Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 11, 1993 TAG: 9305110047
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Don't talk, just play, they say.
Virginia Tech's baseball team, however, has a stump speech going.
"We have talked about it," coach Chuck Hartman said. "We're in contention, [so] let's go and do it. Let's don't treat it like a plague and there's a no-hitter going on."
Tech swept Metro Conference leader South Florida last weekend in three one-run games that Hartman called "an awesome baseball series" and "some of the biggest wins in our history." If the Hokies (32-11) don't win the Metro Conference Tournament and get an automatic bid to the 48-team NCAA playoffs, Hartman figures Tech's chances are good for one of 24 at-large bids.
The three-game sweep of nationally ranked South Florida and an early-season victory over now-14th ranked South Carolina don't hurt. And, for example, 1992 Metro regular-season champion Virginia Commonwealth didn't win the tournament but got a bid after going 32-20 during the regular season.
Hartman and third baseman Bo Durkac said assistant coach Jay Phillips kicked off the NCAA talk, telling the team it would earn its first bid since 1977.
"Sounds good to me," said Hartman, whose team plays James Madison at 2 p.m. today at English Field. Tech scrimmages Ferrum at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Tech.
Tech is a half-game out of first place. This year's Metro title will be decided this weekend when Tech plays third-place Southern Mississippi three times while South Florida plays VCU three times. The league tournament is May 19-23 at The Diamond in Richmond.
The Hokies have avoided repeating last year's performance, in which they went 22-2-1 over the first 25 games and 12-15 the rest of the way. This season, Tech was 19-7 after being swept at Tulane on April 10-11; the Hokies are 13-4 since.
Bryan Hastings (2-2, 2.79 ERA) and Ron Preston (5-3, 5.30) will pitch for Tech on Friday and Saturday against Southern Miss. Sunday's starter, depending on whether he is used in relief during the first two games, could be senior Jamie Patteson (7-0), who has one start this season. Patteson, from Dahlgren, is the Metro pitcher of the week after pitching 7 scoreless innings of relief against South Florida to pick up two of the wins.
Durkac, a transfer from North Carolina, won Sunday's game with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. Tech's record in one-run games is 9-1, and its record at home is 17-2, the Metro's best. Tech has the league's best road record, 15-8.
"A characteristic of a good team is being able to come from behind," said Durkac, Tech's leading hitter, who has a .406 average.
by CNB