Thursday, June 06, 2002
Sollmann sets NCAA baseball records
Notre Dame star goes 13-of-16 in tournament
By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The “career page” on Steve Sollmann's Web site says he wants to go into marketing after he graduates from the University of Notre Dame. That is, of course, if his dream of making it to the big leagues doesn't come true. After last weekend, that dream might not seem so far-fetched.
The Notre Dame sophomore and former St.Xavier star was named Collegiate Baseball Magazine's national player of the week after a record-breaking three-game performance in the NCAA regionals.
In two games against Ohio State and one against South Alabama, Sollmann went 13-for-16 from the plate and totaled eight RBI. His 6-for-7 output against South Alabama last Saturday tied an NCAA Tournament record for hits in a game, and his six runs scored set a new tournament mark.
On Friday, Sollmann and the Fighting Irish will be in Tallahassee, Fla., for a three-game series against No.1-ranked Florida State, with a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., on the line. It is No.11 Notre Dame's first appearance in the Super Regionals since 1956. It also comes as Sollmann is getting back to normal playing shape since pulling his left quad in the first game of the season.
“The season had been kind of disappointing and frustrating until now,” Sollmann said. “I just wasn't getting any breaks. Then this past weekend, I was just seeing the ball really well, and every time I put the bat on the ball, it was finding a hole. It was pretty outrageous.”
Even more outrageous was the number of runs Notre Dame put up against South Alabama in a 25-1 win. Irish pitcher Grant Johnson gave up just one hit and was named co-player of the week with Sollmann.
After the three-game onslaught, Sollmann's hitting percentage jumped 42 points to .356. With only seven errors at second base, he has kept a steady .970 fielding percentage as a converted second baseman. He played center field in high school.
“They had an open spot at second when I came in as a freshman, and there were a lot of preseason All-Americans already in the outfield,” Sollmann said.
It didn't take much thinking for him to realize if he wanted to play, it would have to be at second.
“It's been an interesting transition at times,” Sollmann said. “You have to stay a lot more alert in the infield than the outfield, and I struggled with that to start. You have to stay focused all nine innings, or you're going to make an error.”
Defensive focus aside, it is Sollmann's offense that is making the biggest impact for the Irish.
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Sollmann sets NCAA baseball records
