An in-depth look at the Stanford Cardinal, one of the eight teams competing in the College World Series, which starts Friday at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb. (coaches' record at current schools through Super Regionals):

Stanford Cardinal
Record: 46-15
Coach: Mark Marquess (1,139-548-5, 27th year).

Road To Omaha: Won Stanford Regional: beat Illinois-Chicago 9-2; beat UC Riverside 13-6; beat Richmond 19-6. Won Stanford Super Regional: beat Long Beach 5-1; beat Long Beach State 4-2.

2003 record vs. CWS teams: 2-4 (2-1 vs. Texas, 0-3 vs. Cal State Fullerton).

Last CWS appearance: 2002.

All-time record in CWS: 33-24 (14 appearances).

Players to Watch: OF Sam Fuld (.327, 32 RBIs), C Ryan Garko (.411, 18, 88), RHP John Hudgins (11-3, 3.18), RHP Matt Manship (3.54, nine saves), OF Danny Putnam (.355, 14, 57), OF Carlos Quentin (.398, 10, 56), LHP Mark Romanczuk (12-0, 3.39).

Short Hops: Cardinal are in CWS for school-record fifth straight year. ... Playing in 15th CWS, and have won at least one game in previous 14 appearances. ... Won CWS in 1987 and '88. ... Enter CWS having won nine straight, and 18 of 19. ... Have won 40 or more in nine straight seasons. ... Marquess is 100-43 in postseason with Stanford. ... Garko, Pac-10 co-player of year and finalist for Johnny Bench Award, has career batting average of .426 (12-for-26) at CWS. ... Quentin is Golden Spikes finalist and has 11 hits in 20 postseason plate appearances. ... Garko and Quentin are trying to become first Cardinal players since David McCarty in 1991 to finish season above .400. ... Hudgins was Pac-10 pitcher of year. ... Romanczuk is first Stanford pitcher to win first 12 decisions, and attempting to become only second Cardinal to go unbeaten with more than eight decisions -- joining Sandy Vance, who went 11-0 in 1967. ... 1B John Mayberry Jr. is son of former major leaguer John Mayberry.