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The Arizona State University baseball
team displayed its sense of humor when it practiced in
shirts and ties before last weekend’s Fullerton super
regional, but the NCAA evidently was not laughing.
Sun Devils coach Pat Murphy on Tuesday said the team was
reprimanded by the NCAA for wearing inappropriate workout
attire.
“We were having too much fun,” said Murphy,
whose team departs for the College World Series in Omaha,
Neb., today. “I mean, it’s supposed to be about the student-athletes,
right? And we get reprimanded for practicing in shirts
and ties. I think the NCAA has a little bigger fish to
fry.”
The NCAA was not done with ASU after
the shirts-and-tie reprimand.
Curt Schilling attended Tuesday’s workout
at Packard Stadium and was expecting to throw batting
practice. But the NCAA deemed that the Boston Red Sox
star — who is in the Valley rehabilitating his ankle —
cannot take part in team drills.
Murphy’s suggestion for the NCAA: Lighten
up.
“Someone thought it wasn’t kosher,” Murphy
said. “Come on. That someone needs to think about the
bigger picture.”
ARMS REST
ASU used whatever pitchers were available to get through
the three-game Fullerton super regional, and the last
couple of days have been about doing. . . well, not much
of anything.
“We had a meeting with the pitchers on
Monday,” Murphy said. “They were enjoying things, but
I could tell that (fatigue) was not out of their systems
just yet. I told them I’d stay away from them for a couple
days, and they can tell me when they are ready to get
back into it.”
Right-hander Jason Urquidez — who, with
lefty Erik Averill, is a candidate to start Friday’s opener
against Nebraska — said he is eager to return to the mound.
“I thought I might be a little sore,
but I feel good,” said Urquidez, who won Sunday’s game
with 3 innings of effective relief. “I’m ready to throw
on the side and flush my arm out a little bit, and I’ll
be ready for whenever.”
WELL-WISHERS
Murphy’s answering machine and e-mail inbox were chock
full after the Sun Devils clinched a spot in the College
World Series.
Among those who sent their congratulations
were former ASU pitching coach Bob Welch, Diamondbacks
general partner Jeff Moorad and infielder Craig Counsell
— who played for Murphy at Notre Dame — and several of
Murphy’s former Sun Devil players.
One of those was Dustin Pedroia, an All-America
shortstop from 2002-04 and one of Murphy’s all-time favorites.
The coach on Tuesday repeatedly expressed regret that
Pedroia, who is now in the Red Sox’s system, never played
in a College World Series.
“My heart goes out to Pedro,” Murphy
said. “He should be here with us. He would be a great
story in Omaha.”
THROWBACKS
Many Sun Devil players showed up to speak to the media
on Tuesday wearing vintage ASU jerseys. First baseman/outfielder
Jeff Larish sported a 1980s maroon Barry Bonds uniform
that fit him very snugly.
“I don’t know how Bonds fit into this,”
said Larish, who is a lean 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds.
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