If David could triumph over Goliath, then maybe the unconquerable can be beaten. At least that is what the Virginia baseball team hopes as it prepares to host top-ranked Florida State this weekend.
Yet who wouldn't worry when the garnet and gold come to town? The Seminoles (29-4) are Baseball America's No. 1 team for the seventh consecutive week. They boast two ACC championships. They have garnered 22 consecutive and 37 total NCAA Regional appearances and have played in 17 College World Series, including seven of the last 10.
Although exceptional, FSU's tradition is not as intimidating as the 2000 Seminoles' outstanding pitching and power-packed lineup. Last week, the Seminoles shut out Maryland in all three games of a series, 11-0, 11-0 and 10-0. At one point, FSU's pitching staff went 32 straight innings without allowing a run. With a lineup that hits .341 and averages 9.8 runs, the offense offers no smooth sailing either.
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What makes the 'Noles so dominant, even against one of the best schedules in the nation? A roster that consists of several All-Americans doesn't hurt. Pitching is the strength of the 2000 squad as junior Jon McDonald and sophomore Blair Varnes, both preseason All-Americans, boast 7-1 and 6-1 records, respectively. The team's offense is driven by the outstanding hitting of sophomores John-Ford Griffin (.460) and Chris Smith (.400) and juniors Brett Groves (.371) and Marshall McDougall (.303), another All-American.
But it is the work of one man, coach Mike Martin, that has brought together and trained all these talents. Before he took over in 1980, the Seminoles had reached the College World Series only three times in the previous 15 seasons. Not only did Martin take the Seminoles to Omaha with his very first squad, he has made Rosenblatt Stadium a second home, leading the 'Noles to the CWS nine times in the last 13 years.
In his 20 seasons as coach, Martin has seen 38 of his players earn All-American honors, 72 named to all-conference teams, and 88 sign professional contracts. Three players - Mike Fuentes, Mike Loynd and J.D. Drew - won the Golden Spikes Award, which honors America's best amateur baseball player. Other recent FSU grads include Deion Sanders, Paul Wilson and Luis Alicea.
"It was a solid program when I came in," Martin said. "Our players have let the next group of players know that this is the way we do it here. If you let it drop for a year, you're not only letting down the team, but the alumni too."
After coming up one run short in the 1999 College World Series Championship in a 57-14 season, Martin's Seminoles have high hopes for this year's postseason. But first they must tackle the Cavs (14-15-1), who hope to play David's part this weekend.
"It's going to be a real challenge, a super challenge for us," Virginia coach Dennis Womack said. "We're capable of playing well, but we're going to have to play a lot better to even compete with Florida State."
The series will begin in Charlottesville at 2 p.m. Saturday and continue with a doubleheader Sunday at 1 p.m.
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