COLLEGE WORLD SERIES : Titan Pitcher Parisi Says He’s Up to Task

OMAHA — Cal State Fullerton freshman Mike Parisi survived, and thrived, pitching in the hostile environs of Louisiana State, so starting today’s College World Series game against Florida State shouldn’t pose much of a threat to his nervous system.

Titan associate head coach George Horton hadn’t set his decision in stone, but said Monday he was leaning toward starting Parisi, who threw five shutout innings in his last start, leading Fullerton to an 11-0 victory over Louisiana State in the South I Region playoffs.

And Parisi, a right-hander from Arcadia High School, believes he is up to the task.

“I want the ball,” he said. “Pitching at LSU was probably tougher than pitching here will be because the crowd in Baton Rouge was all for LSU,” Parisi said. “Here, the crowds are a little more neutral. There’ll be more people and there will be some nerves, but it’s exciting. This has always been my goal.”

Parisi has been suffering from strep throat since the Titans (43-16) arrived in Omaha, but he’s been on medication and said he’s feeling strong. If he can’t go, Fullerton will likely start senior Dan Naulty, winner in the Titans’ 7-2 victory over Florida State in Friday’s first-round game.

Fullerton is coming off Sunday’s 4-3 loss to Miami, while the Seminoles (49-20) are coming off Sunday’s 5-4 victory over California in the losers’ bracket. The loser of today’s 1 p.m. game is eliminated, and the winner advances to play Miami on Wednesday.

Seminole Coach Mike Martin said he will counter with junior left-hander Chris Roberts, whom the Mets selected with the 18th pick in Monday’s draft. Roberts, who has been invited to the U.S. Olympic team tryout, is 8-3 with a 2.20 earned-run average and is also one of the team’s top hitters.

But the first baseman/designated hitter/pitcher, who entered the College World Series with a .300 average, 12 homers and 59 runs batted in, hasn’t reached base in two tournament games.

“He’s definitely pressing, and that’s unusual for him because he’s been able to handle every situation,” Martin said.

Roberts’ teammate, designated hitter Kenny Felder, did homer against the Titans, hitting a two-run shot over the left-field bleachers that tied Friday’s score, 2-2, in the sixth inning. Felder was the 12th overall pick in Monday’s draft, going to the Milwaukee Brewers.

But he was upstaged Friday by Titan third baseman Phil Nevin, whose sixth-inning grand slam broke the tie. Nevin was the No. 1 pick in Monday’s draft, taken by the Houston Astros.

Fullerton had 15 hits against Florida State but chilled considerably Sunday, collecting only four singles and hitting only three balls out of the infield against Miami.

Chris Powell continues to get on base and score runs for the Titans, but leadoff batter Jeremy Carr and No. 9 hitter Dante Powell, have only one bunt single between them in two tournament games.

“We thrive on them getting on base, and Dante and Jeremy have cooled off a bit,” Horton said. “But knowing the types of players they are, I expect the law of averages to turn around.”