It’s back to Omaha for FSU
BATON ROUGE, La. – If you had told me a month ago that Mike Martin would be heading back to the College World Series this year, I would have asked what section he was sitting in.
I had my doubts that Florida State would even make the tournament and that, even if the Seminoles did make it, it would be a quick exit.
“That little spell that we went through, we were looking at each other, I said, ‘I hope everyone understands, we’re in jail,’ ” said Martin, FSU’s head coach.
“And the only way to get out of it was to come up with a set lineup and go from here.”
But FSU (41-21) will be moving on to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, for the 23rd time in program history and the 17th time under Martin after sweeping LSU (40-26) in the Baton Rouge Super Regional.
The Seminoles closed it out June 9 with a 5-4 win in extra innings at Alex Box Stadium thanks to a walk-off single by third baseman Drew Mendoza.
But this is easily the most improbable trip FSU has made to Omaha.
“I don’t think ... anyone in this country would put us in this place right now,” Mendoza said.
“We’re just all blessed. It’s been an incredible ride. We’ve always believed in each other. That started last August and it’s really coming to fruition now. Since N.C. State and the playoffs, we’ve gotten on a roll and we’re going to stay on it in Omaha.”
For most of the season, FSU was a team that couldn’t do much of anything right. The Seminoles didn’t pitch well, they didn’t hit well, and they certainly didn’t field well. It was a trifecta of poor play that had FSU as one of the last four teams in the NCAA Tournament field.
The Seminoles also were nohit by a Stetson team that lost 34 games this year.
FSU has made plays that I didn’t think it was capable of making this postseason. First baseman Carter Smith’s pick and double play in the June 9 game was a play that FSU screws up in April. No question. Instead, Smith made it look as easy as fielding a dribbler.
Freshman catcher Mat Nelson picked off a runner at third with LSU threatening in the sixth. It was easily the best throw he’s made all season long. Opponents had stolen 34 bases on 44 attempts coming into this game on FSU.
“For some reason (Martin) has got something going and knows how to get us going at the right time,” Mendoza said.
But maybe Lady Luck finally decides to sit in the Florida State dugout in Martin’s final season as the Seminoles head coach.
For the last 42 years — the longest postseason streak in college baseball — nothing ever seemed to go the Seminoles way when it mattered the most.
No one can say that FSU hasn’t earned a little bit of mojo.
That’s not to say that other teams haven’t earned their wins against FSU. But if there was a prize for the most unlucky team GERALD HERBERT/AP in college baseball over the last 42 years, the Seminoles would win gold, silver, and bronze.
If you did a blind résumé looking at some of the seasons FSU had in the 1990s and 2000s, you’d expect the Seminoles to have multiple national titles. Instead, FSU is still waiting on its first.
I will say that I’m not surprised that the Seminoles are moving on to Omaha.
Last weekend, the Seminoles ran through the Athens Regional, obliterating No. 4 national seed Georgia. The Seminoles didn’t dominate the Tigers the way they did the Bulldogs, but it was just as impressive of a performance.
FSU handled two crowds that combined to have 23,349 vocal fans in the stands, overcame a 4-0 deficit in Game 1, and withstood every punch the Tigers tried to throw in Game 2. The Tigers tied the score in the eighth inning, but FSU didn’t fold and won it in the 12th.
“I’d like to think that we’re not through,” Martin said.
“We’re going to Omaha. Four of my favorite words are ‘See ya in Omaha.’ We’re very proud of our young men.”