Two out of three games in its Big East opening weekend isn’t bad for USF, considering that all three games were decided by one-run and on go-ahead runs. USF won Friday on a walk-off double from shortstop Addison Muruszak, while Saturday was an 11th-inning home run by Connecticut.
Coach Eddie Cardieri called the series “battle royale” after the game, while Muruszak, a freshman, said he believes “USF has the best pitching staff in the Big East.” Pretty bold statement from the young’en considering Notre Dame comes to town April 7-8 and the Bulls visit St. John’s on May 12-14.
Just a couple other notes:
— If you say USF has no bat strength, consider this: First baseman Brandin Daniel broke his metal bat in today’s game. The sophomore, who hit five home runs in 2005, had to get a replacement after fouling off a pitch.
— Even though he didn’t pitch, I have to mention relief pitcher Raymon Garcia’s crazy pre-mound ritual. When called in by pitching coach Nelson North, Garcia does a slow trot to the third base line, where he continues to do a riverdance before jumping over the line and heading to the mound. There, during the conference, he stands to the side of Nelson and then refuses to take the ball from his pitching coach. Nelson has to lay the ball on the mound, and then Garcia will pick it up. After he takes his warm-up pitches, he goes behind the mound, prays and then jumps up and down about four times. It’s a very strange sight to see. I’ve seen and read about some weird superstitions from major league players; for example, Wade Boggs, whose son Brett plays at USF, used to eat an entire bucket of fried chicken before each game and never washed his socks. That’s 162 games of chicken, which would make any member of PETA cringe.
That’s it for today. I’m watching the women’s basketball game on ESPN2 tonight, 9:30 p.m. game time. I may also go check out the watch party at Clubhouse Bar on Fowler Avenue, but I'm assuming most super fans are actually in Norfolk. Wish I was.
Mike Camunas
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