The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida • 436

80 THE MIAMI HERALD THURSDAY JUNE 8 1989 LiVi i UJM ifilH 1 1 coming and going for the University of Miami baseball team that finished this season 49-1 8 Fraser to return with 3-year pact WILL fl Coach Ron Fraser who has the most victories among active college coaches (a 11 18-398 career record) says he plans to sign a new three-year contract and return for his 27th season Freshman pitcher Alex Fernandez (loser in a Series game vs exas but 1 5-2 with a 20 1 earned-run average and 177 strikeouts in 147 innings) said he will play for UM through his junior season when he will be eligible to be drafted WONT Six seniors Joe Grahe (15-4 265 ERA 194 K)OFP Will Vespe (323 7 HR 52 RBI 4-3) 2B Jose Trujillo (297 64 26 2B)3B Kirk Dulom (2908 HR) IB Henry Hernandez (270) OF John Viera (264) MAYBE Jr SS FPSantangelo (341 32 SB) drafted in 20th round recruit Jeff Juden drafted on first round recruit David Evans drafted in fourth round Alex Shaky pitching beyond his two exceptional exceptions was why Fraser said he never expected even to reach the Series this time But his Road Warriors got past the East Regional in Gainesville and arrived at the Series as the No 1 team in the national polls (although only the third-seeded team in Omaha which meant a tough draw) Dreams of a third championship blossomed when Grahe out-dueled LSU All-American Ben McDonald in a 4-2 triumph that began the Series But a 12-2 blitz of Fernandez by Texas sank hopes McDonald it was a gang Fraser said we played like we thought Alex would do it again We went through the motions and hoped somebody would get us a Against Texas and in elimination another problem had no pen at all Once we fell into the bracket I knew we were in deep trouble" Fraser said got by all season on two pitchers and great defense Our hitting was sporadic good enough until it went flat in Lack of baserunners (UM hit 222 for the Series) crippled the style that is trademark Season staples the hit-and-run play steals were rare in Omaha been hot and then the last two games it just stopped" Fraser said slapping his palm on a motel-room chair for emphasis "It went flat Hot bats just went dead" Still Fraser said his memory of his club will be positive anybody told me in March during a slump that make it to Omaha have thought they watching the same team I he said very proud Overall I felt we got the utmost out of Call Vflih Dade 350-2000 Broward 462-3000 NCentral Palm Beach 686-2883 aae UW-zuuu St Lucie 879-650S ly starters to leave: Junior shortstop FP Santange-lo who led the team with a 341 average and 32 steals was drafted in the 20th round by Montreal and might turn pro He was the only Cane besides Grahe who by Wednesday had heard he had been drafted always said I wanted to play pro ball and this is the first time been drafted so San-tangelo said up in the air Money and where the Expos would put me (at what level) will be a big factor in my Miami almost definitely will lose recently recruited prep pitcher Jeff Juden from Salem Mass a first-round draft choice Another signee pitcher David Evans from Houston also was drafted in the fourth round Fraser does not expect to lose a certain ace freshman pitcher rumors notwithstanding: Alex Fernandez who lost in the Series but finished 15-2 with a 201 ERA and 177 strikeouts in 14734 innings said he will play for UM through his junior season when he will next be eligible to be drafted (Also Fernandez has decided to rest his arm this summer and not accept an invitation to tour with the US national team) Fraser acknowledged he too hears the rumors that would have Fernandez quit school or transfer to a junior college to become draft-eligible sooner but the coach said the player has told him that happen Losing Fernandez atop Grahe would be nightmarish Only the 1980 tandem of Neal Heaton (18) and Bob Bastian (15) gave UM more victories in one season problem all the way to Omaha was the absence of a reliable third starter and especially the absence of a dependable reliever UM won the championship on the strength of relief ace Danny Smith The title came largely from relief ace Rick Raether This year this week UM could find little relief For starters third-man Vespe was the loser in elimination but Fraser was not second-guessing his decision not to come back with Grahe on two rest Grahe had won a regional game on two rest "Starting Joe ran across my mind but I really considering it You want