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Setting up rotation tricky task for Jackets
By JOHN HOLLIS
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
Omaha, Neb. -- It's right about now that Georgia Tech baseball coach Danny Hall really earns his pay.
Forced into the losers bracket of the College World Series after Sunday's 9-7 loss to Clemson, the Yellow Jackets (52-15) must win three times in four days to advance to Saturday's championship game. And Hall must decide how to handle his pitching staff.
This much is certain: Sophomore right-hander Brian Burks -- not All-America left-hander Kyle Bakker -- will start for the Yellow Jackets in today's 2 p.m. elimination game against South Carolina. After that, the rotation is unclear.
"The further it goes in a tournament, particularly when you get in the losers bracket, the more that pitching or lack of pitching becomes a factor," Hall said.
Hall said he did not consider using Bakker, who threw 96 pitches in an 11-0 win over South Carolina on Friday, in today's game against the Gamecocks (54-17). But his toughest decision will come should Tech win and advance to face Clemson again on Wednesday.
Does he go with Bakker then, or does he save his ace and opt for freshman Kyle Schmidt, a right-hander who has pitched just one inning in the NCAA tournament?
If it's up to Bakker, he'll wait. The 6-foot-9 Omaha native said he'd be available today or Wednesday if called upon, but only in short relief.
"It's the end of the season, and you've got to do whatever you have to do to win games and help your team move on," said Bakker, who pitched once a week during the regular season. "But I think Friday would be a better day for me to start."
Ultimately, it will be up to Hall, who must balance his desire to stave off elimination with his concern for his star pitcher's health and future.
Tech breezed through much of the NCAA tournament, thanks to strong starting pitching. But starter Chris Goodman was rocked for seven runs in 1 2/3 innings as Clemson scored eight runs in the second and hung on to win.
Hall and pitching coach Bobby Moranda have expressed confidence in Schmidt. But facing a potent Tigers offense in an elimination game would be a tough spot for a freshman with little postseason experience.
The job could fall to Bakker -- if he feels up to it.
"If he wants the ball, we might give it to him if his arm feels good," Moranda said. "He might be OK, but I don't know. We'll see."
Beating South Carolina, however, is the priority now, and that burden falls on Burks. He was the winner in the regional-clinching victory over Georgia, pitching seven innings and giving up five hits and one earned run. But he was hit hard in the ACC tournament loss to Florida State.
"We're down in the losers bracket," Moranda said, "so there is no tomorrow. You've got to do whatever it takes to win the game that day."
By JOHN HOLLIS
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
Omaha, Neb. -- It's right about now that Georgia Tech baseball coach Danny Hall really earns his pay.
Forced into the losers bracket of the College World Series after Sunday's 9-7 loss to Clemson, the Yellow Jackets (52-15) must win three times in four days to advance to Saturday's championship game. And Hall must decide how to handle his pitching staff.
This much is certain: Sophomore right-hander Brian Burks -- not All-America left-hander Kyle Bakker -- will start for the Yellow Jackets in today's 2 p.m. elimination game against South Carolina. After that, the rotation is unclear.
"The further it goes in a tournament, particularly when you get in the losers bracket, the more that pitching or lack of pitching becomes a factor," Hall said.
Hall said he did not consider using Bakker, who threw 96 pitches in an 11-0 win over South Carolina on Friday, in today's game against the Gamecocks (54-17). But his toughest decision will come should Tech win and advance to face Clemson again on Wednesday.
Does he go with Bakker then, or does he save his ace and opt for freshman Kyle Schmidt, a right-hander who has pitched just one inning in the NCAA tournament?
If it's up to Bakker, he'll wait. The 6-foot-9 Omaha native said he'd be available today or Wednesday if called upon, but only in short relief.
"It's the end of the season, and you've got to do whatever you have to do to win games and help your team move on," said Bakker, who pitched once a week during the regular season. "But I think Friday would be a better day for me to start."
Ultimately, it will be up to Hall, who must balance his desire to stave off elimination with his concern for his star pitcher's health and future.
Tech breezed through much of the NCAA tournament, thanks to strong starting pitching. But starter Chris Goodman was rocked for seven runs in 1 2/3 innings as Clemson scored eight runs in the second and hung on to win.
Hall and pitching coach Bobby Moranda have expressed confidence in Schmidt. But facing a potent Tigers offense in an elimination game would be a tough spot for a freshman with little postseason experience.
The job could fall to Bakker -- if he feels up to it.
"If he wants the ball, we might give it to him if his arm feels good," Moranda said. "He might be OK, but I don't know. We'll see."
Beating South Carolina, however, is the priority now, and that burden falls on Burks. He was the winner in the regional-clinching victory over Georgia, pitching seven innings and giving up five hits and one earned run. But he was hit hard in the ACC tournament loss to Florida State.
"We're down in the losers bracket," Moranda said, "so there is no tomorrow. You've got to do whatever it takes to win the game that day."
