The Canes' baseball team, 38-5 and ranked No. 1 in the nation, have won this weekend's series against California's St. Mary's. In fact, the Canes have won every series they have played this season, an amazing feat.

Next weekend, the Canes visit Virginia Tech. After that, the Canes host North Florida for one game and North Carolina for three to end the regular season. The North Carolina series should be great and could be No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the nation.

After that, it's the ACC Tournament and the march to a possible national championship, which would be the Canes' 5th.

In Friday's game, Eric Erickson, who had missed a month with an injury, tossed 7 shutout innnigs. He struck out 7 in a combined 2-hitter with relievers Kyle Bellamy and Carlos Gutierrez.

Miami has 3 of its 5 shutouts in the past week, a great sign that the team is peaking at the right time as the playoffs approach.

Yonder Alonso slugged his team-high 14th homer of the season to lead the offense.

Here is what else is going on with the Canes:

• Booker T. Washington football and track Coach Tim "Ice" Harris will join the Canes in a community relations role, according to sports writer Andre Fernandez of The Miami Herald. Harris' son Brandon will be a freshman cornerback for the Canes this season and is expected to contribute big-time right away. The fact that Ice Harris ice will join the Canes is another positive. Head Coach Randy Shannon has great connections with the prep coaches in South Florida, especially Miami, and it is good to see one of those good guys get rewarded with a good job.
• The Canes' baseball team did not have a mid-week game this week because they have final exams. But St. Mary's is coming in from California this weekend for a three-game series. On Friday night, the Canes will toss Chris Hernandez, who was named the ACC Pitcher of the Week as well as the National Player of the Week after he held 16h-ranked Virginia scoreless for 8 innings. The Canes, of course, are ranked No. 1 in the nation and have won every series so far this season. Even better news is the fact that first baseman Yonder Alonso, who bruised his knee sliding into home plate last week, is fine and will play this weekend.

Donovan Kirk, a 6-7, 210-pound forward, has committed to the Canes for the 2009-2010 basketball season.

Kirk is from Detroit, a very fertile city for basketball talent.

The Canes will also have Villanova transfer Malcolm Grant eligible for the 2009-2010 season. He is a scoring point guard and figures to replace Lance Hurdle as the starter. Hurdle will be a senior this coming season.

OK, so the Canes had "just one" first-rounder this year, and even that just barely with the last pick in the round. The Canes also had just three players drafted overall, their worst showing since 1999.

That's not great for Miami, but compared to most schools in the country, that is still a great draft year.

Look at rival Florida State, for example. For the first time since 1987, they had no players drafted on the first day. Ouch.

By the way, three Canes who went undrafted have already been given chances as free agents: WR Darnell Jenkins signed with the Houston Texans, cornerback Glenn Sharpe signed with the Atlanta Falcons and defensive end Vegas Franklin was invited to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie camp.

QB Kyle Wright and OG Derrick Morse should sign soon.

Yes, FS Kenny Phillips was drafted in the first round and extended the Canes' record streak to 14 years in a row with at least one first-round pick. But only three Canes were drafted overall - DE Calais Campbell and LB Tavares Gooden were the others.

That means QB Kyle Wright, who was the no. 1 QB in the nation coming out of high school, went undrafted.

Also undrafted:

WR Darnell Jenkins, UM's leading receiver in 2007.

OG Derrick Morse, a guy with a great motor.

DT Teraz McCray, undersized but another guy with huge heart.

OG Andrew Bain, hyped out of high school, he disappointed, too.

DE Vegas Franklin, led the team in sacks last year.

CB Glenn Sharpe, battled back from injuries to regain starting job.

All these guys should at least be able to sign free-agent contracts and get a shot to earn a roster spot this fall.

But the bigger point is that the Canes' program has to battle back and again live up to its enormous potential. There is too much talent in South Florida for the program to be mediocre.  

The top-ranked Canes continued their amazing season on Sunday, sweeping a three-game series from visiting Virginia, which came to Miami ranked 16th in the nation.

The Canes humiliated the Cavs, shutting them out twice, including 10-0 on Sunday. Third baseman Mark Sobolewski tied a career high with 6 RBi and Enrique Garcia improved to 3-1 by pitching 7 shutout innings.

