CWS Tuesday
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Facing Georgia whets Guyette's appetite
Age: 21
Position: Pitcher
Hometown: Paradise Valley
Notes: Member of the Georgia Tech team that played in the 2002 College World Series. ? He is 6-7 with a 6.57 ERA this year and is set to make a school-record-tying 22nd start today.
?
By Jack Magruder
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
OMAHA, Neb. - Over dinner at Hof's Hut in Long Beach, Calif., two years ago, UA coach Andy Lopez promised pitcher Kevin Guyette he would get an opportunity at the UA.
The right-hander's biggest chance arrives today.
Guyette will oppose Georgia in the College World Series at 11 a.m., when the UA plays the latest in its two-month series of elimination games. The winner will face Texas on Wednesday.
"You dream about this forever, and finally it's my turn to perform,'' Guyette said. "I'm just going to try to throw low strikes and get people out.''
The game is a rematch of the Series opener, won 8-7 by Georgia when the UA committed four errors.
It also rekindles old memories for Guyette, who attended Georgia Tech his freshman year in 2002, although he made only three appearances before suffering a season-ending arm injury that enabled him to redshirt.
"It will be fun because I know a few of the guys,'' Guyette said. "If ASU is my No. 1 rival, Georgia is probably my No. 2.''
Still?
"I remember my grade school rivals and my high school rivals. You go to a school for one year, you are automatically given a rival,'' Guyette said.
"It's extra special in Omaha. We are playing for a national championship. We have a tough road ahead.''
Guyette, 6-7 with a 6.57 ERA, will tie Gilbert Heredia's school season record with his 22nd start today. Heredia made 22 starts in 1986, when the UA won its last CWS.
The chance to throw was the pitch Lopez used to sign Guyette, who contacted Stanford, Southern California and the UA after making the decision to transfer from Georgia Tech to be nearer his home in Paradise Valley.
His father, Bob, a starting forward on the 1975 Kentucky basketball team that lost to UCLA in the NCAA title game, had been diagnosed with throat cancer, although it is in remission now.
Lopez met the Guyette family for dinner when they were in Los Angeles to visit USC.
"We hadn't been in a regional in 10 years, and that is an easy sell for someone who is looking for an opportunity to pitch and play,'' Lopez said. "And he wanted to be close to his family."
"Maybe it was a little closer to home. Maybe what he said at the dinner,'' Guyette said. "I don't really know. He has something about him that attracts others to him.''
The UA staved off elimination by beating SEC West champion Arkansas 7-2 Sunday. Georgia won the SEC East title, then won the conference tournament.
The UA has 29 hits in its two CWS games, and its four-homer output Sunday was the biggest power game in Omaha. Trevor Crowe has two three-hit games, while Jordan Brown, Brad Boyer and Jason Donald have four hits each.
"This is the time to do it,'' Boyer said.
Brown homered in his first two at-bats Sunday in the No. 8 hole, but he is likely to move back up the order in a matchup decision against Georgia right-hander Michael Hyle (7-2).
Hyle missed a regional start because of shoulder stiffness and gave up six hits and three runs in 3 2/3 innings in his start in the Georgia Tech Super Regional.
"I've always wanted to play in a big situation like this, and here we are,'' said Brown, who leads the UA with 13 homers.
"I feel good about it. We've been playing the last six or seven weeks with our backs against the wall. We don't want to go home. You never know. A game can turn like that (snaps his fingers). A play. A pitch. An out.
"You can't bank on being back here again. When you smell blood, you go after it. Something has clicked.''
Age: 21
Position: Pitcher
Hometown: Paradise Valley
Notes: Member of the Georgia Tech team that played in the 2002 College World Series. ? He is 6-7 with a 6.57 ERA this year and is set to make a school-record-tying 22nd start today.
?
By Jack Magruder
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
OMAHA, Neb. - Over dinner at Hof's Hut in Long Beach, Calif., two years ago, UA coach Andy Lopez promised pitcher Kevin Guyette he would get an opportunity at the UA.
The right-hander's biggest chance arrives today.
Guyette will oppose Georgia in the College World Series at 11 a.m., when the UA plays the latest in its two-month series of elimination games. The winner will face Texas on Wednesday.
"You dream about this forever, and finally it's my turn to perform,'' Guyette said. "I'm just going to try to throw low strikes and get people out.''
The game is a rematch of the Series opener, won 8-7 by Georgia when the UA committed four errors.
It also rekindles old memories for Guyette, who attended Georgia Tech his freshman year in 2002, although he made only three appearances before suffering a season-ending arm injury that enabled him to redshirt.
"It will be fun because I know a few of the guys,'' Guyette said. "If ASU is my No. 1 rival, Georgia is probably my No. 2.''
Still?
"I remember my grade school rivals and my high school rivals. You go to a school for one year, you are automatically given a rival,'' Guyette said.
"It's extra special in Omaha. We are playing for a national championship. We have a tough road ahead.''
Guyette, 6-7 with a 6.57 ERA, will tie Gilbert Heredia's school season record with his 22nd start today. Heredia made 22 starts in 1986, when the UA won its last CWS.
