Head Coach Jim Morris and his University of Miami Hurricanes baseball team continued their winning ways on a hot, humid afternoon in Jacksonville on Saturday by out pitching and out scoring North Carolina State 5-2. The Wolf Pack trailed the entire game and attempted several rallies but the Canes pitching staff that included starter Enrique Garcia, reliver Kyle Bellamy and closer Carlos Gutierrez shut down the Wolf Pack offense to preserve the win.
Garcia, who struck out seven and gave up three hits, pitched seven scoreless innings before turning 
the game over to Bellamy. Assistant coach and former UM player J.D. Arteaga has done a great job with the Canes pitching staff throughout the season and hopes to have his hurlers in top form for the upcoming regionals leading to the college World Series.
While college basball is usually about the "PING" of the bat and how many runs your team can score, consistent and effective pitching cannot be overlooked as a key part of the game.
The Canes took an early lead on a three run home run over the right field wall by Jemile Weeks in the third inning. From the moment Weeks, seen here being interviewed after the game, made contact with the ball there was never any doubt that it was "outta here"! The Canes added two runs in the fourth inning playing small ball with timely hitting and an RBI double by Dave "Heavy D" DiNatlie and another RBI single by catcher Jason Haggerty.
The play of the game though may have been when the Canes were in the field playing their usual stellar defense. Left Fielder Don Severino fielded a base hit to shallow left and came up 
throwing to gun down a Wolpack runner at the plate on a picture perfect throw and great play by UM cathcer Jason Haggerty to block the plate. Canes fans who were at the game in large numbers were on their feet and chanting: "Let's Go Canes" after the play.
I was only supposed to be at the first two games of the in Jacksonville on Wednesday and Thursday and was scheduled to leave on Friday morning. But after two great games and two Hurricanes victories, I 
just couldn't leave until I got in one more game. As I mentioned previously, the location and the fans here are just awesome! From the parking, to the stadium, to the field and into the stands the place is top notch. And if I have to remind you, even the concessionaires love Canespace!
The Canes and Head Coach Jim Morris face the Virginia Cavaleers today at 1 PM for the ACC championship. We went deep undercover to ask a "inside source" who would win the championship game. The Chick-fil-A cow told us under the strictest confidentiality to eat more chicken and GO CANES!!!
Direct TV has a Super Regional package, for $10.00...But if it's in Mark Light, it will be on Sun, Comcast, and Fox S...
Posted by: M.H. | May 25, 2008 at 08:37 PM
Bravo and Congratulation to the U Hardballerz!!!!
Way to end the season and begin the real season.
That UNC loss was a good thing, methinks. lol
Posted by: Cavaleer | May 25, 2008 at 08:40 PM
Nah MH, the first game is usually against a patsy like Bethune Cookman or some small conference champion like Niagara or Limbscomb. You'd be stupid to throw your ace at team like that. Chances are your #3 pitcher is better than any ace they faced in their conference, and though they likely use their ace, your lineup should chew him up and spit him out.
Game #2 is usually against a much better team (probably UF in our case) so you want your ace there bc if you lose, you have to win 3 games in 3 days, including 2 against the team you lost to, just to advance. If you win game #2, you only have to win one more game, and even if u lose, u get another crack at it.
Posted by: JC | May 25, 2008 at 08:40 PM
If you use your ace first, he can be ready again, if you need him...
Posted by: M.H. | May 25, 2008 at 08:53 PM
JC...you are halfway to your feature article after that post!
M.H...appreciate your comments here during the game today I know you love Canes baseball and The Space. I don't know why you let those guys over at TOS attack me though?
Posted by: SOUP | May 25, 2008 at 08:54 PM
Go canes!
Posted by: steve | May 25, 2008 at 08:56 PM
MH, not possible. Game 1 is on Friday, Game 2 is on Saturday. If you lose Game 2, you have to play again Saturday night. The game to advance is Sunday. You might have to play 2 games then.
So each starting pitcher can only go once. MAYBE you can get an inning of relief Sunday out of the guy who played Friday, but that'd have to be one hell of an emergency.
Posted by: JC | May 25, 2008 at 08:59 PM
It's a few guys, like with the Herald...Cane fans should stick together..
What do think 86, use your ace first, or not?
Posted by: M.H. | May 25, 2008 at 08:59 PM
No, U save your ace for game two if the team you are facing on Day one is well below your competion level and you are basically assured a win.
Win game one, throw your Ace in game two and then you are sitting pretty!
Posted by: SOUP | May 25, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Steve...welcome to Canespace. Post here, post often!
