Where does Florida Atlantic turn after last night's pitching debacle rendered today's contest against New Orleans a must win? To a freshman making only the second start of his career.

Ahmed Garcia (2-1, 4.68) certainly has the confidence to handle it. Earlier this week McCormack surprisly chose Garcia to deliver Saturday's 4 p.m. first pitch. Neither McCormack nor Garcia could have imagined the left hander would be taking the mound hours after a game in which the Owls jumped to a 7-0 lead only to lose by seven, 19-12.

After starting the season slowly, Garcia has become one of the Owls' most effective pitchers. He pitched into the seventh inning in his lone start, allowing four runs in a win over Bryant on April 18. Garcia held a potent Western Kentucky offense scoreless in four innings of relief on Sunday before allowing the winning run to score in the ninth.

Absorbing the loss didn't shake Garcia's confidence.

"I've always been a starter, since I was a kid," the newly-turned 19-year-old said on Wednesday. "All I wanted was for them to give me a chance to show what I can do as a starter. ... At the beginning it was difficult for me to buy into the reliever position. In my mind I was a starter. That's what I do."

FAU coach John McCormack won't have to worry about a lackadaisical performance from Garcia. He's all energy, always in motion. McCormack's biggest job today may be keeping Garcia from getting too amped. It better be caffeine-free Coke today.

Early in the year Garcia's energy drew comparisons to former Florida pitcher Dontrelle Willis' mound demeanor. Those comparisons don't fly with Garcia, who says he's never really watched Willis pitch.

"I don't follow baseball that much," Garcia said. "It's not that I don't like to watch baseball, it's that I don't like to be a spectator. I like people watching me play."

Garcia (left photo) does admit to patterning his high leg kick delivery after another former major leaguer, though. Garcia, who was born in Cuba and came to the United States at the age of 10, always liked the style of fellow Cuban Orlando Hernandez. That's El Duque, courtesy of the New York Post, in the right photo. They throw with different hands. Other than that, it's pretty close.

What does Garcia say about those who bypass the El Duque comparisons, instead insisting he's a Willis clone?

"I'm not like Dontrelle Willis," Garcia says with a smile. "Dontrelle Willis is like me."

As always, FAUOwlAccess.com will have a complete report from Saturday's game.

chuck

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