to do that all the time the got a career ahead of Fraser said were hoping Vespe could pull off nine innings as he had in the regional so we have to use the pen Then be looking good with Joe and By GREG COTE Herald Sports Writer OMAHA Neb Coach Ron Fraser will be back for a 27th season with the University of Miami next year he said Wednesday stamping out retirement speculation as abruptly as his College World Series hopes had been snuffed the night before Coming back is what his baseball Hurricanes were doing Wednesday after a disappointing 1-2 record and fifth-place tie in the eight-team Series that will end here Saturday Coming back is what many of the most prominent Canes be doing next season as Fraser confronts serious attrition while he mulls reasons for Omaha turning sizzle-to-fizzle so fast Fraser 53 next month revealed he and UM have agreed to replace his current contract (running two more seasons) with a new three-year pact The record of the college winningest active coach end at 11 18-398 be here next he said on the heel of a 49-18 season This team was 1 1th Series qualifier and eighth this decade championships came in 1982 and '85 Former assistant Skip Bert-man whose Louisiana State Tigers eliminated UM Tuesday 6-3 said afterward his mentor done for college baseball what Arnold Palmer did for Next season have to do it minus a strong departing nucleus: Six seniors ended their careers here Fraser will lose three-fourths of his starting infield two-thirds of his outfield and half of his ace pitching tandem The six are: Workhorse pitcher Joe Grahe who was 15-4 with a 265 ERA and school-record 194 strikeouts Drafted in the second round by California Monday Grahe has pitched 173 in-' nings the fourth-highest season total in major-college history Outfielderpitcher Will Vespe who was second on the team with a 323 average and seven homers led with 52 runs batted in and was 4-3 pitching Second baseman Jose Trujillo who hit 297 and led UM with 64 runs 26 doubles 55 walks and his glove Third baseman Kirk Dulom Mr Road Warrior Haircut who batted 290 and led with eight homers First baseman Henry Hernandez who hit 270 and was "the best defensive player I ever said Fraser And outfielder John Viera a 264 hitter who also excelled on defense For each of them was a bad way to go Vespe said But these six might not be the on lUlE'UE C0TUIHDT V0UR (HR REEDS RnD R10RE MOST CARS ETgON mam ac 234 FILTERS 0024 most -0051 uS-CARS StiPERFLO fv 30 OR 40 WT MOTOR OIL Motorcraft QUALITY PARTS 40 MONTH BATTERY no mo OfiQO CMHKAMPt fw ficH 61 JO 67 MIN LESS $2 OO EXCH kFSERVF W99 CAPACITY wfxcti BATTERY tow 4799 iT 9 WitCH LESSSZOOEXCH Siant LOW NO 6AS CAP metQ most yEACH CARS Lockup your gas with a Stant 677-2083 -2793 J0 CHAMPION 285-0030-0040 10W 40 MOTOR OIL 1760-0648-I 9373 RESISTOR PAIR WIPER REFILLS OR BLADE ri Allsafe POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE $8299- LSU allows 6 UM hits sends Hurricanes home QT 285-1040 EACH APOWERFUL The Wiper Blade for Today for the future 320-3586-1 664-3759 'iii we just UM was the first higher-seeded team to lose in 10 Series games final record is 49-18 The uheel MODULITE CAR COVE MAGS I- CHROME WHEEL LOCKS MEDALLION SEAT COVERS 'pair 123-0461-0463 1 WNIIl 1 i cur AU10 'SlfhhyS'SissS Water Repellent 1 Digital Effects 5 Way Speaker System Fop Trucks Vans and RVa UHIVERSAL IGNITIOH STARTER SWITCH RECHARGEABLE FLASHLIGHT 990-70117017015 667-0095 358- 1214 NORTHWEST AIRLINES REMANUFACTURED FUEL PUMPS REMANUFACTURED WATER PUMP 20Zhm REMANUFACTURED MASTER CYLINDER 23 79 1999 EXCH BRAK CALIPER S4 OFF OUR REGULAR LOW PRICES MOST US CARS LESS EXCH 125 VACATION GIVEAWAY Register Now! See Store For Details LESS EXCH 380 MOST CARS Four teams remain How the Series will wind down to championship game locked into focus with elimination of Miami and Arkansas (an earlier 8-4 loser to Wichita State) Four teams remain The survivors of the two brackets will meet for the championship: In bracket unbeaten and second-seeded Texas (53-17) will play once-beaten and sixth-seeded LSU (55-16) at 8:10 tonight Texas would advance to the title game with a victory If Texas lost the Longhorns and Tigers would play again at 8:10 Friday for the berth in the final In Florida bracket unbeaten and top-seeded FSU (54-16) was scheduled to play once-beaten and fourth-seeded Wichita State (65-16) at 8:10 Wednesday night A victory would catapult them into the championship game If FSU loses tonight the Seminoles and