Posted by: SOUP | May 25, 2008 at 09:03 PM
Calvin, those games really remind us that Hurricane Football is supposed to have SEVERAL leaders, not just one or two like other schools.
In that Cotton Bowl Massacre that CB #23 set the tone for the whole game on the opening kickoff and the opening drive. His play was as valuable as Wes Carroll, Erickson and Maryland.
Ditto in the ND beatdown.
I wonder if Sam Shields watches any of those classic games to see how proper Hurricane WRs play?
Better yet, I wonder if he ever talks to those guys?
Posted by: Cavaleer | May 25, 2008 at 09:05 PM
Question for you baseball guys.
Do baseball players and coaches spend as much time in the film-room scouting opponents as football players and coaches do? I would assume they do, at least the pitchers and big hitters.
I was thinking about that because it seems like we'll eventually run into some brand new teams.
Posted by: Cavaleer | May 25, 2008 at 09:09 PM
Soup, your international hits are off the rack today.
Posted by: Cavaleer | May 25, 2008 at 09:10 PM
Gotta love those first two names on the All-Tourney team...
Buster Posey and Yonder Alonso. Classic.
Posted by: Cavaleer | May 25, 2008 at 09:11 PM
Conventionally, I'd say you pitch Garcia or D. Gutierrez (probably Garcia) in game 1, Hernandez in Game 2, and Erickson for your clincher. But I don't know, Erickson getting rocked the past two games, maybe you want to pitch him against the patsy to get his confidence back up for the super regional. I think Morris probably believes in his guy and his method and will do it the conventional way, but I don't know how much faith I have left in EE after UNC and GT.
Posted by: JC | May 25, 2008 at 09:12 PM
On the ACC all tournament team, is Allan any relation to Len?
Posted by: Old Skool | May 25, 2008 at 09:13 PM
In case you are wondering, Morris has NEVER used his ace in game 1 of a regional, so David will go on saturday. You can argue with Morris if you want, but he's about to get to the CWS for the 11th time in 15 seasons. My advice is to sit back and enjoy watching the games, and leave the decisions to him.
86, or SOUP, or whoever you are, I've been thinking about a Regionals preview if you're interested.
We're on our way-GO CANES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Mephistopheles | May 25, 2008 at 09:14 PM
Meph...I am both! I am really 86Cane when on blog business but I post as SOUP for fun.
If you do the regionals preview and let JC do the season/ACC tourney summary and we have two solid articles to go.
Posted by: SOUP | May 25, 2008 at 09:23 PM
Congratulations to the Hurricanes Baseball team for winning the ACC Tournament.
I wanted to share a personal anecdote with the blog.
For all the success at the tournament, there was one major disappointment. The playground in center field was closed. If you look closely in the background of the Jemile Weeks' picture, you will see a wonderful playground for the kids. I had told my son about the baseball stadium with a playground and that one day, I would take him to a game and he could play on the playground.
Well, that day was Saturday, and my 3 1/2 year old came with me to the game for a great father/son day (his first baseball game, reminding me of all the times my dad and I would drive from Ft. Lauderdale to Coral Gables to see the Canes play at the Light)
Excited to be there, he had been practicing his cheers - "WE'VE GOT SOME CANES OVER HERE - WHOOSH, WHOOSH" and clapping in time to "LET'S GO CANES!" He learned that "those white things" are called bases, and he fell in love with a teenage girl sitting next to him in Section 107.
As it will in most 3 year olds, his attention span and focus began to wane in the top of the 3rd inning. We headed out of our seats to check out the playground in deep center field. We arrived there to find that the ACC had closed it, saying that they didn't own it (the Jacksonville Suns - LA Dodgers AA affiliate did) and they, the ACC, didn't want to assume the liability. To get over his major disappointment we headed up the stairs to the breezeway in right field to look for skyscrapers and see the Jaguars' stadium. But as we got to the top of the stairs, Jemile Weeks was coming to bat with two on. Football stadiums and skyscrapers now had to wait. We had some cheering to do.
I whispered in my son's ear, and he started yelling, "HIT IT TO ME. HIT IT TO ME." With the whoosh of a right arm, and the "PING" of an aluminum bat, the ball took off like a rocket and sailed over our heads. It landed completely out of the stadium, finding the parking lot after narrowly missing a bus and a police cruiser. I was going crazy and my son at this point was confused. I told him that the player had done exactly what you'd said. Now even more confused, my boy said emphatically, "DADDY, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE BALL."
