2006 Tuscaloosa Super Regional

(special thanks to Steve Jones for his assistance in compiling information for these capsules)

4. Alabama Crimson Tide
Tuscaloosa, Ala.

At-large bid from the SEC

Won Tuscaloosa Regional (3-0)

2006 record: 20-10, 44-19 (first in SEC-West)

Coach: Jim Wells (Northwestern State, 1980)

Record at school: 525-241, 12 years

Overall record: 717-330, 17 years

Assistant coaches: Jim Gatewood, Joe Raccuia, B.J. Green

Team offense: .293 BA, 417 R, 48 HR, .426 SLG, .383 OBA, 66/91 SB

Team pitching: 3.35 ERA, 564 IP, 504 H, 211 BB, 481 K

Top hitters: Emeel Salem (.364/2/32/36 SB), Kody Valverde (.346/12/59), Spencer Pennington (.308/4/26), Matt Downs (.302/6/61), Greg Paiml (.288/3/33), Ryan Rhoden (.287/1/24), Evan Bush (.269/6/48), Alex Avila (.266/4/38), Brandon Belcher (.265/3/23)

Top pitchers: Jake McCarter (6-1, 2.32, 1 SV, 62 IP, 52 H, 21 BB, 53 K), David Robertson (4-3, 2.60, 10 SV, 52 IP, 29 H, 28 BB, 62 K), Wade LeBlanc (11-0, 2.62, 123.2 IP, 90 H, 42 BB, 124 K), Tommy Hunter (10-3, 3.10, 1 SV, 110.1 IP, 107 H, 21 BB, 77 K), Bernard Robert (8-6, 4.72, 101 IP, 115 H, 40 BB, 78 K)

Last time in tournament: 2005 (2-2 at New Orleans Regional)

Notes: The Crimson Tide hosted a regional for the fifth time in school history, all of which have come under the tenure of head coach Jim Wells. Alabama is led by junior Emeel Salem who is both an athlete and a scholar. Salem, a first-team All-SEC honoree, was the only player unanimously selected to this year’s squad. The center fielder was also named the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year. Salem holds a 3.9 GPA while double majoring in Marketing and Spanish. The junior led the SEC in hits (94) and stolen bases (33) during the regular season. Wade LeBlanc leads a Crimson Tide pitching staff that boasts two ten-game winners with a perfect 11-0 record in 17 starts. The first-team all-conference selection posted a 2.62 ERA and 124 strikeouts. Tommy Hunter holds a record of 10-3 with an ERA of 3.10 and 77 strikeouts. Alabama has won 11 its past 13 contests.

North Carolina Tar Heels

Chapel Hill, N.C.

At-large bid from the ACC

Won Chapel Hill Regional (3-0)

2006 record: 22-8, 48-13 (first in ACC-Coastal)

Coach: Mike Fox (North Carolina, 1978)

Record at school: 335-158-1, 8 years

Overall record: 875-299-5, 23 years

Assistant coaches: Chad Holbrook, Scott Forbes, Jason Howell

Team offense: .323 BA, 466 R, 73 HR, .493 SLG, .405 OBA, 87-120 SB

Team pitching: 3.27 ERA, 550 IP, 479 H, 200 BB, 485 K

Top hitters: Josh Horton (.409/6/52), Jay Cox (.386/13/55), Chad Flack (.377/11/60), Tim Federowicz (.323/9/52), Mike Cavasinni (.309/0/17), Benji Johnson (.292/13/41), Reid Fronk (.284/8/40).

Top pitchers: Jonathan Hovis (7-2, 1.32, 2 SV, 61.1 IP, 39 H, 18 BB, 55 K), Andrew Miller (12-2, 2.26, 103.2 IP, 82 H, 35 BB, 108 K), Andrew Carignan (1-3, 3.03, 13 SV, 29.2 IP, 15 H, 14 BB, 37 K), Daniel Bard (8-3, 3.47, 85.2 IP, 71 H, 33 BB, 90 K), Robert Woodard (6-1, 3.48, 95.2 IP, 98 H, 19 BB, 47 K).

Last time in tournament: 2005 (1-2 at Gainesville Regional)

Notes: The Tar Heels hosted their first Regional since 1983, and they are looking for their first trip to Omaha since 1989. It starts with pitching, but UNC has been far from one dimensional - it has sticks, too. Andrew Miller is the ace, and opponents hit only .217 off him. Daniel Bard can be very, very good at times, and a bit erratic at others, but he is nasty as well - he’s allowed seven earned runs in his past 40.1 innings. And Robert Woodard gives the Tar Heels as good of a starting trio (along with Rice) as any of the remaining squads. North Carolina also boasts one of the nation’s best relief pitchers in Jonathan Hovis. Hovis led the ACC in ERA at 1.37 and finished the regular season ranked fourth in the nation. Offensively, the Heels are led by shortstop Josh Horton who led the ACC in batting. Jay Cox and Chad Flack rank in the top five in the ACC in batting. The Heels hit .440 in winning the Chapel Hill Regional. UNC leads the all-time series with Alabama 5-4, but the teams haven’t played since 1996. That marked the only other game in the series since 1952.