THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 23, 1995 TAG: 9505230383
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Old Dominion baseball coach Tony Guzzo said the Monarchs feel they can beat anyone when they are playing well.
They'll get to test that theory with the announcement Monday of their opponent in the NCAA tournament. The Monarchs (37-18) are the fifth seed in the Atlantic I Regional and will play Mississippi (37-20), the second seed, at 3 p.m. Thursday in Tallahassee, Fla.
``They're an established program in the No. 1 league in the country,'' Guzzo said. ``I think that's outstanding.''
The Colonial Athletic Association placed three teams in the 48-team tournament for the first time. Richmond and James Madison were among 24 at-large entries. The CAA has only had multiple teams in the tournament in 1988 and 1993, and both times it was two teams.
Fourth-seeded James Madison (42-15) will face No. 3 Rice (40-17) Thursday in the South Regional in Baton Rouge, La., while fourth-seeded Richmond (42-15) meets No. 3 Jacksonville (41-20) in the East Regional at Clemson, S.C.
Eight regional sites will host double-elimination play beginning Thursday and Friday. The regional champs advance to the College World Series, beginning June 2 in Omaha, Neb.
Guzzo was not sure Monday who his starter would be, but he projected that lefthander Maika Symmonds will get the nod if he is rested enough following Saturday's complete-game victory in the CAA tournament.
Righthanded ace Brett Wheeler, who sat out the CAA tourney with a muscle strain in his pitching elbow, will work out today. Guzzo said Wheeler could see spot duty in the NCAA tournament if he demonstrates good velocity and does not experience pain after throwing.
Guzzo said the Monarchs will benefit from having played in the tournament last year, an appearance that included a victory over Notre Dame.
``Most of those guys are still in the lineup,'' said Guzzo, ODU's first-year coach. ``They remember that and will say, `Hey, Ole Miss, let's go get them.' ''
Mississippi, one of six Southeastern Conference teams in the field, is making its first tournament appearance since 1977. The Rebels nabbed a high seed despite losing both games in last week's Southeastern Conference West tournament.
``We're excited to get a second chance, excited about the fresh start,'' said fifth-year Ole Miss coach Don Kessinger. ``(The No. 2 seed) shows a lot of respect, not only for the SEC, but also for this club.''
Ole Miss has been to the College World Series four times, with the last appearance coming in 1972. by CNB