I am not one to argue with my 3 year old, whose logic at this point was more sound than mine was. So, I said, "Let's watch the next batter. His name is Yonder Alonso and he can hit the ball really far, too." Well, Yonder didn't hit a home run as I had hoped, but from my son's perspective, he did something better. He smashed a ball foul, down the right field line and it ended up with the grounds keeping crew. Swarms of older boys (10-14) with baseball gloves were yelling, "THROW IT HERE!"
The groundskeeper had a different idea when saw my son. Motioning at me, he asked if we had a ball. When I said no, he tossed the ball to me, and I promptly handed it over to my son. The boy was so excited and proud. He screamed, “THANK YOU” to the groundskeepers.
He held the ball tightly as we walked back to Section 107, and when we sat down, he proudly showed it to that teenage girl what had been sitting there.
By the 7th inning, the heat of the afternoon was becoming too much. Hot and tired, it was time for me to take him home. Hot and tired, it was time for me to take him home. He clung onto that ball the entire ride, even as he dozed off to the hum of the highway.
I was majorly disappointed when we got to centerfield because my son was. This was our day, which means that this was his day. I was mad at the ACC for taking the “family friendly” aspects away from the Baseball Grounds. With a few swings of the bat, our major disappointment was removed, our perspective was changes, and the day will be remembered as a great first baseball game, and simply a great day.
-cheers
Posted by: busy_cane | May 25, 2008 at 09:23 PM
I Googled him. Allan is no relation to Lenny. The surprise is Lenny is acting as an investment advisor now. Here's part of an interview from HBO.
Host Bernard Goldberg: "Is it true you once said you don't read books because they might hurt your batting eye?"
Lenny Dykstra: "Yeah. You got to rest your eyes, man, plus it makes you think too much."
Goldberg: "Reading?"
Dykstra: "Too confusing."
Goldberg: "Reading?"
Dykstra: "Yeah, I still don't like to read."
Goldberg: "And I'm supposed to follow your investing advice?"
Dykstra: "Only if you like money."
Posted by: Old Skool | May 25, 2008 at 09:27 PM
great story busy
Posted by: Loco | May 25, 2008 at 09:30 PM
Busy...GREAT post! Quality stuff, real emotions. Keep them coming.
Posted by: SOUP | May 25, 2008 at 09:30 PM
I agree that you don't throw your ace game one, you throw him game two. In any tournament in any sport, the first match is usually the easiest one
Posted by: Loco | May 25, 2008 at 09:32 PM
^^^any double elim tournament
Posted by: Loco | May 25, 2008 at 09:32 PM
When is it ever easy..
Posted by: M.H. | May 25, 2008 at 09:44 PM
When is it ever easy..
Posted by: M.H. | May 25, 2008 at 09:46 PM
That's why I said easiEST ;-)
The easiest team in the top 5 would be pretty tough, but they'd still be the easiEST....
Posted by: Loco | May 25, 2008 at 09:47 PM
Great story about Jemile Weeks... with respects to anyone who may have posted this link in an earlier blog.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3281990
Did anyone hear the comment about Weeks playing organ in his church on Sundays?
(Tivo is a wonderful thing - see the game live, watch the replay whenever you want!)
-cheers
Posted by: busy_cane | May 25, 2008 at 09:50 PM
so whats new?
peace
Posted by: solarcane | May 25, 2008 at 09:59 PM
Cheese ball...an ACC Championship, that's all!
Posted by: SOUP | May 25, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Anyone really surprised than Noah had pot?
-cheers
Posted by: busy_cane | May 25, 2008 at 10:15 PM
You will be seeing a lot of these around by Tuesday noon
ACC Champion shirts
http://allcanes.com/shop/popup_image.php?pID=6158
peace
Posted by: solarcane | May 25, 2008 at 10:18 PM
soup,
open that link and save that pic for upper corner reverence
thanks
peace
Posted by: solarcane | May 25, 2008 at 10:20 PM
busy,
I enjoyed your father son post, you will have found memories of this championship the rest of your life.
peace
Posted by: solarcane | May 25, 2008 at 10:24 PM
I know 86 likes to keep away from the politics as much as possible but I read this and was wondering if Cannon Smith's dad was in the running for being a VP of the country. It's an expert from an article on John McCain:
"Joining McCain and wife Cindy for lunch were former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, Sen. Sam Brownback, Sen. Lindsey Graham, FedEx founder Fred Smith, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, and senior McCain adviser Charlie Black."
Isn't the founder of FedEx Cannon's dad or am I misremembering something?
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | May 25, 2008 at 10:40 PM
2008 is the year we finally take the ACC back down to the size it was supposed to be when we signed up. Well down baseball team.
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | May 25, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Man, I cannot spell tonight.
