Tuesday, May 30, 2006
The Tigers will play UNC-Asheville, which has Steve Burnich (Fitch) at third.
VINDICATOR STAFF/WIRE REPORTS
Clemson's players and coaches showed little emotion when the Tigers were picked Monday as the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Division I baseball tournament. No cheers, no wild celebrations -- not yet.
"What it tells you is that this team is focused on the whole deal," coach Jack Leggett said.
That means getting to the College World Series, and winning it -- as some have predicted of a balanced Clemson (47-14) squad that has won 19 of its last 20 games.
"I think this is the team to do it, to be honest with you," outfielder Brad Chalk said. "But everyone's got to be at the top of their game and everybody's got to be ready to play every game and take nothing for granted."
The Tigers, the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season and tournament champions, will play host to one of 16 four-team, double-elimination regionals that begin Friday.
Clemson will open against the University of North Carolina-Asheville (28-33), which is in the tourney for the first time after winning its first-ever Big South Conference championship. Game time is 7 p.m. Friday.
Burnich with Asheville
Steve Burnich (Austintown Fitch) is the starting third baseman for UNC-Asheville. Burnich, a junior, is batting .277 (61-for-220) with 24 RBIs, 40 runs scored, three homers, 15 doubles and eighth stolen bases. He also leads the team in hit-by-pitches with 10.
The other national seeds, in order, are: Rice (50-10), Texas (40-19), Alabama (41-19), Cal State Fullerton (43-13), Nebraska (42-15), Georgia (41-19) and Georgia Tech (45-16).
Joining Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi State from the SEC are Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
Getting seven teams each were the ACC -- Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Virginia -- and the Big 12 -- Baylor, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas.
Miami (36-21) is making its 34th straight tournament appearance to extend its NCAA record.
Other first-time teams
Besides UNC-Asheville, the other first-time teams in the field are Lehigh (28-26), Prairie View (33-20), San Francisco (38-21) and Sacred Heart (26-28) are all in the field for the first time.
Manhattan (32-21) won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to earn its first berth since 1957. Saint Louis, the Atlantic 10 champ, is in for the first time since 1966, while Ball State is making its first appearance since 1969.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.