Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Lavigne might be a changeup for SDSU in NCAA tourney

Tony Gwynn has a dilemma, and the San Diego State manager might tap into the Las Vegas connections on his baseball team for an answer.

The Aztecs (40-21) open the NCAA tournament, their first since 1991, on Friday against Virginia (43-12-1) at Anteater Park in Irvine, Calif.

Gwynn also has the best pitcher in the nation, Stephen Strasburg (13-0, 1.24 ERA, triple-digit heat). So does Gwynn throw Strasburg on Friday, as the ace usually throws the first game in a series, or hold him for a titanic game Saturday?

That’s when SDSU will play either top-ranked UC-Irvine (43-13) or defending national champion Fresno State (32-28).

Gwynn has been coy this week, saying he might consider holding Strasburg for Saturday in the double-elimination tournament.

If that happens, look for Gwynn to tap Las Vegas product Tyler Lavigne in Friday’s opener.

Lavigne isn’t the Aztecs’ ace, but he has been very productive. The 6-foot righty from Sierra Vista High, who spent two seasons at the College of Southern Nevada, is 7-2 with a 3.32 ERA.

He has struck out 79 and walked 27. Strasburg has whiffed 180 and walked 19.

Lavigne has also shown Gwynn that he can pitch on little rest, so it would be an asset for him to throw Friday and then be available Sunday or Monday.

There are a few others with connections to Southern Nevada on Gwynn’s roster.

Andrew Leary (2-2, 4.73 ERA), a 6-4 junior from Sierra Vista, and Jon Berger (4-5, 5.38), a 6-2 senior from Bishop Gorman, also spent time at CSN under manager Tim Chambers. Junior shortstop Easton Gust, who hits .225 and has started 35 of 44 games, also went to SDSU out of CSN.

Junior outfielder Josh Chasse, who hits .197 and has started 19 of 26 games, went to the Aztecs after graduating from Las Vegas High.

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