The Florida State Seminoles enter the College World Series with a 47-18 overall record and went 18-12 in ACC play. They played outstanding in the ACC Tournament in Greensboro by taking home the conference title. The Seminoles swept through the Norwich (CT) Regional by defeating Central Connecticut State 11-3 before defeating Oregon twice by scores of 5-3 and 6-4. The Noles then hosted a Super Regional against Vanderbilt where they won game 1 on a Mike McGee walk-off homer by a score of 9-8. In Game 2, they dropped a 6-2 decision to Vanderbilt before bouncing back and holding off a late rally by Vanderbilt to win 7-6.
Florida State enters the CWS with a .301 batting average as they are led by Tyler Holt. He is hitting .352 with 12 homers and 46 RBI from the leadoff spot. He has also stolen 30 bases in 33 attempts. Holt tends to play with an edge that can sometimes irritates opponents but his game backs it up though. Sherman Johnson is second on the squad with a .332 average while hitting nine homers and driving in 57 runs. Mike McGee is the top power hitter on the team with a .328 average while leading the team with 15 homers and driving in 68 runs. Freshman Jayce Boyd is hitting .327 with eight homers and 36 RBI is will likely be a major talent once he puts on some more weight during the offseason.
The Florida State pitching staff enters the CWS with a 4.38 ERA. Sean Gilmartin has served this season as the number 1 starter but has been up and down this season as he is 9-7 with a 4.89 ERA. Brian Busch has become the number two starter as he is 5-2 with a 3.97 ERA in 20 appearances including nine starts. John Gast (7-3, 5.61 ERA) and Geoff Parker (4-1, 4.85 ERA) both have made over ten starts this season and could make a start if the Noles end up in the loser’s bracket. Mike McGee has served as the closer as he is 4-0 with 12 saves and a 1.37 ERA.
I have seen the Seminoles play six times this season and most recently saw them in the Norwich Regional. I couldn’t believe how different the Noles looked in Connecticut then they did when they visited Boston College during early May. If Sherman Johnson continues to pound the ball at the plate, and they can get some decent pitching, then they will be a very difficult out in Omaha.
