Joe Persichina is a junior middle infielder for Arizona State who will contribute a weekly journal to CollegeBaseballInsider.com in 2006. Persichina, a native of Torrance, Calif., started 42 games as a freshman and was an honorable-mention all-Pac-10 selection after hitting .320 and fielding at a .985 clip. Last year, he started 28 games on the infield and hit the go-ahead homer - only the third of his career - that lifted ASU past Cal State Fullerton and into the College World Series.

 

 

June 2, 2006

Ready for Regionals

 

We rolled into Houston on Wednesday afternoon for the regional we are in.

 

In the playoffs, there are 64 teams and 16 host sites. The Rice Owls are hosting the regional as the No. 1 seed and No. 2 in the nation. We are the No. 2 seed for this regional. The Baylor Bears and Prairie View A&M Panthers are the 3- and 4-seeds in our regional.

 

We face Baylor tonight, which will be the fourth time we have met this season. We played a three-game series against Baylor in Waco earlier in the year, and won two of the three games.

 

I think we have a good shot of winning this regional, but by no means will it be easy. We have beaten Baylor and Rice already this year, and it does give us some confidence going into the weekend. All I know is it's going to be a lot of fun competing against some great teams.

 

When the playoffs start, our team likes to do something fun and together to create unity, like growing playoff beards. Last year, we grew playoff beards and did well, so this year, we decided to grow playoff beards and mustaches. The guys who can grow beards are growing them, and the freshmen who can't are growing out their peach fuzz. Personally, I'm growing a mustache right now, and it looks disgusting. It is three different colors, but I love it. If it can help us win a national championship, then it is worth it. I'm not growing this mustache as a fashion statement, but rather to bring some good luck to our team in the playoffs.

 

Once again, my pop’s high school team has won another game and is headed to the CIF Southern Section Finals. I can't wait for them to win it all. I wonder if any of those kids are growing beards or mustaches for the playoffs. Probably. The Sea Kings play El Segundo tomorrow.

 

I can't wait to get this tournament underway, and bring a victory back to Tempe. Go Devils!

 

Joe Pa

 

Previous Entries

Wake-up Call (5/27/06)

Finding Our Groove (5/20/06)

School's Out, Time for a Cut and Some Fishin' (5/13/06)

The Stretch Run - On the Field and in the Classroom (4/30/06)

Heading Home for the Weekend (4/22/06)

Facing an Ace, and ASU's Ironman (4/14/06)

Snow Day (4/4/06)

Hair-way Robbery (3/25/06)

A Business Trip over Spring Break (3/17/06)

Deep in the Heart of Texas (3/10/06)

Sinkholes and 'Fungoman' (3/4/06)

Road Trip (2/25/06)

Trying to Turn Things Around (2/18/06)

Preparing for a Surprise Weekend (2/11/06)

Getting Your Mind off the Game (2/3/06)

 

(photo courtesy of Arizona State Media Relations Office)