ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, May 25, 1996 TAG: 9605280121
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIPS
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
Kevin O'Leary's next destination as a baseball player is Fenway Park.
If he's unlucky.
O'Leary, from West Roxbury, Mass., is scheduled to play a game matching New England's Division I players against the region's Division II and III all-stars 10 minutes from his home. The game will be played Tuesday, the same day as the NCAA Division III championships final at Salem Memorial Stadium.
``I'm supposed to play,'' O'Leary said Friday. ``Hopefully, I won't get the chance.''
He won't if he can summon another effort like the one he produced Friday. O'Leary pitched a complete game for Bridgewater (Mass.) State and went 2-for-4 at the plate as the Bears eliminated top-seeded Marietta (Ohio) 5-3.
Eighth-seeded Bridgewater State (29-9), making its first appearance in the championship series, will play the loser of today's game between Methodist (N.C.) and Wisconsin-Oshkosh at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
O'Leary retired 17 of the last 18 batters he faced and struck out 10. He won his fifth game in his third start of the season.
``The heat really helped me,'' O'Leary said, referring to the weather, not his 90-mph fastball. ``Usually up there pitching in the cold I don't last too long.''
O'Leary might not have stayed out in the cold at Bridgewater State if he was limited to pitching duties. After O'Leary pitched a no-hitter in his sophomore-year debut, Bears coach Rick Smith wanted him to be a starter exclusively. ``If you throw 90 mph, you should be a pitcher,'' Smith said.
O'Leary's response was the first balk of his career. After a long talk in which the word ``quit'' was mentioned, Smith decided to let O'Leary play his natural position, first base, when he wasn't pitching.
``We have to keep him in there,'' Smith said.
Smith said he thought the same thing Friday while watching O'Leary pitch. The thought of pulling O'Leary didn't cross his mind until the ninth inning.
``We met at the water fountain, and if looks could kill ... '' Smith said. ``I figured I'd have to bring a bat out there and beat the ball out of his hands.''
O'Leary couldn't understand why a New England all-star game would be scheduled for the same day as the Division III title game, anyway.
``They probably didn't expect us to be here,'' he said.
Until Wednesday comes, he and his unheralded teammates don't want to be anywhere else.
California Lutheran 10, RPI (N.Y.) 5: Only three of the Kingsmen's 10 runs were earned as the Red Hawks committed a NCAA championship series-record eight errors.
Rensselaer (29-5) lost consecutive games for the first time this season.
Cal Lutheran starter Richard Bell (10-3) earned the victory, striking out 10 in seven innings. The win also came on his 24th birthday.
Eight Kingsmen knocked in at least a run. Adam Rauch went 3-for-3 and Tom McGee was 3-for-4.
Cal Lutheran (31-13-1) advanced to a noon Sunday meeting with the loser of today's game between Methodist and Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Saturday's games both come in the winners' bracket, with Upper Iowa meeting William Paterson (N.J.) at 3:30 p.m. and Methodist facing Oshkosh at 7.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 linesby CNB