Wichita State would play again Friday at 5:10 for the title-game spot That UM would lose Tuesday was not clear early as leads were swapped between Canes and the Tigers of Coach Skip Bert-man the ex-Hurricane and longtime Fraser aide Fraser had been 5-1 against his former pupil and had eliminated LSU from the 1986 Series MOST CARS mmiL MOTOR FLUSH BRAKE FLUID VA-2000 STARTER OR ALTERNATOR $4 OFF-OUR REGULAR LOW PRICES MOST US CARS Joi S99 REMANUFACTURED BRAKE SHOES If 79 LESS $480 EXCH 499 fcXCH CAM GROUND BRAKE PADS By GREG COTE Herald Sports Writer Reprinted from late Wednesday editions OMAHA Neb baseball Hurricanes were looking for the long road back into College World Series contention Tuesday night but found the long road home instead The End of the Road Warriors happened in a 6-3 loss to Louisiana State that eliminated Miami from the double-elimination tournament after three games had a great season but the last thing you do is what they UM senior first baseman Henry Hernandez said last thing we did is LSU pitcher Russell Springer checked Miami on six hits with late relief help from All-American Ben McDonald and Mike two-run sixth-inning home run proved the difference as bid for a third national championship wilted with a second consecutive Series loss before 14000 at Rosenblatt Stadium A seasonlong malady the absence of a reliable third pitcher fittingly ousted the Hurricanes as LSU beat starter Will Vespe and then rocked reliever Greg Knowles whom Vespe had supplanted in the rotation The Hurricanes ranked No 1 in national polls but seeded third in the eight-team Series had opened the tournament Saturday with a 5-2 victory over LSU and McDonald behind Joe Grahe but UM prospects turned dramatically Monday as co-ace Alex Fernandez was battered in a 12-2 loss to Texas McDonald No 1 selection in this baseball draft came on in the ninth Tuesday to fan John Viera and Jose Trujillo on called strikes to avenge his earlier Series loss and preserve the victory for Springer (9-3) who was a second-round draft choice of the Yankees UM needed to win four consecutive games to reprise its Series championships of 1982 and 1985 Instead the Canes who batted 222 in Omaha 60 points below their regular-season average return from Omaha after three games for the second straight June to end 11th Series appearance Vespe also was the losing pitcher in last Omaha elimination flat out hit the ball as we against Coach Ron Fraser said did a good enough job but we get the job done out of our bullpen Again And EACH CHOICE 608-0530091 2 -7552575 1 jts strife M572-j ENGINE 'degreaser STEAM ENGINE CLEANER 726-0777 'EACH 24 01 green I ttn ata sinilu RtB0CWN M(Ct uli tricis TLIM TO ITOCKMQ MRCHANMM ONLT W1 RIM VI TNI RICHT TO UNIT QOANTtTICL UMITtO 34 QUARTS 01 Oil A NO 6 Oil Of ANTIIRZUK UNUSS OTNIRWIM 3TATID UNI ART IMOWN SAT DOTH FNOH ACTUAL M00UCT NOT Rt WONMU mWHRAi 3051 7th St Miami 649-7828 10130 Wt Flagler St Miami 227-4105 ARMORALL YOUR CHOICE LIQUIDPASTfc 747-20140161: DADE 4690 NW 183rd St 19800 Dixie Hwy 1532 49th St 4251 Palm Ave 1782 68th Stg 134 NE 8th St 20340 Old Cutler Rd 13621 NW 7th Ave 9209 Bird Rd 7371 Coral Way 11219 Dixie Hwy 3600 NW 2VhAve 5601 107th Ave Hwy FI Lauderdale 524-0033 Hd 7 Lauderdale lake 739-8831 957 Normandy Dr Miami Beach 885-7647 1 200 1 25th St Miami 893-7529 19837 2nd Ave Miami 652-2020 2201 163rd St Miami Beach 949-9190 Pernne Shopping Center Perrins 233-1110 BROWARD 7522 SGate Blvd 4654 Davie Rd 1602 Cypress Rd 2607 Atlantic Blvd 5847 Sunaat Strip 5371 St Rd 7 Laudardale 726-5819 Davie 587-2509 Pompano 946-2987 Pompano 977-7322 Sunriea 749-0072 Tamarac 484-9370 Carol 625-7422 Cutler Ridge 235-3334 Hialeah 823-2707 Hialeah 823-1778 Hialeah 821-6348 Homestead 245-2341 Miami 235-9460 Miami 685-1644 Miami 226-0477 Miami 264-4610 Miami 238-1231 Miami 634-7791 Miami 595-9895 Johnson Truiillo Miami 1 LSU I Miami 7 LSU 7 Santangleo Bush Cala Hernandez Noriega (S) Bianco (8) SB-Hmde (13) S-Vlera Llm SF-Esplnosa Garcia IP ER BB SO MIAMI Vespe 4-3 5M 7 5 4 3 5 Knowles Vi 2 1 I 1 0 West 2 0 0 0 1 1 Cooper city 434-5434 Dama 923-8867 Deerfield Beach 428-8774 Hollywood 962-7141 Hollywood 961-2440 Ft laudardale 564-2802 Ft Lauderdala 764-4942 9964 Griffin Rd 1437 Federal Hwy 959 Federal Hwy 2615 State Rd 7 6631 Tati St 2791 Davie Blvd 928 Sunrise Blvd wXv LSU Springer W9-3 0M 6 3 3 4 9 McDonalds 4 0 0 0 0 2 PB-Bianco HBP-Santangelo by Springer Hlnde bSpringer Grisham by Knowles T-302 lLcLuA i dL ft Eii ihi i ifcn Wi.