Roommates square off in regional

By Jay Jenkins

Published: May 28, 2008

The storyline seems too good to be true.

Imagine Virginia clinging to a one-run, ninth-inning lead in Friday’s regional-opening contest with UCLA. Go further, picturing the bases loaded.

That would almost certainly warrant leaving the ball in the right hand of Virginia closer Michael Schwimer.

Take the hypothetical situation another step by placing UCLA’s shortstop supreme Brandon Crawford at the plate with a 3-2 count.

Should the events unfold in such fashion, Schwimer has the perfect attack pitch in mind.

“I know exactly how to go after him,” the Cavalier senior said. “I have a complete plan.”

Schimwer’s confidence prior to the potential showdown does not place him in the over-the-top John Rocker mold. In fact, Schwimer and Crawford are close friends.

That process started last summer when the two players from opposite coasts and different worlds became roommates while playing for the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod League.

Crawford, without a car, forced something early upon UVa’s reliable reliever.

“He didn’t like my taste in music so much, so he burned me a CD that I had to play on the way to the stadium,” Schwimer chuckled. “He made me listen to his music in my car, but we hit it off really well.”

The friendship led to a series of text messages Monday after the Cavaliers landed in the Fullerton regional with host Cal State Fullerton, UCLA and Rider. Play begins Friday at 4 p.m. when the higher-seeded Bruins battle Virginia.

Another Cavalier, left-handed pitcher Pat McAnaney, also played in Orleans with his teammate and Crawford.

“Brandon had played for Team USA his first summer so we had heard a lot of great things about him before he came into Orleans,” McAnaney said. “I liked him a whole lot, and he was very reliable and he has a cannon for an arm. He is very quick and he covers a lot of ground. He gets to balls that a lot of shortstops can’t get to.

“I have been lucky as a pitcher. I had Brandon at shortstop during the summer and I had Greg Miclat this season here at UVa. With those two guys, I have had some pretty good shortstops behind me.”

McAnaney left the same impression on Crawford, who enters the regional hitting .298 with five homers and 45 RBI.

“P-Mac mixes speeds, throws pretty hard from the left side and hits his spots pretty well,” Crawford said. “I liked playing defense behind him. He kept a good tempo and it was always fun.”

The long-standing relationships will be placed on hold Friday — at least temporarily — as an expected date with Fullerton awaits Saturday in the pivotal winner’s bracket title game.

“I actually talked with [Schwimer] earlier this week on the phone and there wasn’t a lot of trash talking,” Crawford said, “but we may slip a few jabs in during the game.”

Schwimer added: “It will be clean — for the most part. But this regional really proves how small a world college baseball is. I lived with this guy for three months and now I am traveling across the country to face him in the most meaningful game of the year. It’s pretty funny and it should be an awesome game.”

Extra bases

Virginia landed safely in California Wednesday evening, but coach Brian O’Connor said he was still unsure about his opening-game starter. O’Connor has narrowed his choices and will decide between right-handers Andrew Carraway and Jacob Thompson.