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | May 25, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Busy sweet story about the day with your son, glad he got a ball. and thanks for the link on weeks, some of the students who we go to games with all know i think hes some sort of superhero and single handedly win games, blindfolded.
solar, me thinks a trip down to allcanes is in order for one of those shirts.
Posted by: reggaebob | May 26, 2008 at 12:53 AM
Hey Mitch...
Several people have expressed interest in going to CWS this year. Got any contacts for best sleeping arrangements. Something not tooooo much... maybe something on a lake, loaded with fish, a dock and boat, 3 Nebraska farm girls for the needy, and a stocked bar for people like me... LOL
Posted by: Cat5 Cane | May 26, 2008 at 07:54 AM
Isn't the founder of FedEx Cannon's dad or am I misremembering something?
Posted by: orange 'n green in the vein | May 25, 2008 at 10:40 PM
You're right, Fred Smith is Cannon's dad
Posted by: Loco | May 26, 2008 at 08:48 AM
solar, me thinks a trip down to allcanes is in order for one of those shirts.
Posted by: reggaebob | May 26, 2008 at 12:53 AM
I agree. And also one of those Miami owns Florida shirts... And "Friends don't let friends go to florida"... Wow, I'm going to be broke (as if i wasn't already) after a trip there! haha
Posted by: Loco | May 26, 2008 at 08:48 AM
By the way, today is Memorial Day, don't forget a moment of silence for all of the soldiers who have fought and died for this country
Posted by: Loco | May 26, 2008 at 08:50 AM
Hey Legion...
Congarts to the Canes Hardballers!!!
ACC Champs!!!
To all who have ever served in The United States Military. THANK U!!!
Posted by: OCALACANE | May 26, 2008 at 08:59 AM
I just got back from a Memorial Service here in UK. Very nicely done, young airmen paying respect to their fallen brothers from WW II. F-15 flyover and a B25 that got all the veterans attentions.
Nicely done.
Posted by: USAFCane | May 26, 2008 at 09:04 AM
Busy, great story. Glad to see you had a happy ending.
Posted by: Cavaleer | May 26, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Very cool story Busy. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Jer | May 26, 2008 at 10:06 AM
USAF..thanks for the post above. We are thinking of you and all that defend our Country and our freedom on this Memorial Day.
Posted by: SOUP | May 26, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Soup...
Was thinking of our annisversity party on Saturday, June 21st... Miami. The CWS will be going on and may need to adjust our party time to Miami's time slot, if playing on the 21st... first game on Sat. is 1pm and second game is 6pm.... Whatcha think?
.......................................
For those who don't know or have questions of playoff system... The playoffs start 6/13/08 thru 6/25/08.
The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year in June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series.
The tournament is unique in that it features four tiers of competition, each contested on a double-elimination basis. In fact, throughout the entire tournament, a team can lose a total of four games and still be crowned champions.
During team selection, eight teams are given national seeds which guarantees them home-field advantage (provided they continue to win) throughout the tournament until the College World Series. As in other NCAA tournaments, conference champions (usually determined by a tournament) receive automatic bids, and the selection committee fills the remaining spots.
The first tier, called Regionals, consists of 16 locations that include four teams, seeded 1 through 4, competing in a double-elimination bracket. The 16 host sites are determined mostly by merit - most No. 1 seeds host - but are also contested by bids from schools guaranteeing the NCAA a certain amount of revenue from that regional. Host teams traditionally have a large advantage, although the home team for each game is determined by rule, so the host school sometimes plays as the visiting team. The winner of each regional moves on to the second tier, the Super Regionals.
Super Regionals are played at eight locations throughout the country and consist of the 16 surviving teams, matched up by predetermined regional pairings. National seeds cannot meet each other in the super regional and are guaranteed to host. If the national seed in the bracket is eliminated in the regional stage, the super regional will be bid upon by the two competing teams. The two teams play a best-of-three series to determine who moves on to the College World Series. Although one school hosts all three games, the teams split home-field advantage in the first two games and toss a coin to determine home-field advantage in the third game.
The final eight teams meet in Omaha, Nebraska in the College World Series. The CWS mimics the earlier rounds, consisting of two double-elimination brackets of four teams each and a championship series between the two winners. The winner of the College World Series is crowned National Champion.
Cat
Posted by: Cat5 Cane | May 26, 2008 at 10:18 AM
JC,
Go easy on Niagara...I'm a Purple Eagle!
Posted by: AlpharettaCane | May 26, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Thanks Cat, I had an idea of how it might work, but didn't know for sure... Selection show in 30 mins!
Posted by: Loco | May 26, 2008 at 12:01 PM