5Jun/0810:24 AM

Tough task for the Wildcats in Miami

By Vince Marotta

Last weekend, despite being the top-seeded team in their regional, the Arizona Wildcats had to go on the road, to Ann Arbor, Michigan for their first weekend of postseason work. They won that regional, and things are about to get a lot tougher for the ‘Cats this weekend.

It’s on to Coral Gables, Florida, where U of A will meet up with perennial college baseball juggernaut, Miami for a best-of-3 Super Regional.

The Hurricanes of head coach Jim Morris are loaded, as always. We like to give Arizona sports fans the lowdown, the 411, the ability to know the enemy.

Here’s a closer look at the Miami Hurricanes…

Miami Hurricanes (50-8)

Ranked : #1 by Baseball America, #1 by USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll, #1 by Collegiate Baseball

Head Coach: Jim Morris (15th year at Miami, 692-253-3 record, 10 College World Series appearances, 2 national championships)

Last Weekend: won NCAA regional in Coral Gables, defeating Bethune Cookman 7-4, Missouri 6-5 and Mississippi 11-2 to advance to Super Regionals

Offensive Leaders: SS Ryan Jackson (4 HR, 49 RBI, .374), CF Blake Tekotte (11 HR, 46 RBI, .371, 26 SB), 1B Yonder Alonso (21 HR, 66 RBI, .370), 2B Jemile Weeks (11 HR, 57 RBI, .366, 19 SB)

Pitching Leaders: LHP Chris Hernandez (11-0, 2.55 ERA, 105 K), LHP Eric Erickson (8-1, 4.13 ERA), RHP Kyle Bellamy (6-0, 2.11 ERA), CL Carlos Gutierrez (5-2, 2.70 ERA, 12 Saves)

Bottom Line: The Michigan team U of A defeated last week in the Ann Arbor Regional was tough, but this Miami club is loaded. They have power, speed, and pitching. They are the consensus #1 team in the country, and have two players, Weeks and Alonso who will be first round draft picks today. These two teams haven’t faced each other since 1989.

NCAA Coral Gables Regional Schedule

Friday June 6 : Arizona at Miami - 4:00 - ESPN

Saturday June 7 : Arizona at Miami - 4:30 - ESPN

Sunday June 8 : Arizona at Miami - 4:00 - ESPN (if necessary)

Full Miami Statistics - 2008

Full Arizona Statistics - 2008