Watson, Wehrle return key for NU

LINCOLN - From now on, Nebraska baseball coach Mike Anderson might as well refer to Tony Watson and Ryan Wehrle as The Package Deal.

Never mind their different personalities - like the fact that Watson, a left-handed pitcher, is quick to verbally jab a teammate he thinks is dogging it in practice, while Wehrle, an infielder, prefers a world of silence.

Without the diverse pair - both of whom were third-team All-Americans in 2006, then turned down professional offers last summer to return for their junior season - the Huskers' outlook for 2007 would be a stickier subject for Anderson.

With his two ‘Ws' in the fold, the task for Nebraska to produce Ws on the scoreboard got a whole lot easier.

“I would like to think that they were sold on this program, coming back, before they left during the summer,” Anderson said Monday. “They knew that they had a great opportunity to come back, and what we had. So it's not me going to sell it.”

Actually, Anderson did travel east this summer, planning to watch Watson, a 17th-round pick of Baltimore, and Wehrle, an 18th-round choice of Cincinnati, play in the collegiate Cape Cod League and visit with them about their futures.

The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Watson went 10-2 with a 2.78 earned-run average for the Huskers last season, which left his career marks at 16-3 and 2.79. Wehrle, a 6-3, 207-pounder, led the Huskers in five offensive categories, including a .367 batting average.

While Wehrle's summer season ended early, because of a knee injury, the message NU's coach had for his two stars was clear.

“I just said, ‘You know that we want you back, (but) I'm not standing in your way. You want to sign, you sign,'” Anderson said. “My biggest thing was just let me know, in case I need to go get somebody else.”

Wehrle opted early to tell the Reds he was coming back to Nebraska. Even so, he still couldn't help but inquire about his teammate.

“He called a couple times and asked what I was going to do,” Watson said.

Not that Watson's decision would have swayed Wehrle. But let's just say he was probably tickled that the Orioles fell short of Watson's demands of a signing bonus in the “first round-supplemental” range after he'd recorded some dominant Cape Cod performances.

“They had an opportunity, and a lot of kids would jump at it,” Anderson said. “Tony made a mature decision, because I think he's a lot better than where he was picked. I think he has something to prove, and by the end of this year hopefully that pans out for him.

“Ryan's a young man that I would always say, he's just a natural. I'm still pushing Ryan as hard as I can.”

Anderson believes the bottom line for both player in regard to what comes after this season is “they have to prove to people that they're ready to go at the next level.”

For Wehrle, that means showing that his right knee, operated on to alleviate chronic tendinitis, can hold up.

For Watson, it's about providing more evidence that the labrum in his left shoulder, surgically repaired three years ago, is still sturdy.

Or maybe, hints second baseman Jake Opitz, those physical circumstances have nothing to do with how Wehrle and Watson are approaching this season.

Like his roommate and close friend Wehrle, and Watson, Opitz is a junior who will be eligible for this year's draft.

“I know this is my opportunity,” Opitz said in regard to what a big year could mean for him. “But really, it's just about the team. If you win, that'll take care of itself. If you're doing all you can, what more could you ask for?”

Wehrle and Watson were asking themselves the same question last summer.

“Coming back here, my financial advisers are like, ‘You have a great chance to go back and go make it to Omaha (for the College World Series) and do some big things out there, so you might as well go out there and try to better your stock for next year,' “ Watson said. “It's a win-win situation. I mean, we draw 6,000 fans a night and the facilities are. ... Minor-league baseball, you know how it is. Some of the parks are like ‘Bull Durham.'”