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News Nuggets, 06.25.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Notebook: Gators count on nation's top slugger

OMAHA — Matt LaPorta's alarm clock was set for 5:30 a.m. last fall so he could get up and run the stadium steps.

He wanted to get ready for Florida's season, maybe even become college baseball's top home run hitter.

Now he is, leading all Division I sluggers with 26 homers after hitting his second of the College World Series.

``I mean it was one of my goals before we got into the season. I wanted to lead the country in home runs,'' the Gators solidly built first baseman said. ``It happened through hard work.''

LaPorta, a 6-1, 210-pound sophomore, hit a towering shot to left Thursday night when the Gators went deep three times and beat Arizona State to clinch a spot in the championship round against Texas.

When LaPorta homers this season, Florida is 22-4.

``We joke with Matt that he has to hit a home run for us to win,'' teammate Jeff Corsaletti said.

In nine NCAA tournament games so far, the Gators are 8-1 and they have a 14-6 advantage in home runs. Brian Leclerc and LaPorta have hit three each in the postseason.

Florida has outhomered its opponents 84-43 in its 69 games this season.

``We've used the long ball a lot. It gives us momentum, it gives us life,'' Corsaletti said. ``I think we'll have to use long ball in this series, but it won't come easy.''

LaPorta on Friday got to meet legendary Texas coach Augie Garrido, who was impressed with the Gators' power hitter.

``I've watched some of those balls that he hits. They go far, man,'' Garrido said, adding that one of LaPorta's blasts ``burned up on re-entry.''

LaPorta, who holds Florida's single-season record, knows the number of homers and when he hits them is actually more important than the distance they travel.

But he's also aware that people dig the long ball.

``I guess they go pretty far,'' he said.

How about Thursday night's prodigious blast in Rosenblatt Stadium?

``I think I've hit a couple balls better than that one,'' he said modestly.

TEA TIME: Texas coach Augie Garrido has no reservations about letting star catcher Taylor Teagarden call his own pitches.

``We feel good about him. We think he senses when the hitters are leaning over the plate, when they're moving up in the box,'' Garrido said. ``He pays attention and he makes it easy.''

Having Teagarden behind the plate has helped the development of young pitchers like Adrian Alaniz and Kenn Kasparek.

``It has its advantages. It helps control the tempo of the game and keeps the defense on its feet,'' Teagarden said. ``Obviously they have confidence in what I'm calling back there.''

Teagarden missed six games before the NCAA tournament with a sore back and then was named the outstanding player of the Longhorns' regional, batting .565 with three homers and eight RBIs.

Heading into Saturday's opener of the best-of-three championship series against Florida, Teagarden is 4-for-10 in the CWS with a homer. But it's his defense and ability to control the game that makes him so valuable.

He was a third-round draft pick of the Texas Rangers.

``First of all he can catch everything. It's not an effort for him,'' Garrido said.

``The pitchers are better because they are not afraid of a ball getting by the catcher. He's a student of the game, so he calls most of the pitches. He tells them what to do.'

HURTING GATOR: Alan Horne had won nine straight decisions for Florida, including the Gators' first-round CWS win over Tennessee. But then he was forced out of Thursday night's game with a strained left hamstring.

Horne (10-2) had to be helped off the field after collapsing off the mound, seconds after he delivered a pitch in the fourth inning. He returned later on crutches for the post-game celebration after Florida rallied from 3-0 down to beat Arizona State 6-3.

Gators coach Pat McMahon said Friday that Horne's status is day to day, although it's highly unlikely he'll pitch again this weekend against Texas.

Horne's absence pinches the Gators' rotation because Tommy Boss had to pitch 5 2-3 innings of relief after the reliable Horne got hurt.

``His cleat got caught,'' McMahon said. ``He will do everything he can to get back but that remains to be seen. We will do what is in his best interest, believe me.

``It's not an ideal situation, the fact that the guy who has pitched in our No. 1 position goes down and we don't know his status. If I was another performer on our ball club, I'd see it as a wonderful opportunity to step forward.''

With Boss having pitched Thursday and Bryan Ball coming off a six-inning losing effort against Arizona State on Wednesday, the Gators could turn to reliever Connor Falkenbach or freshmen Stephen Locke or Tommy Wynn to start Game 1.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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