THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 21, 1996 TAG: 9605210472
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
No handshakes, hugs or high fives. Instead, ``oh, geez'' was the sentiment as the Old Dominion baseball team learned of its No. 4 seeding for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
The 25th-ranked Monarchs (39-15), winners of their third straight CAA tournament Saturday afternoon, play third-seeded Georgia Southern in the first round of the Atlantic Regional at 11 a.m. Thursday in Clemson, S.C.
``Every team in that regional is tough,'' ODU catcher Matt Quatraro said. Eighth-ranked Clemson (45-15) and 12th-ranked Tennessee (40-18) are the top two seeds in the regional. ``I know some of the players that play for Georgia Southern and they're an outstanding team.''
ODU, making its sixth NCAA Division I tournament appearance, won two games in last year's regional.
The 21st-ranked Eagles (45-12), Southern Conference champions, received an automatic bid by beating Bethune-Cookman twice in an NCAA play-in round.
``Once you make it to the NCAA regionals, it really doesn't matter who you play,'' pitcher Justin Kreider said.
``Every team that qualifies for the regionals is a quality team.''
Georgia Southern has a team batting average of .312, led by Tommy Peterman's .373. However, the starting rotation is just as tough.
Julio Ayala (14-3), Ryan Cummings (8-1) and Clint Sauls (7-1) lead a staff that boasts a 4.26 earned-run average. But ODU coach Tony Guzzo stressed the Monarchs' desire to win.
``We think we've had a plan to win any game we've ever played,'' Guzzo said of a team with 16 come-from-behind victories. ``Obviously, we're going into this one . . . with a plan to beat Georgia Southern and take on the winner of Tennessee-West Virginia.''
The Monarchs will attempt this without two of their more consistent players during the regular season. Centerfielder David Winter, who missed the CAA tournament, and rightfielder Brian Fiumara have been suspended indefinitely.
Both were suspended for the William and Mary game, but Fiumara was allowed to play the rest of the tournament while his circumstances were being investigated. The school will only say that the two have been suspended for breaking unspecified team rules.
Guzzo is planning to start Quentin Lindsey (center), Jason Koch (right) and Mike Henderson (center) in the outfield.
Note: Quatraro was named to the 1996 GTE University Division Academic All-District III baseball squad. The senior from Selkirk, N.Y., recently received his bachelor's degree in history. by CNB