Hunt could start for Wave in regional final
June 2, 2008
Hunt could start for Wave in regional final - Tulane Beat - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com
Posted by By Nakia Hogan, Times-Picayune June 01, 2008 11:41PM
Categories: BaseballTALLAHASSEE, FLA. - Tulane ace right-hander Shooter Hunt has had two days of rest and has told his coach he’s ready if needed.
Coach Rick Jones just might take him up on that offer.
Down to what could be the Green Wave’s last game of the season and facing the best hitting team its come up against all year, Jones said Sunday night he’d sleep on the idea of bringing Hunt back early and then talk about it more on Monday before making a decision.
After the 17-8 shellacking Florida State put on the Green Wave here Sunday in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional, Jones is willing to try almost anything.
The regional final is at 6 p.m. Monday night.
The top-seeded Seminoles are one of the best hitting teams in the country. And lately, they’ve been scorching hot. Since being shutout 7-0 in the regional opener against Bucknell, the Seminoles have been on a tear, scoring 58 runs and racking up 64 hits in its three straight victories over Florida, Bucknell and Tulane.
That’s why, even on short notice, Hunt, who is expected to be selected in the first round of the MLB amateur draft this week, is an option.
Hunt started Tulane’s 7-4 victory over Florida on Friday. He didn’t get the decision, but threw 99 pitches in 5 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out five.
Sophomore Taylor Rogers appears to be the most logical starter, however. But he hasn’t started a game since May 6 against UNO, and has pitched just twice since then.
“We’ll send out a right-hander,” Jones said. “I’m not going to make that decision yet. We got a couple pretty good arms down there, and in regional play you go with your best available guy tomorrow.”
When asked if that meant Hunt was available, Jones replied:
“Yes.”
Even as a starter?
“Yes,” he said. “But I’m not going to say he’s going to do that yet. We’re going to go with a right-hander. I want to talk to (Hunt) again tomorrow. But he feels good. He felt good (Sunday). And we have our bullpen that we’ve been utilizing a lot in Nick Pepiton and Rob Segedin. (They’ll) have had two days of rest, too. That gives us a little bit more depth in the bullpen.”
Florida State coach Mike Martin said if Hunt is the starter for the game, the Green Wave is sending out one of the best arms in the nation, and one the could present some problems for his potent lineup.
“Shooter Hunt is one of the best pitchers in college baseball,” Martin said. “I saw him pitch against Florida and was extremely impressed. His reputation certainly precedes him. He’s a definite No. 1 draft pick and will certainly pose a challenge against anybody he pitches against.”
Martin added that he’ll use his ace on short rest as well, sending left-hander Matt Fairel to the mound. Fairel (10-2) started Saturday in the Seminoles’ 17-11 win over Florida. In that game he threw 62 pitches
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