Getting Garcia right is key. He is the Canes' lone senior and was expected to have a big year after winning 8 games last season. But he started poorly this season and even with Sunday's win still has an ERA in the 5s. At least this start gives the Canes hope he will be strong down the stretch.

The Canes are hoping the same thing for first baseman Yonder Alonso, one of the best hitters in the nation. Alonso hurt his left leg sliding into home plate. The hope is that it is only a bruise. And since the Canes have no mid-week games this week, he can rest for a bit.

After round one, in which the Giants took safety Kenny Phillips, two more Canes have been drafted.

In round two, the Arizona Cardinals drafted defensive end Calais Campbell. He will join two other Canes on the Cards - running back Edgerrin James and defensive back Antrel Rolle.

In round three, the Baltimore Ravens took linebacker Tavares Gooden. He will learn from the great Ray Lewis, the ex-Canes star who plays in the middle for the Ravens. The Ravens also have an ex-Cane as the focal point of their offense in running back Willis McGahee.

Phillips, by the way, joins three ex-Canes on the Giants - tight end Jeremy Shockey, wide receiver Sinorice Moss and punter Jeff Feagles.

Canes, Canes everywhere.

By the way, the Canes' baseball team, ranked No. 1 in the nation, clinched the Virginia series with an extra-innings win on Saturday night. The Canes have won every series they have played this season - an amazing feat.

As hoped, the Giants picked Kenny Phillips with the 31st and final pick of the first round.

That makes 14 straight years the Canes have at least one first-rounder, easily an all-time record. No other college is even close.

The 2009 Draft? Hmmm. Maybe left tackle Jason Fox can keep the streak going.

Five picks left in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, and still no Hurricane drafted. Kind of shocking when you think of it. Their 13-year streak of at least one first-rounder each and every draft is in serious jeopardy.

The Giants are sitting there at 31, though, and they reportedly love safety Kenny Phillips. That's the last pick in the first round.

Oh, the drama ... We'll know by 7 pm  

Less than 24 hours before the start of the 2008 NFL Draft, and Canes fans are wondering (and probably worrying) if either safety Kenny Phillips or defense end Calais Campbell will go in the first round.

If either does, it will extend the Canes' alread-record streak of 14 straight years with at least one first-round pick.

I think both SHOULD be first-rounders. Campbell is smart, big (6-8 and 280) and productive. And Phillips is the best safety in the draft, a player with  great size (6-2, 210) and speed (4.5).

My guess is that Phillips goes to the Super Bowl champion New York Giants at No. 31, the last pick in the first round.

How is that for drama???!!!

Campbell is more of a mystery. I think some teams late in Round One like him but are keeping their interest low key. We'll see.

The top-ranked Canes' baseball team won 2 out of 3 games at No. 2 Florida State this weekend, holding on for a 11-10 win on Sunday.

Canes first baseman Yonder Alonso hit a pair of homers, including a grand slam, and drove in 5 runs to lead the win on Sunday. Ace pitcher Eric Erickson, who had missed a month due to an elbow injury, returned to get the win and improve to 4-0. Closer Carlos Gutierrez earned his 9th save, putting him on pace to have one of the best seasons ever for a Canes relief pitcher.

The Canes won the first game 11-4, rallying from a 4-0 deficit with a 10-run 6th inning. No Canes team had EVER had such a big against FSU.

The Canes are a lock to retain their No. 1 national ranking this week. On Wednesday, they play city rival FIU again. The Canes have won the first two against FIU this season, and this will conclude the series, perhaps for a long time because their are no future games scheduled. (Canes Coach Jim Morris and his former assistant Turtle Thomas, now at FIU, are no longer the best of buddies.)

Three members of the Canes' football team switched positions this week, and two of moves made sense:

• Luqman Abdallah moved from the defensive line, where he was buried on the depth chart, to the offensive line, where he will at least get a fresh look. He may never be a starter or even a contributor at the rate he is going, but at least this gives him a chance.
• Ryan Hill moved from wide receiver to cornerback. This also makes sense because the team is loaded at wide receiver, and Hill originally signed as a cornerback, where the Canes need help. This was an obvious move that I predicted long ago.
• Damien Berry moved from defensive back to running back, where the Canes are five deep with young, talented players. Plus, they are likely adding two stud recruits next year. I can't see Berry doing much at RB. But at safety, he could have been on the two-deep this year. Odd move.