Stanford poses a stern test
ND's new to Omaha, but Cardinal a College World Series regular
By FORREST MILLER
Tribune Staff Writer
Poise, confidence and the ability to avoid distractions played a major role in Notre Dame's baseball march to the College World Series.
And there were plenty of distractions at Florida State had the Irish chosen to pay any attention.
There were the Florida State fans, one of them a hook-nosed guy dressed up in a Seminole colored nun's habit, parading about the stands holding up signs insulting to Catholics.
There was a chorus, obviously well-rehearsed, singing their own crude, vulgar version of the Notre Dame victory march.
"Imagine what would happen if we behaved that way toward a Jewish team,'' wondered one Notre Dame official.
The singers traditionally uncork their version of the Canadian National Anthem during the fifth inning, a tradition that goes back to the days when the Seminoles had a star Canadian player. Unbeknownst to them, they were singing Sunday just as freshman John Axford, a native of Canada, began pitching for the Irish.
Stanford, Notre Dame's first-round opponent Saturday at Omaha, has been known to engage in some vulgar behavior, particularly its marching band. But the baseball version of the Cardinal is supremely talented.
Coach Mark Marquess has Stanford in the College World Series for the fourth year in a row, and for the 14th time overall. Stanford won the championship in 1987 and 1988 and has been runner-up the last two seasons, losing to LSU in the 2000 finals and to Miami last year.
Stanford's nine-game winning streak is the longest of any of the participants, and the Cardinal is a perfect 5-0 in the NCAA tournament.
Stanford was the pre-tournament No. 8 seed. Notre Dame is unseeded after disposing of No. 1 seed Florida State. Stanford opened the season as the nation's unanimous No. 1 team before falling out of the top spot on April 1. The latest Baseball America poll lists the Cardinal No. 7.
Jeremy Guthrie, who has already been named to start against Notre Dame, is a junior right-hander with a 12-1 record and a 2.34 ERA in 142 innings. He was Cleveland's recent first-round draft pick (22nd overall), and tossed a 13-inning complete game victory against Fresno in the regional tournament.
Mystery man
After Irish freshman Chris Niesel ended Florida State's season Monday coach Mike Martin was asked if FSU recruited Niesel, a Florida native.
Martin couldn't recall and referred the question to recruiting coordinator Jamey Shouppe.
"I did not recruit him, I knew nothing about him,'' Shouppe told the Tallahassee Democrat. "I wish I would have.''
How a pitcher with a 13-0 record last year, the Florida High School player of the year and one of five pitchers nationwide to be named to Baseball America's All-American team could not be noticed by a tradition-rich school in his home state is baffling.
Another award
Notre Dame centerfielder Steve Stanley was named Tuesday to the 14th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers All-America team.
Staff writer Forrest Miller:
