Lincoln: Canes going to 13th straight super regional

By Doug Kroll - June 04, 2006

Miami defeated Manhattan by the final score of 10-4 on Sunday evening. Miami fell behind early 3-1, but tied it at 3 thanks to a blown call at second base. It was Eric Nieto for the Jaspers who hit a solo homer to put Manhattan up by a run in the 5th. But after that, Miami scored 7 unanswered runs, including 5 in the 7th to take command.

Miami's ace Scott Maine threw his first ever complete game, and he only threw 97 pitches!!! It was quite the sight to see, as he sat down the final 15 of 16 batters for the Jaspers after the homerun by Nieto put them in front.

The all tournament team was full of Miami players...and it was as follows...
Eddy Rodriguez-Miami-Catcher
Matt Rizzotti-Miami-First Base
Jemile Weeks-Miami-Second Base
Danny Valencia-Miami-Third Base
Roger Tomas-Miami-Shortstop
Jon Jay-Miami-Outfield
Tommy Giles-Miami-Outfield
Eric Nieto-Manhattan-Outfield
Chris Cody-Manhattan-Pitcher
Patrick Mcguigan-San Francisco-Pitcher

And the MVP of the regional was Miami freshman second baesban Jemile Weeks, who finished with 4 doubles, and was on base all five times he came up today, not bad for your lead off man!

It was quite fun to hear the Nebraska fans boo the Hurricanes as Yonder Alonso caught the final out of the game. I never realized how much they dislike the Hurricanes. Perhaps it's just that they are bitter from watching baseball being played on their home turf when their season was over. Either way, Miami is moving on to Oxford, Miss. and Manhattan closes a season of firsts much like USF did. The 3 and 4 seeds in this tournament were unfamiliar and the fact that USF went 1-2 (beating Nebraska) and Manhattan went 2-2 (beating Nebraska) I think says a lot about the state of college baseball and how much paridy there really is. Mid-major schools can compete, much like was shown in college baskebtall this season as well.

Fans applauded both USF and Manhattan on a wonderful season, and there's hope to build on it for each team for next year. So Miami now faces Mississippi for the right to head on to the CWS. As a Hurricanes broadcaster, I can only hope that this is not my final day in Nebraska for this season. I hope to see Omaha again. But either way, this weekend was quite the experience. By witnessing six college baseball games in 3 days, you'll see everything there is to see.

Miami extends its streak to 34 straight regionals this year, and 13 consecutive super regionals. Not too shabby. I'll hopefully talk to you all next weekend from Oxford, until then, enjoy Monday's action and the announcment of what times the games will begin.

Doug K.