Werman Is Cavs' Big Game Player

OMAHA, June 14 -- Before Virginia's infielders take their positions each inning, they gather for a meeting a few feet beyond first base. The outlier in the group is second baseman Keith Werman. At 5 feet 7 and 140 pounds, Werman is shorter and skinnier than his teammates.

Werman emerges as a blur from the pack once the meeting breaks, sprinting 90 feet to second base as if the catcher is about to throw him out. He hops on the bag and looks around for a moment before fielding practice begins.

"That's just the way I am," Werman said. "My brother and I, we've always been the smaller player. You got to outhustle everybody. That's just our style. That's what we do. We run everywhere, on and off the field."

Werman has used his industrious ethos to excel for the Cavaliers, who face elimination from the College World Series in Monday's game against Cal State Fullerton. A Vienna native who attended Oakton High School, Werman has started almost every game for the Cavaliers during the final month of his freshman season.

Werman arrived in Charlottesville the brother of former Cavaliers four-year starter Kyle Werman, whose similarly small stature and lasting reputation left Werman with big shoes to fill -- even if they were not really big.

"In this sport, I think it's so different than other sports," Virginia Coach Brian O'Connor said. "I don't think size matters that much. What sold us on Keith Werman was his baseball instincts. It's so rare to find a freshman that has the type of instincts and feel for the game like he does. And that's what separates him from other people. The kid's 5-7, but he's not going to back down from anything."

Werman went 4 for 5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored out of the No. 9 spot in the lineup in Saturday's 9-5 loss to Louisiana State. Shortstop Tyler Cannon called Werman as "slick as they come" at second base, and said you cannot spot the ball in his glove when he turns a double play.

O'Connor decided to shuffle the lineup and start the freshman on May 10 against Duke. There was no specific impetus. Instead, O'Connor relied on a coach's intuition during a crucial ACC series.

Werman has now started 15 games, played in 35 and has batted .400. The Cavaliers have been 12-4 since that Sunday afternoon against Duke.

"Ever since Keith's been in there, it's really changed our team," O'Connor said.

Werman said he arrived at Davenport Field, saw his name on the lineup card and prepared to play. There was neither an abnormal rush of excitement nor self-inflicted pressure. He simply viewed it as an opportunity, and did not feel a need to say much -- an attitude that helped persuade O'Connor to play him in the first place.

"You know what, here's what it was: The kid wasn't getting many opportunities, and I never heard one peep from the kid," O'Connor said. "Most guys would be in your office wanting to know why they're not getting a chance, complaining. Keith Werman never said a word."