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Seminoles freshmen seem ready to pitch in

Matt Lynch and Robby Read are the probable No. 2 and 3 starters for the nation's No. 7 team.

By BRIAN LANDMAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 3, 2001

TALLAHASSEE -- During last season's College World Series, Florida State freshmen Matt Lynch and Robby Read pitched one inning between them, the equivalent of an hors d'oeuvre.

This season, they figure to be the main course.

"Coach (Mike Martin) told us then that if we were going to get back, it's going to be because of Robby and me; we were going to have to step up," Lynch said.

The Seminoles, who open the season today against visiting Western Kentucky, lost aces Mike Ziegler and Jon McDonald to the professional ranks, leaving All-American candidate Blair Varnes (11-4, 3.88 ERA last season) as the lone veteran starter.

Relying on a single top pitcher isn't a recipe FSU has followed in reaching Omaha three consecutive years, 11 of the past 13 and 18 times overall in Martin's two decades there.

Seating for two more?

You bet.

"Right now, they are our Nos. 2 and 3 (starters), but Blair Varnes is going to have his work cut out starting on Friday nights; both of those guys are competing to pitch the first game," Martin said.

In the off-season, Lynch, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound left-hander from Fort Pierce John Carroll, worked to improve his curveball and add a changeup so he wouldn't have to rely on his 90 mph fastball.

Read, who throws a confounding curve and can hit 90 mph with his fastball, bulked up by 20 pounds and gained needed experience in Connecticut summer league against Cape Cod level teams and the USA Team.

"There's no question those two guys are the key to our success this season," pitching coach Jamey Shouppe said. "We were able to get both of them some good quality starts last year and get their feet wet."

And whet everyone's appetite in the process.

Lynch started eight games -- fourth on the team -- and finished 7-0 with a 3.24 ERA to earn first team freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball.

While throwing predominantly against some of FSU's less-than-imposing opponents, Lynch showed his big-time power and potential when he was a last-minute substitute for an ailing Varnes against Atlantic Coast Conference rival, Virginia. He allowed three runs on three hits and struck out six in 62/3 innings as the Seminoles won 10-4 to win the crucial weekend series after dropping the middle game.

"He had a lot of poise on the mound," Virginia coach Dennis Womack said. "I know Blair Varnes is really good, but obviously Matt was a pretty doggone good substitute. We were really impressed with him."

After a subpar outing against North Carolina State in the ACC tournament, he pitched a gem in the NCAA Regional against Evansville, allowing two runs and striking out eight in eight innings as FSU cruised 11-2.

"To come back and know that they had that much faith in me, with the regional on the line, was a big boost for me confidence-wise," he said.

The post-season was also a boon for Read, a 6-1, 195-pound right-hander from Tallahassee Leon High.

In his third start of the season, he threw a two-hitter in the Seminoles' 8-1 win against Central Florida in the region championship game.

"He pitched a game beyond his maturity," UCF coach Jay Bergman said. "That was a game we didn't anticipate him throwing. He threw like a senior. His breaking ball was outstanding and he had great command of his fastball."

A week later in the Super Regional opener against Miami, Reed came on in relief in the eighth with FSU leading 5-2 but the Hurricanes threatening with two on and one out. No problem. He calmly struck out cleanup hitter Lale Esquivel and designated hitter Danny Matinezo to end the rally.

"Those games were big for me," Read said. "That's the reason you come to a place like this, so you can play against teams like that in those kind of games. It's a great feeling knowing you can compete against them and that you can win. Coming into this season, it makes everything, the expectations, easier to handle."

Pressure? Nah.

They're hungry for the opportunity.

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