Local talent in NCAA super regionals

Local baseball fans just might see some familiar faces if they tune into the NCAA Super Regional Tournament on television this weekend.

One of those fans who will watch is Ron McNutt, who has five former players from the Carson Capitols summer program involved in the Super Regionals.

"I'll be watching," said McNutt, who still coaches the Carson High program but disbanded the Capitols in 2002. "It's kind of nice to see those guys and think, 'Hey, I might have played a small part in the success those young men are having.'"

The list of Capitols alumni includes two Galena High School graduates: Joe Hooft of Miami and Bill Paganetti of Stanford. Three others traveled from California to play for the Capitols: Dustin Pedroia, now at Arizona State; J.P. Howell at Texas; and Shawn Scobee at Cal State Fullerton.

Galena will be represented in the best-of-three series between Long Beach State and Stanford that begins tonight at Sunken Diamond in Palo Alto, Calif. Chuck Sindlinger, a 2002 Galena High graduate, has been platooning at second base for the Long Beach State 49ers, also affectionately known as the Dirtbags, as a freshman this season. And across the field is Paganetti in the Stanford bullpen.

Sindlinger has come on to post some strong numbers in his freshman season at Long Beach State. He has started 37 games, hitting .295 with seven doubles, two triples and 21 RBIs. He has also been successful on eight of 10 stolen base attempts.

Paganetti (0-1, 3.68 ERA) has not pitched in the postseason, but has worked one scoreless inning in each of his last three appearances over the past month.

Hooft, has also been alternating between left field and designated hitter for Miami, which hosts North Carolina State in a best-of-three series that opens on Saturday. Hooft, a sophomore, is hitting .369 with eight doubles, three home runs and 26 RBIs. He was 2-for-5 with a double and run scored in Miami's 13-10 super regional-clinching win over Florida on Sunday.

Pedroia and Scobee will be on opposite sides when Cal State-Fullerton hosts Arizona State starting today.

Pedroia, a sophomore shortstop, is having a huge sophomore season in which he has already earned Pac-10 Conference co-Player of the Year honors and has been named to the Collegiate Baseball and USA Today Sports Weekly All-America first-team lists. Pedroia is hitting .423 with 34 doubles, four home runs and 52 RBI. His average led the Pac-10 and his 34 doubles broke the conference single-season record.

Pedroia came from Woodland, Calif., to play two summer seasons with the Capitols,

"What a dynamic young man," McNutt said of Pedroia. "We were fortunate to have him up here for two summers. You could tell he was going to go on and do something.

"It was a thrill to get that kind of talent to come up to Carson City to spend time in the summer with Terri and I," said McNutt, who coordinated the Capitols summer program for more than 20 years with his wife.

Scobee, a graduate of Rio Linda High in the Sacramento area, has seen limited time as a freshman outfielder for Cal State Fullerton. He is hitting .235 in 14 games.

Howell and the Texas Longhorns visit Florida for a series that opens on Saturday.

Howell, a graduate of Jesuit High in Sacramento who spent one summer season with the Capitols, has emerged as one of the leaders of the Texas pitching staff this season. The sophomore left-hander is 8-2, tied for the team lead in wins, with a 2.39 ERA, 86 strikeouts and 34 walks allowed in 98 innings.

Eight survivors from the weekend will move on to play in the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., on June 13-23.

In addition, six Carson players are scheduled to travel to Omaha for a tournament during the College World Series: Jon Teeter, Jake and Jesse Rasner, Scott DeFriez, Eric Melendez and Neil Holmes. They will also have a chance to watch some of the College World Series action.

"They're going to get to watch some games," McNutt said. "That should be a thrill for those kids."

(Best-of-3), *if necessary

At Alex Box Stadium, Baton Rouge, La.

Friday: Baylor (44-21) at LSU (43-19-1), 4:05 p.m.

Saturday: Baylor at LSU, 9:35 a.m.

Sunday, June 8: Baylor at LSU, 11:35 a.m.*

------

At Goodwin Field, Fullerton, Calif.

Friday: Arizona St. (53-12) at CS-Fullerton (46-13), 4:05 p.m.

Saturday: Arizona St. at CS-Fullerton, 12:05 p.m.

Sunday, June 8: Arizona St. at CS-Fullerton, 12:05 p.m.*

------

At Sunken Diamond, Stanford, Calif.

Friday: Long Beach St. (41-18) at Stanford (44-15), 7:05 p.m.

Saturday: Long Beach St. at Stanford, 5:05 p.m.

Sunday, June 8: Long Beach St. at Stanford, 3:05 p.m.*

------

At Sarge Frye Field, Columbia, S.C.

Friday: North Carolina (42-21) at South Carolina (42-20), 12:05 p.m.

Saturday: North Carolina at South Carolina, 9:35 a.m.

Sunday, June 8: North Carolina at South Carolina, 12:05 or 3:05 p.m.*

------

At Dick Howser Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla.

Saturday: Texas (46-18) at No. 1 Florida St. (54-11-1), 5:05 p.m.

Sunday, June 8: Texas at Florida St., 3:05 p.m.

Monday, June 9: Texas at Florida St., 10:05 a.m.*

------

At Mark Light Field, Coral Gables, Fla.

Saturday: N.C. St. (45-16) at Miami (42-15-1), 9:05 a.m.

Sunday, June 8: N.C. St. at Miami, 11:35 a.m.

Monday, June 9: N.C. St. at Miami, 10:05 a.m.*

------

At Reckling Park, Houston

Saturday: Houston (36-28) at Rice (51-10), 3:05 p.m.

Sunday, June 8: Houston at Rice, 11:05 a.m.

Monday, June 9: Houston at Rice, 9:05 a.m.*

------

At Bill Davis Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Saturday: SW Missouri St. (38-24) at Ohio St. (44-19), 5:05 p.m.

Sunday, June 8: SW Missouri St. at Ohio St., 3:05 p.m.

Monday, June 9: SW Missouri St. at Ohio St., 10:05 a.m.*

RecordPtsPvs

1.Rice51-104951

2.FloridaSt.54-11-14932

3.Stanford44-154923

4.ArizonaSt.53-124914

5.Cal.St.Fullerton46-134895

6.LongBeachSt.41-184876

7.LouisianaSt.43-19-14867

8.Texas46-184848

9.NorthCarolinaSt.45-1647912

10. Miami,Fla.42-15-147613

11. SouthCarolina42-2047115

12. Baylor44-2146721

13. GeorgiaTech44-1846510

14. SWMissouriSt.38-24460--

15. Nebraska47-184579

16. OhioSt.44-19450--

17. Houston36-28447--

18. TexasA&M45-1944411

19. NorthCarolina42-21440--

20. Auburn42-2143816

21. Richmond48-1543617

22. Lamar40-1843522

23. FloridaAtlantic47-1643214

24. MississippiSt.42-20-142918

25. SouthernMiss.47-1642719