Javier Morales took first place in the 2010 Arizona Press Club’s Metro Sports Reporting category. For a different look at University of Arizona sports, check out Javier’s unique Web site: WILDABOUTAZCATS.net Please view a poll related to this blog — James Farris or Kurt Heyer as the starter in Game 2? — at WILDABOUTAZCATS.net

Arizona coach Andy Lopez talks to the Wildcats after their 5-1 victory Sunday over South Carolina in Game 1 of the College World Series championship series (US Presswire photo/Bruce Thorson)

The last time Arizona sophomore right-hander James Farris pitched was 22 days ago against Louisville.

That’s all the more reason why Farris should start in Game 2 of the College World Series championship round Monday against South Carolina in Omaha, Neb.

Think of it this way: Would you rather have Farris shake off the rust in a game in which Arizona must win — in the deciding Game 3 in the best-of-three series for the NCAA title — or one like Game 2 in which the Wildcats can play another day in case they lose?

Arizona coach Andy Lopez told reporters Sunday night, after the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series with a 5-1 win, that he would sleep on the decision whether to start Farris or ace right-hander Kurt Heyer against the Gamecocks in Game 2.

Lopez has pushed all the right buttons in the Wildcats’ 17-2 record over the last six weeks, so it is difficult to argue if he decides to go with Heyer on Monday despite the junior having only four days of rest since last Thursday’s victory over Florida State. The general idea about pitching Heyer in Game 2 is that Arizona should go after South Carolina’s jugular and try to close the series in two games.

Preventing South Carolina from gaining hope and momentum is a sound argument — especially because of the two-time defending champion Gamecocks’ resilience — but the counter-argument to that is Arizona holds the momentum after Game 1 and is in the best position to explore all options.

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Javier Morales took first place in the 2010 Arizona Press Club’s Metro Sports Reporting category. For a different look at University of Arizona sports, check out Javier’s unique Web site: WILDABOUTAZCATS.net

Andy Lopez once stopped an impressive streak by South Carolina while coaching Florida (US Presswire photo/Bruce Thorson)

Some things to think about while watching Arizona play South Carolina in the College World Series championship round starting Sunday night in Omaha, Neb.:

>> This whole SEC vs. Pac-12 and East vs. West thing is overblown, but something to fill blogs and articles nonetheless. How regional are these teams? Very much so. The westernmost player on South Carolina’s roster is freshman pitcher Joel Seddon from St. Claire, Mich. The easternmost player on Arizona’s roster is junior pitcher Nick Cunningham from Indianapolis. …

>> If Arizona manages to beat South Carolina in the first two games of the best-of-three series, the Wildcats would finish the season with an 11-game winning streak, the longest to end a year in the program’s history. The previous best is five games that concluded the 1976 and 1980 championship seasons. …

>> Can this be right? Arizona once won 14 of its last 16 games — including the final game of the season — yet it did not win a national title? Hard to believe but yes, in 1973. Jerry Kindall’s first Wildcat team finished strong and beat arch-rival ASU 5-4 in Tempe in the last game of the regular season. But the Wildcats finished second in the WAC South standings and did not qualify for the postseason. …

>> You think that is amazing? Nothing can top this — South Carolina’s program boasts former players Mookie Wilson and Bill Buckner. It was Wilson, of the New York Mets, who hit a slow ground ball that went through the legs of Buckner, the Red Sox first baseman, allowing the winning run to score for New York in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. But wait … the former South Carolina player named Bill Buckner goes by Billy Buckner, and he is a pitcher. He was only 6-years-old when the 1986 World Series was played. Billy Buckner broke into the big leagues in 2007 with the Kansas City Royals and is now in the — get this — Red Sox organization with Class AAA Pawtucket. …

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