Anything But Ordinary - Stephen Cardullo, Florida State Baseball Team

Stephen Cardullo and the Seminoles won their regional championship game on Saturday by a score of 37-6 over the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Seminoles set a total of four school records and five NCAA tournament records.

The four categories for the school records included runs (37), hits (38), doubles (15), and total bases (66) on their way to advancing to the super regionals for the second straight. The Seminoles have a great opportunity to host the super regional with Oklahoma losing in their regional over the weekend.

If so Florida State is very difficult to beat at home hardly ever dropping a series in Dick Howser Stadium.

Stephen Cardullo who now is the starting shortstop for the Seminoles, took over after the departure of Tony Delmonico and after Jason Stidham was moved back to second base a few games into the season. Cardullo who was a preferred walk on has had a tough journey to get to where he is in his junior season at Florida State.

His Freshman year Cardullo had limited action hitting and in the field but recorded a home run as his first hit as a Seminole. In his sophomore season unfortunate circumstances halted progress but Cardullo still managed to post good numbers in limited action.

Serving as the right handed DH Cardullo had an average of .387 with 24 hits, 5 doubles and 3 home runs.

In his junior campaign Cardullo finally got the opportunity he had been waiting for. He has performed very well and is said to have been a big help in anchoring the defense as well as a big bat in the two hole.

Cardullo has an average of .383 (second on the team) with 87 hits, 20 doubles, 3 triples, 10 home runs, 75 runs, and 48 RBI. Cardullo leads the team in batting average in conference play with an average of .417 and had a big weekend during regionals.

Cardullo in the regional series had twelve hits in twenty at bats and led the team with seven hits in Saturdays championship game. He tied two school records in hits (7) and at bats (9) while setting an NCAA post season record with his seven hits.

Cardullo finished with three singles, three doubles, and a triple only a home run away from the cycle.

When I asked my old roomate/neighbor about his success after the game on Saturday he simply stated, "Come on Cason, just me doing me."

Cardullo does not seem to sweat the small stuff and just goes out and plays baseball everyday.

His "swag" as he calls it, allows him to continue to stay positive through some difficult slumps, which do not happen often, but happens in the game of baseball. Cardullo insists sometimes players do not get hits and its all part of what makes the game of baseball great.

If you were unsure who the Florida State Seminole Baseball team is, you should probably learn about them and pay attention. They are an outstanding story with players who may not be drafted high in the draft or be very high profile, but Head Coach Mike Martin has put his players in a great situation to go to Omaha.

Martin may have done his best Coaching job in awhile getting this team out of a rough start and headed to the super regional. The team is really in gear and ready to make a push towards a championship.

GO NOLES!