For every Brian Barre and Alberto Concepcion, fixtures in USC's 2001 baseball success, consider Abel Montanez and Anthony Reyes. Montanez, who began the year as the Trojans' starting left fielder, hit .196. But Montanez and Reyes raised their level of play when it counted and were at the center of USC's NCAA Regional championship drive.
Sites are to be announced today.
The Trojans, the national No. 3 seed, are expected to host the winner of the rain-delayed South Bend, Ind., regional. Notre Dame plays Florida International today. So did Montanez. His two sparkling defensive plays from right field were overshadowed Saturday because of Moon's dramatic two-run homer in the ninth to beat Pepperdine. When asked about Montanez's regional accomplishments given his struggles throughout the season, some USC players beside him at Sunday's postgame press conference angrily shook their heads.