Underdog ’Canes Surprise the College Baseball World

With 15 newcomers gracing its roster, the loss of several starting players from last year’s team, and a demanding conference schedule, not many college baseball analysts gave the Hurricanes much of a chance of making it to Omaha, Nebraska, for the 2006 College World Series. Indeed, the Hurricanes were considered underdogs since opening the season unranked.

But despite their youth and inexperience, Miami made it to its 22nd College World Series berth, beating Ole Miss 14-9 in the Oxford Super Regional on June 12. Though Miami saw its season end with an 8-1 loss to Oregon State in the College World Series, the squad’s gutsy play throughout a difficult season—a schedule that included eight 2006 NCAA Division I Tournament teams and a starting lineup featuring four freshman starters—proved that it belonged among the nation’s elite. During its road to Omaha, the Hurricanes (42-24) accomplished something no other Miami squad has ever done—winning its regional and super regional series on the road.

“I’m very proud of our team. We fought all year,” says head coach Jim Morris, who has won two of UM’s four national titles. “We have an outstanding recruiting class ... and a very good nucleus that I think we’ll have a very good club next year.”

Also in ’Canes baseball, freshman second baseman Jemile Weeks recently became the 22nd Hurricane named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball Magazine.

James Is a First-Round Mystic Pick

Fresh out of college, Tamara James, B.L.A. ’06, was snagged by the Washington Mystics, the only University of Miami player drafted in the first round of the Women’s National Basketball Association. A native of Dania, Florida, James is the all-time leading scorer in UM history—2,406 points, with 520 free throws made. She finished her senior year as the lead scorer in the ACC and was the only player in the conference to score double figures in every game.

Fraser, Bertman Bat 1000

To preserve the history and hallmarks of the game, The College Baseball Foundation has created the College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock, Texas. Its inaugural inductees are ten of the game’s most influential coaches and athletes of all time, and two of them are products of the University of Miami—Ron Fraser and Skip Bertman.

Fraser, UM head coach from 1962 to 1992, was a 26-time coach of the year who led the University to NCAA national titles in 1982 and 1985. He also helped the Hurricanes to an NCAA record 20 consecutive playoff appearances, a streak that is still going at 33. The University retired Fraser’s No. 1 uniform in 1993.

Bertman, whose No. 15 Hurricanes uniform is retired, was a catcher from 1958 to 1960 and an assistant coach under Fraser from 1975 to 1983. He went on to become head coach at Louisiana State University, where he is now the athletics director.