Florida State
Team Capsule
Posted: Thursday May 28, 1998 06:30 PM
Coach: Mike Martin (19th year)
Nickname: Seminoles
Record and conference finish: 53-18, ACC -- 1st
NCAA Tournament Region and Seed: Atlantic II, 1st
Total NCAA appearances: 36
NCAA Tournament Record: 91-46
College World Series Appearances: 16th
CWS Record: 19-30
Last CWS Appearance: 1996, lost to Florida, 5-2; beat Wichita State, 8-4;
lost to Florida, 6-3
Top Finish -- 2nd (1970, 1986)
Probable Starting Lineup
------------------------
C -- Jeremy Salazar (.336, 17 HR, RBI 85)
1B -- Kevin Cash (.307, 7, 48)
2B -- Brooks Badeaux (.238, 0, 35)
3B -- Jose Zabala (.342, 3, 38)
SS -- Brett Groves (.261, 2, 42)
LF -- Karl Jernigan (.300, 5, 42)
CF -- Brian Cox (.397, 18, 84)
RF -- Matt Diaz (.395, 21, 81)
DH -- Terry Henderson (.289, 4, 40)
SP -- Wes Crawford (9-3, 3.04 ERA)
SP -- Jon McDonald (10-3, 4.40)
SP -- Nick Stocks (7-2, 2.00)
RP -- Scott Proctor (7 saves, 3.68)
Outlook: The Seminoles make their 16th trip to Omaha still
looking for that elusive national title. They will be playing
in the World Series for the 36th time overall and the sixth time
this decade. Florida State holds the honor of being the only
school to play in a football bowl game, the NCAA basketball
tournament and the College World Series this year. The
Seminoles were one of the best offensive teams in the country
this season and exploded in the regionals. They batted .449 as
a team during the four Atlantic II games, scoring 76 runs and
belting 80 hits. The best individual performance was turned in
by freshman RF Matt Diaz, who hit tied an NCAA record with four
homers in a 23-2 rout of Oklahoma. Diaz's 21 homers is a
Florida State freshman record. Senior CF Brian Cox has joined
Diaz as the team's offensive stars. Cox enters play this
weekend riding a 23-game hitting streak, capping a season in
which he hit .397 with 18 homers and 84 RBI. C Jeremy Salazar
(.336, 17 HR, 85) was an ACC first-team selection and one of
the best in the nation at his position. Despite being young,
the starting rotation has been effective. RHPs Jon McDonald
(10-3, 4.40 ERA) and Nick Stocks (7-2, 2.00) are both freshman,
while sophomore LHP Wes Crawford, who was 9-3 with a 3.04 ERA
and 82 strikeouts in 118 1/3 innings pitched, is the top
starter. RHP Scott Proctor led the team with seven saves.
Martin was named ACC Coach of the Year this season for the
second time. The Seminoles are 5-6 record against other CWS
participants this season, going: 1-2 vs. Florida, 2-4 vs. Miami
and 2-0 vs. Arizona State.
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