set the stage for Bobby Spano and Gabe Somarriba.

ACT TWO: WHOA NELLIE!

Who should we start against Stetson? Coach Deutschman and Mac lobbied hard for Nelson Lopez. Sometimes you need to listen to your assistants.

Nellie faced a tough Stetson lineup and held them hitless into the fifth. Meanwhile, we were hitting like we used to. Orton was four for five with two RBIs on his birthday. Somarriba was four for four in his quest to keep playing. Rusty Brown continued to do damage against Stetson as he went two for five with four RBIs. Hutton was three for five and the other freshman flash, Jeff Fiorentino was three for five with three runs scored.

Meanwhile, out on the mound, Eddie Young gave us a strong inning and one third, and then Greg Eubanks answered the bell as a senior with one and two thirds to close it out. FAU 10 STETSON 3.

We live to play another day. This time we need to win two and the tournament championship is ours. What a day! KC