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Published Saturday June 25, 2005 Alaniz's health is key for UT BY ROB WHITE
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

According to Texas coach Augie Garrido, just who takes the hill for the Longhorns tonight in Game 1 of the College World Series championship series is all up to Adrian Alaniz.

Adrian Alaniz developed a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand in the team's CWS opener against Baylor. "That's not going to be a factor," he said. "It's healed over."

Or, more specifically, it's up to a finger on the right hand of Alaniz.

"If his finger is OK, he'll start," Garrido said. "If it isn't, then he won't. If he doesn't, McCulloch will."

Alaniz, a redshirt freshman from Sinton, Texas, won Texas' CWS opener with seven strong innings in a 5-1 win over Baylor on June 18, but in doing so developed a blister on his middle finger. He said he'll be fine for the 6 p.m. game with Florida.

"That's not going to be a factor," Alaniz said. "It's healed over."

If Alaniz (7-3, 2.67 ERA) can't go, the Longhorns have a more than viable second option in Kyle McCulloch (11-4, 2.93), an All-Big 12 right-hander. McCulloch, a sophomore from Houston, pitched seven shutout innings in Texas' 5-0 victory Monday over Tulane.

"It'll give me four day's rest, pitching on the fifth day," McCulloch said. "It's not ideal, but it's what the pros do. It's possible. I can do it. I'll be ready if they call on me."

Texas officials said a final decision wouldn't be announced until today. Both candidates to get the ball tonight would like to know as soon as possible, but they've gotten used to waiting.

"Especially as you're in the postseason it's more week to week and you have a little less notice," McCulloch said.

"You just try to stay on your routine. Things happen, you just go with it and whenever Coach and the team call on you, you've got to be ready."

Both Alaniz and McCulloch joined the Texas program last season, but while McCulloch went 7-0 with a 3.25 ERA to earn freshman All-America honors, Alaniz sat out to rest an overworked pitching arm.

He watched as Huston Street and J.P. Howell led the Longhorns into the championship series. Both of those pitchers are now in the major leagues.

"I learned the game a lot more, watching the veterans on the mound," Alaniz said. "I took bits and pieces from each guy - the aggressiveness of Street, the different pitching styles of J.P."

Another veteran from last year's staff is J. Brent Cox. The workhorse reliever has appeared in all three of Texas' CWS games, allowing just two hits in 6²/₃ scoreless innings.

"I'm not as strong, but still good enough to get the job done," Cox said. "Everybody is tired. You've just got to step it up."

Texas boasts a 2.82 team ERA and plenty of depth. Kenn Kasparek (8-0, 2.10) worked 6¹/₃ innings in a Wednesday win over Baylor.

"They look like the best staff we've seen this year," Florida center fielder Jeff Corsaletti said. "Nothing comes easy. You wouldn't expect it to come easy."

A rested starting staff, combined with a deep bullpen, gives Texas an apparent advantage heading into the series. Florida could likely have to go without its top two starters and may not be able to use its No. 3 unless the series goes to a third game.

But that doesn't make Texas feel any more comfortable.

"We all want to be soothsayers and project into the future, but because of experience we're not to do that," Garrido said. "The one thing that is an ongoing reality is that these championships are decided by the unexpected. That's what makes it fun."

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