Sports: UM freshmen shine on the diamond from start

UM freshmen shine on the diamond from start

Four slide into the Hurricanes lineup and it's made all the difference.

By ADRIAN SAINZ

CORAL GABLES -- Miami pitching ace David Gil gave a simple response to reporters asking him where the Hurricanes would be without their four talented freshmen.

"Nowhere," Gil said with a serious look.

Gil, a senior playing in his fourth region tournament in Coral Gables and looking for a third straight College World Series trip with the defending national champions, speaks for the players on this matter and most others.

"The freshmen have been playing big at important positions," Gil said.

Pitcher Enrique "Kiki" Bengochea, third baseman Kevin Howard, leftfielder Kevin Mannix and first baseman Danny Matienzo earned the respect of teammates and coach Jim Morris by hitting the ball like upperclassmen and carrying themselves like veterans. Morris admits they exceeded his expectations.

"I didn't ever expect to start four freshmen," Morris said. "One, maybe two, but not four. They've gotten great experience and won some big games for us."

The freshmen carried the 'Canes at times during an up-and-down season in which Miami (37-17-1) fell short of 40 regular-season wins for the first time in Morris' seven-year tenure. The four freshmen have no plans to watch the series on TV as they did last year as high school seniors.

"This is no time for slumping or being average," Matienzo said. "We're not scared. I have no doubt in this year's team."

Bengochea starts today against fourth-seeded Wagner (24-28-1). Bengochea, a third-round pick by the Royals in last year's draft, took over the third starter's role after Troy Roberson went down with an elbow injury. He responded with four wins in his first five decisions and finished with a 4-4 record and a 3.65 ERA in 79 innings. Bengochea's hard sinking fastball and mound demeanor remind Morris of a former pitching pupil at Georgia Tech.

"He gets a lot of ground balls with his sinking fastball, like (the Dodgers') Kevin Brown," Morris said. "If he develops like Kevin does, I want to be his agent. But Kiki still has a long way to go."

The offensive contributions of Miami's freshmen everyday players have meant volumes. Howard led the team in hitting (.414) and his 19 doubles broke Pat Burrell's team record.

"My goal was to come in and play every day, but I couldn't foresee all the good things that happened," Howard said. "But it also didn't surprise that I've done this well."

Matienzo stepped into the first-base/power-hitter role when junior Kevin Brown (no relation to the major-leaguer), Miami's home run and RBI leader in 1999, missed 11 weeks with a bruised shin. A high school teammate of Bengochea at Miami Columbus, Matienzo hit .352 with seven home runs and 48 RBI, second on the team.

Mannix struggled at times in leftfield but still managed a .315 average, seven home runs and 30 RBI. His home run in the eighth against Georgia Tech on May 8 sealed a series win and probably a region host bid as well.

Considering the loss of Brown, Miami desperately needed the freshmen to produce. Morris believes Brown's presence in the lineup will be a key to advancing to the super region. But he needs to bench Matienzo or Mannix when Brown returns.

"I'm trying to figure out where to put him in the lineup, and I probably won't decide that until game time," Morris said. "Whoever I take out is not necessarily going to think I've been fair to them, but the fact is we need Kevin back in the lineup."