The chance to throw was the pitch Lopez used to sign Guyette, who contacted Stanford, Southern California and the UA after making the decision to transfer from Georgia Tech to be nearer his home in Paradise Valley.
His father, Bob, a starting forward on the 1975 Kentucky basketball team that lost to UCLA in the NCAA title game, had been diagnosed with throat cancer, although it is in remission now.
Lopez met the Guyette family for dinner when they were in Los Angeles to visit USC.
"We hadn't been in a regional in 10 years, and that is an easy sell for someone who is looking for an opportunity to pitch and play,'' Lopez said. "And he wanted to be close to his family."
"Maybe it was a little closer to home. Maybe what he said at the dinner,'' Guyette said. "I don't really know. He has something about him that attracts others to him.''
The UA staved off elimination by beating SEC West champion Arkansas 7-2 Sunday. Georgia won the SEC East title, then won the conference tournament.
The UA has 29 hits in its two CWS games, and its four-homer output Sunday was the biggest power game in Omaha. Trevor Crowe has two three-hit games, while Jordan Brown, Brad Boyer and Jason Donald have four hits each.
"This is the time to do it,'' Boyer said.
Brown homered in his first two at-bats Sunday in the No. 8 hole, but he is likely to move back up the order in a matchup decision against Georgia right-hander Michael Hyle (7-2).
Hyle missed a regional start because of shoulder stiffness and gave up six hits and three runs in 3 2/3 innings in his start in the Georgia Tech Super Regional.
"I've always wanted to play in a big situation like this, and here we are,'' said Brown, who leads the UA with 13 homers.
"I feel good about it. We've been playing the last six or seven weeks with our backs against the wall. We don't want to go home. You never know. A game can turn like that (snaps his fingers). A play. A pitch. An out.
"You can't bank on being back here again. When you smell blood, you go after it. Something has clicked.''
Dogs turn to Hyle for survival
By Brian Murphy
Telegraph Staff Writer
OMAHA, Neb. - Facing elimination at the College World Series, Georgia is turning to the pitcher who helped turn around its season.
Sophomore right-hander Michael Hyle, who two months ago earned the victory in a pivotal game at LSU, will attempt to extend the Bulldogs season today when they meet Arizona in a 2 p.m. elimination game.
"Mike's showed up when we've needed him all year and this is definitely the biggest time that we've needed him so far because if we lose we go home," Georgia catcher Clint Sammons said. "He's the kind of guy who can handle that pressure."
Hyle (7-2, 3.10 ERA) certainly handled it in April. With the Bulldogs at 5-9 in the Southeastern Conference and facing a sixth consecutive conference loss, Hyle threw a gem at LSU.
In seven innings, he allowed eight hits and an unearned run, striking out four and walking just one. Georgia won the game 12-4 and the next 11 in a row. Since that game, the Bulldogs are 22-7.
"A lot of the same things were being said that are being said before this game, 'We have to win. We have to turn this ship around,'" Hyle said.
The Bulldogs (44-22) are leaning heavily on Hyle, a 6-foot-2 sinkerball pitcher. If Georgia is to advance to the CWS championship series, it will need victories today, Wednesday and Thursday - a schedule that will strain the pitching staff.
"This is as big an outing as he's had all year. We need him to step up. He has to go seven to nine (innings), and I'll put it on his shoulders. I don't mind putting it on his shoulders," Georgia coach David Perno said. "We need him to empty the tank and go after them and give us not just innings, but quality innings."
Georgia hasn't received much from its starters in Omaha. Paul Lubrano lasted just 3 innings in the Bulldogs' 8-7 victory against Arizona (36-26-1) in the opener. Sean Ruthven pitched four innings in Sunday's loss to Texas.
"We have to hang with him, regardless of what comes out early I do think we might have to hang with him a little longer than normal," Perno said. "Our pitching staff needs to be lifted. And Michael's the guy who's done it all year."
Hyle, a 37th-round pick of the Chicago Cubs in this month's major league baseball draft, missed a start in the regional because of stiffness in his right shoulder. He said the shoulder feels fine.
Now he's set on keeping Georgia's season alive.
"It's exciting," he said. "I have a chance to come up and have a good start so we can continue on in the tournament. I'm excited about it."
By Brian Murphy
Telegraph Staff Writer
OMAHA, Neb. - Facing elimination at the College World Series, Georgia is turning to the pitcher who helped turn around its season.
Sophomore right-hander Michael Hyle, who two months ago earned the victory in a pivotal game at LSU, will attempt to extend the Bulldogs season today when they meet Arizona in a 2 p.m. elimination game.
"Mike's showed up when we've needed him all year and this is definitely the biggest time that we've needed him so far because if we lose we go home," Georgia catcher Clint Sammons said. "He's the kind of guy who can handle that pressure."
Hyle (7-2, 3.10 ERA) certainly handled it in April. With the Bulldogs at 5-9 in the Southeastern Conference and facing a sixth consecutive conference loss, Hyle threw a gem at LSU.
In seven innings, he allowed eight hits and an unearned run, striking out four and walking just one. Georgia won the game 12-4 and the next 11 in a row. Since that game, the Bulldogs are 22-7.
