Colleges

Baseball team needs kids to adjust quickly

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published January 27, 2005

The number is dizzying.

Florida State has reached the NCAA baseball tournament 27 straight seasons. That's second in NCAA history to Miami's current run of 32. But Seminoles coach Mike Martin can't quite get over another astonishing number: 26.

That's how many Seminoles have one or no seasons of college experience. "I cannot remember in my 30 years with the program, 25 years as the head coach, when we've had 76 percent of our team made up of freshmen and sophomores," he said as FSU prepares for Friday's season opener against visiting Charleston Southern. "It's a year that we as coaches have just got to be patient."

Until youth is served.

He hopes. Consider:

Freshman Tony Thomas, a former Bloomingdale High star, looks to have won the job at second base, and Martin calls his defensive play "the biggest surprise" of the preseason.

Freshmen Ryne Jernigan (his cousin was Karl Jernigan, a former FSU star centerfielder) and Nick Francis are vying to take over for all-everything shortstop Stephen Drew.

Sophomore Bryan Henry, a transfer from North Florida Community College, is expected to start at third, although he can play short and the outfield, which might open the door for freshman and former Tampa Catholic standout Charles Cleveland to play third.

On the mound, ex-Bloomingdale righty Ryan Strauss figures to be No. 3 or No. 4 in the rotation as a freshman while junior college transfers Barrett Browning and Mike Hyde and freshman Stephen Ochs will pitch a lot.

"What concerns me is these young men that are starters as freshmen have never experienced failure," Martin said. "And they're going to experience failure when they go through Florida and Auburn and the Atlantic Coast Conference." Offensively, senior catcher Aaron Cheeseman (.347, 42 RBIs), sophomore first baseman Ryne Malone (.330, 12 homers, 54 RBIs), senior infielder-turned-rightfielder Gibbs Chapman (.307) and sophomore centerfielder Shane Robinson (.280, 36 RBIs, 19 stolen bases) from Jesuit should be solid. But they will need timely and perfect fundamentals from the youngsters to manufacture runs.

"This club is setting up to be one that has to do a lot of little things to be successful," Martin said. "But I must say that does not take away the opportunity to be successful."

For a 28th straight year.

GOING EXTRA: The women's basketball team had played six overtime games during coach Sue Semrau's first seven seasons, going 2-4. The No.21 Seminoles have played three OTs this season, three straight in fact. All against teams ranked in at least one poll. All wins.

"When you've been there before and you conquer something, it gives you confidence going into the next time," Semrau said. "I think we've developed a poise. Just the smiles on kids' faces when we go into double overtime (against Virginia Tech on Monday) on the road. There's not a fear. There's not a tension because we've been there before."

GIVE AND TAKE: FSU lost an oral commitment from Coral Reef safety Dorian Munroe, who says he's going to Florida, but received a commitment from Pensacola High safety Clarence Ward. The No. 9 rated safety, according to scout.com, initially said he would go to Alabama.

ODDS AND ENDS: In case you turned off your TV (or headed for the exit), junior forward Antonio Griffin played Saturday against Duke. It was his first action since Dec. 23 against Stetson. He had six consecutive DNP-CDs (did not play, coach's decision). ... Ex-running back Edgar Bennett (1987-91) will be inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in July. Bennett, their director of player development, played five seasons for them, rushing for 3,353 yards and adding 1,920 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns.

Times staff writer Brian Landman covers Florida State. Reach him at (813) 226-

[Last modified January 27, 2005, 00:41:13]