Freshmen have helped Florida State continue tradition
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With all the tradition that surrounds the Florida State baseball program, perhaps the thing the Seminoles are proudest of as they host the Tallahassee Regional this weekend is the number 41.
For the last 41 seasons in a row now, FSU has reached the NCAA postseason. It's easily the longest streak in the nation and is 14 years longer than Cal State Fullerton's 27-straight tournament berths.
Today at 6 p.m against Samford, Florida State will hit the field at Dick Howser Stadium to try and make the most of their latest postseason appearance. When they do, they'll be aided by a group of freshmen that Florida State head coach Mike Martin insists have been instrumental in continuing the proud legacy the Seminoles have built.
“I wish I could take credit for some of their success, but the young men are the ones that did it and they did it through hard work and dedication,” Martin said.
On the mound and at the plate, Florida State youngsters have found success. Right-handed pitcher C.J. Van Eyk has thrown the fourthmost innings on the team (56). He has a perfect 7-0 record, has struck out 70 batters and allowed only 42 hits. Opponents are hitting just .210 against him and he boasts a 2.89 earned run average.
Jonah Scolaro has also excelled. The lefty has a 3.54 ERA over 42.2 innings with 58 strikeouts.
FSU has also gotten production from freshmen at the dish. Outfielder Reese Albert hits .273 with seven home runs and 33 RBI. Cooper Swanson and Jared Herron have been contributors too. Herron has hit .297 in 27 games. Swanson has batted .255 in 29 contests.
Martin said those players' maturation fueled Florida State's late-season run in which the Seminoles won 11 of their final 12 games, including capturing the ACC Tournament championship.
“I think it's just when you use a lot of freshmen and all of a sudden they have 35 or 40 games under their belts, they're not freshmen anymore,” Martin said. “We as coaches expect them to act like juniors or seniors even. Whether it's missing signs or whatever, they don't have that deer-in-the headlights look. I think it's just experience. When they get some success, they start thinking, ‘I understand this game now.'"
Martin hopes his kids keep growing up today when the Seminoles battle Samford. Martin has complete trust his freshmen will once again be able to rise to the occasion as they've been doing.
“The way that they played got them more opportunities to play,” Martin said. “Had they kept missing signs or missing cut-off men or (not hustling) on pop-ups, they wouldn't have gotten this opportunity.”