"A lot of the same things were being said that are being said before this game, 'We have to win. We have to turn this ship around,'" Hyle said.
The Bulldogs (44-22) are leaning heavily on Hyle, a 6-foot-2 sinkerball pitcher. If Georgia is to advance to the CWS championship series, it will need victories today, Wednesday and Thursday - a schedule that will strain the pitching staff.
"This is as big an outing as he's had all year. We need him to step up. He has to go seven to nine (innings), and I'll put it on his shoulders. I don't mind putting it on his shoulders," Georgia coach David Perno said. "We need him to empty the tank and go after them and give us not just innings, but quality innings."
Georgia hasn't received much from its starters in Omaha. Paul Lubrano lasted just 3 innings in the Bulldogs' 8-7 victory against Arizona (36-26-1) in the opener. Sean Ruthven pitched four innings in Sunday's loss to Texas.
"We have to hang with him, regardless of what comes out early I do think we might have to hang with him a little longer than normal," Perno said. "Our pitching staff needs to be lifted. And Michael's the guy who's done it all year."
Hyle, a 37th-round pick of the Chicago Cubs in this month's major league baseball draft, missed a start in the regional because of stiffness in his right shoulder. He said the shoulder feels fine.
Now he's set on keeping Georgia's season alive.
"It's exciting," he said. "I have a chance to come up and have a good start so we can continue on in the tournament. I'm excited about it."
? PITCHING PLANS: Perno is considering a number of options for the Bulldogs' staff if they advance past Arizona, including starting closer Will Startup.
In order to reach the best-of-3 championship series, Georgia must defeat Arizona today and Texas on Wednesday and Thursday.
"There's obviously a lot of options. I don't worry about our pitching," Perno said. "We're going to be able to throw quality arms out there and guys who are capable."
Much will depend on today's starter Michael Hyle. Perno is counting on Hyle to get through Arizona, leaving pitchers like Johnny Dobbs, Bo Lanier, Brooks Brown, Matt Woods and Startup available for Wednesday and Thursday. Paul Lubrano, who started the opener against Arizona on Friday, also will pitch if needed.
But the most interesting starting option is Startup, who has made all 31 appearances this year in relief. He started five games as a freshman in 2003.
This season, Georgia's "Magic Man," as Perno calls him, is 7-2 with 11 saves and a 2.37 ERA.
"You want to keep Startup fresh for Wednesday or Thursday. That's the objective: get through (today) and still have Startup available," Perno said. "I think we'd be forced to (start Startup) if he's available and fresh."
? NICE RELIEF: Brown's impressive inning of relief against Texas has moved him into Perno's plans. Brown struck out two in a perfect ninth inning on Sunday.
The freshman hasn't had a great season, amassing an 11.12 ERA in 11 outings before Sunday. The season got worse on May 11 when he hit Georgia Tech third baseman Wes Hodges in the face with a fastball, breaking several bones and costing Hodges the rest of his season.
"Brooks wrestled with that a little bit. We've given some time for that to pass," Perno said.
But in the last two weeks Brown has displayed a renewed focus in practice and he showed that against the Longhorns.
"It doesn't get any better than playing Texas in the College World Series," Brown said. "I just had a good inning, it gives you confidence."
Perno said he would use Brown against the Longhorns again, if Georgia were to advance.
In order to reach the best-of-3 championship series, Georgia must defeat Arizona today and Texas on Wednesday and Thursday.
"There's obviously a lot of options. I don't worry about our pitching," Perno said. "We're going to be able to throw quality arms out there and guys who are capable."
Much will depend on today's starter Michael Hyle. Perno is counting on Hyle to get through Arizona, leaving pitchers like Johnny Dobbs, Bo Lanier, Brooks Brown, Matt Woods and Startup available for Wednesday and Thursday. Paul Lubrano, who started the opener against Arizona on Friday, also will pitch if needed.
But the most interesting starting option is Startup, who has made all 31 appearances this year in relief. He started five games as a freshman in 2003.
This season, Georgia's "Magic Man," as Perno calls him, is 7-2 with 11 saves and a 2.37 ERA.
"You want to keep Startup fresh for Wednesday or Thursday. That's the objective: get through (today) and still have Startup available," Perno said. "I think we'd be forced to (start Startup) if he's available and fresh."
? NICE RELIEF: Brown's impressive inning of relief against Texas has moved him into Perno's plans. Brown struck out two in a perfect ninth inning on Sunday.
The freshman hasn't had a great season, amassing an 11.12 ERA in 11 outings before Sunday. The season got worse on May 11 when he hit Georgia Tech third baseman Wes Hodges in the face with a fastball, breaking several bones and costing Hodges the rest of his season.
"Brooks wrestled with that a little bit. We've given some time for that to pass," Perno said.
But in the last two weeks Brown has displayed a renewed focus in practice and he showed that against the Longhorns.
"It doesn't get any better than playing Texas in the College World Series," Brown said. "I just had a good inning, it gives you confidence."
Perno said he would use Brown against the Longhorns again, if Georgia were to advance.
