CWS: Saturday's Pitching Preview

By Doug Kroll - June 23, 2007

Here's a quick look at Saturday night's pitching matchup in game one of the CWS Finals.

North Carolina:
RHP Alex White 6-6, 4.74 ERA, 18 G, 17 GS, 93 IP, 92 H, 46 BB, 81 K, .269 BAA

Freshman Alex White has struggled mightily in the postseason, but just like Robert Woodard and Luke Putkonen have done, White is due for a big time start here in Omaha.

White last pitched in the 14-4 loss to Rice that sent the Tar Heels into the loser's bracket. White went just 1 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and six runs by walking one and striking out one. It was White's sixth loss of the year.

Then going back to his start against South Carolina in the super regionals, in that game, White gave up five hits, six runs (five earned), in 3 1/3 innings, while walking three and striking out two.

His start against East Carolina in the regionals really wasn't that much better, although he went five innings, he gave up nine hits, and seven runs, while walking one and striking out only one.

Like I stated earlier, he's due for a big time game in the postseason, and I'm sure head coach Mike Fox is thinking, "Tonight is as good a time as any."

Oregon State:
RHP Jorge Reyes 6-3, 3.00 ERA, 23 G, 10 GS, 75 IP, 65 H, 17 BB, 61 K, .232 BAA

Jorge Reyes is also a freshman, but he's had much better results in the postseason, as he's become the Beavers No. 1 starter. In his first CWS start of his career against Fullerton, Reyes recorded the win by giving up just three hits and one run, while walking two and striking three.

In his super regionals against Michigan, Reyes picked up the no decision after throwing seven shutout innings, allowing only three hits, and walking none. He also struck out one in the Beavers' 1-0 victory.

The regionals saw Reyes start in the second game against Rutgers, an elimination game, and in six innings, he allowed only two runs while striking out four to pick up his fifth win of the season.

So we have two freshmen that are going to go at it, but they've each pitched here at the CWS this season, so the jitters should be gone. And like OSU head coach Pat Casey said in the press conference yesterday, these guys aren't really freshmen anymore.

I'll tend to agree. See you tonight from Johnny Rosenblatt. First pitch schedule for 7:10 Eastern.