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Friday, June 16, 2000
Stanford’s final exam
By Kalani Simpson
tomorrow with Wayne
‘and’ Young on hill
Special to the Star-BulletinOMAHA, Neb. -- Justin Wayne and Jason Young, aces and All-Americans, relaxed alone in a Rosenblatt Stadium room together yesterday, satisfied and savoring the moment.
Minutes earlier, their Stanford Cardinal had dispatched scrappy Louisiana-Lafayette, 19-9, to advance to the College World Series championship game.
One of them would get the start tomorrow for the national title.
Neither one knew which.
Neither one cared.
"Now it's going to be left up to us," Wayne said, nodding at his comrade.
"This is what we've waited three years for."
Both are juniors. But earlier this month Wayne was Hawaii's highest pro pick ever, going to Montreal with the fifth selection overall. Young, touted as a potential first-round pick, went in the second round to the Colorado Rockies. Tomorrow, their college careers are over.
The two roommates consider themselves a pair, a tag team. And so does Stanford.
"I'll use them both," coach Mark Marquess said. "They'll both pitch."
Stanford will face LSU, which advanced yesterday with a 6-3 win over Florida State.
Marquess said he would pick his starter after today's workout.
The Associated Press, however, reported Young (9-1) will get the start.
Wayne, who pitched Stanford to a win over last Sunday over Clemson for his school record 15th victory of the season, has a day less rest than Young in the Cardinal CWS rotation.
But that doesn't bother him. He said he's ready for tomorrow.
"I was ready today, dude," Wayne said after yesterday's game.
Marquess said he just wants to see for himself before making a decision.
The two are used to acting as Stanford's 1-2 punch. Just not in the same day.
Had one ever relieved the other?
"No?" Wayne said, looking across the room for confirmation.
"Have we?" Young asked.
The duo only saw action as starters the past two seasons. With the national title on the line, that won't deter Marquess from unleashing both of his big guns tomorrow.
"It's not like they can't come out of the bullpen," the coach said.
"Wayne has done that, he had a lot of success as a reliever as a freshman."
Wayne was happy to point this out to Young.
"Twenty-five times my freshman year," he said.
That season Wayne went 6-0 with six saves and was honored as a freshman All-American.
Marquess saved both aces for the championship game, electing to go with third starter Brian Sager yesterday. It was a gamble, and it almost backfired.
Sager got rocked, giving up five runs in less than two innings.
"Our hitters just came through so big," Wayne said.
A writer entered to talk to Young. Sports Illustrated wanted to hear Wayne's life story. In the same room, they went their separate ways.
But tomorrow, for the national title, Wayne and Young are a package deal once again.
