Asked about this anecdote, shortstop Errol Robinson — one of those freshmen who will be in the lineup when Ole Miss opens the College World Series against Virginia on Sunday (7 p.m., ESPN2) — smiles a kind of sheepish grin, like a kid who has been caught running by the pool.
The 2014 Ole Miss freshmen class did not care much for the natural order of things.
This, the upperclassmen discovered, meant that when even the guys who used to go “early” to the batting cages showed up, the freshmen were already hitting.
“Sometimes it gets annoying just because the older guys have been here so long, it’s ‘OK, wait your turn,’” senior co-captain Austin Anderson said.
It was coach Mike Bianco who relayed the story and used it as an example of not only the kind of impact the freshmen have made on this season but also the togetherness of this roster. Because while Anderson may find it occasionally bothersome that the cage is not ready for him when he is ready for it, he and the other upperclassmen have let it happen.
The foundation of Ole Miss (46-19) is undoubtedly its veteran pieces: the first five hitters in the order are all juniors and seniors, plus a senior hitting No. 8 and a junior that is part of the platoon at right field/No. 7 in the lineup.
But Robinson has played shortstop in 63 of 65 games so far this season, and is hitting .299 with a .379 on-base percentage. J.B. Woodman’s bat (.308 average, .442 slugging) got him into the lineup as a designated hitter and his defense has allowed him to play right field. And while Brantley Bell has slid out of the picture, Colby Bortles has come on really strong in the postseason — and dismissed entirely the notion that he is just the younger brother of Blake, NFL quarterback.
It’s entirely possible, maybe even probable, that when Bianco makes up his lineup card on Sunday freshmen will be hitting No. 6, 7 and 9. But it’s not scary at all to him, because those kids have earned the right to be a part of this run.
All this playing time will be helpful in 2015, when a changing of the guard is likely. Anderson, catcher Will Allen and second baseman Preston Overbey all graduate, and center fielder Auston Bousfield (fifth round) and left fielder Braxton Lee (12th) both could turn pro once the season is over.
Bortles and Bell are both likely to find everyday playing time, and Robinson and Woodman will move up to the top half of the order.
April 20, 2019, 6:50 p.m.