I've heard over and over this week that Fresno State's Cinderella run through the NCAA Tournament has got to end soon. But the Bulldogs proved tonight once again that they are worthy of playing among the elite in college baseball as they defeated two-time NCAA runner-up North Carolina, 5-3. Fresno State is now just one win away from advancing to the championship series -- an unprobable feat for a team that began the postseason as a No. 4 seed in regional play.

North Carolina has cruised through the 6-0 record, but the Tar Heels hit a brick wall when they met Fresno State tonight. UNC could capitalize on scoring opportunities in only one frame - three runs on five hits in the fourth inning, but the Tar Heels just didn't get any breaks during the rest of the game.

So, I guess the Bulldogs are for real -- pretty amazing -- Underdogs to Wonderdogs. It will be fun to see how far Fresno State can take this momentum. Can they take it all the way? We'll see. Click here for more tidbits about Tuesday's games.

I'm signing off from Omaha, but I'll be watching the rest of the tournament from home thanks to the great coverage by ESPN. It's been a great trip ... but I have to get back to my family! Thanks for the hospitality Omaha. It's be a great ride.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Looking down on college baseball's field of dreams.

The popularity of the College World Series grows every year, and the proof is seen in the media coverage the event receives. Nine hundred credentials to local and national media were issued, as well as 187 passes for ESPN, totaling 1,087 for the series, about 50 more that last season.

The press box is busting at the seams with writers, radio and TV personalities and multi-media gurus, and this is a pretty big place. Media attendance will dwindle over the next few days with teams being eliminated, but over 1,000 people covering this event is a massive undertaking for the NCAA media coordination team, so hats off to them for making us all comfortable.

The Omaha World-Herald does an outstanding job of covering this event every year, led by writer Steve Pivovar, who has covered every CWS game since 1982, including tonight's North Carolina-Fresno State contest. His first game was a Miami victory over Maine and he has witnessed a total 394 consecutive CWS games. So, if you have a question about the CWS over the last 26 years, ask Steve, he'll most likely know the answer.

Satellite trucks lined up outside Rosenblatt Stadium.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 08:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A resounding theme at this year's College World Series has been about teaching student-athletes not only how to be good baseball players, but good young men. LSU head coach Paul Mainieri made sure he pointed out the life lesson from today's game to his players.

"No matter how down you are, no matter how hopeless things seem, you should never give up and keep believing in yourself," said Mainieri. "This experience will help these kids and maybe a lot of people who watched this game that are having tough times in life."

Mainieri asked his players after the game if they will ever give up in anything in their lives after witnessing this. They said, “No chance.”

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 07:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You cannot have a more exciting ending to a game than today's LSU-Rice elimination contest. Designated hitter Blake Dean came up and belted a bases-clearing double, scoring three runs and claiming a 6-5 victory to send home Rice today. Dean's ball was hit off the wall in left field, a thrilling day for the Tigers after the Owls had been so solid all day.

The roller coaster of emotions in that game was getting even me queasy from upstairs in the press box, so I can't imagine how the players and coaches -- and fans -- felt in the late innings. A huge play at the plate, big strikeout of LSU's best hitter, an error on a possible double play that would have ended the game -- and then Dean's game-winning double.

Be prepared for another ninth inning rally in the North Carolina-Fresno State affair at 6 p.m. CT, because if you turn the game off early tonight, you'll probably miss the best part. Drink a little caffeine and keep watching -- it will be worth it.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 05:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When LSU's Nick Pontiff entered today's game as a pinch-hitter for the Tigers in the seventh inning, he was carrying on a family tradition by playing at the College World Series.

As a freshman, Pontiff's older brother Wally was a star on LSU's 2000 NCAA Championship squad, batting .347 with 20 doubles, seven home runs and 45 RBI as the Tigers' DH. Wally, who was a three-year letterman for LSU, died in 2002 due to heart abnormalities. His No. 31 now retiired and painted on LSU's Wall of Honor in the Tigers' stadium.

Pontiff led off the seventh inning with a basehit, eventually scoring on a balk by the Rice pitcher to get LSU on the scoreboard. Nice job Nick, your brother would be proud.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 04:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There are so many different school allegiances at the College World Series, that it is not very often someone gets a standing ovation, but in the fourth inning today, the whole Rosenblatt crowd stood on their feet. They were standing to honor four distinguished World War II veterans: Rich Lang, Bob Sweet, Sam Sambasile and Claudio Orsi. Each one of them served in different branches of the United States military during the war. Mr. Orsi was the first to enter the service in 1942, and each one of the Omaha residents served until 1945.

Mr. Lang said he had played at Rosenblatt in a CYO Championship game in 1949, but none of the veterans were able to play college baseball. They didn't have time -- they were too busy serving our country said Lang. Enjoy the game gentlemen, and thanks for your service.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 04:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Leftfielder Aaron Luna launched his 10th home run of the season to the leftfield bleachers as Rice added another run to its lead. The Owls are hanging on so far by holding LSU scoreless and to just three hits. It has been more than a month since Luna has blasted a homer, so it must feel pretty good to swing that one out of Rosenblatt Stadium.

It's been pretty quiet here on a Tuesday afternoon, but Rice and LSU's respective cheering sections are pretty active. It's got a little louder as LSU threatened to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. The Owls can't be too comfortable even with a 4-0 lead, but Rice pitcher Chris Kelley worked his magic by striking out Matt Clark with two runners on base to end the inning. Considering Clark is the national leader in home runs (27) and entered this game batting .500 in the NCAA Tournament, that was a pretty important strikeout to get in the books.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 03:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today is my last day at the ballpark, so I'm making sure I soak in all of the atmosphere before I fly back home. I walked up and down 13th Street in front of Rosenblatt Stadium to check out the hoards of fans buy souvenirs, get a hamburger and milkshake from the locally-famous Zesto's and check out what's going on down at the CWS Fan Fest.

Vendors are selling more T-shirts and hats than I could count, and now is the time to start scooping them up -- they get discounted when teams start leaving, and I'm always up for a sale. So, my wallet is a little lighter, but I will have some appreciative family members at home when I give them their gifts.

I had not walked around Fan Fest until today, and I don't know if it is a new "attraction" this year or not, but I thought the Omaha Fire Department's set up was pretty cool. There were mini-fire trucks the kids could ride around through an obstacle course, and they seemed like they having more fun that is allowed by law. I wish I was small enough to fit in one of those -- I know my kids would have love them.

So, back to why we're really here -- baseball! LSU and Rice playing the Bracket 2 elimination game today at 1 p.m. CT. LSU made an early exit (0-2) the last time the Tigers were here in 2004. Rice's last 0-2 record in Omaha was in 2002. Notre Dame, another Paul Mainieri-coached team, sent the Owls home with a 5-3 loss that season.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 01:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A two-run single by centerfielder Matt Cerione in the seventh inning sparked Georgia to a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over Stanford, putting the Bulldogs in the driver's seat and giving them off until Friday, June 20 at 1 p.m. CT. They will play the winner of Wednesday's Miami-Stanford elimination game. What will they do in Omaha with three days off? Maybe visit Boys Town or go to the zoo.

Cerione's game-winning single followed an at bat where catcher Bryce Massanari missed a home run by inches -- it hit the right field wall right next to the foul line. Credit Massanari for composing himself after head coach David Perno's long "discussion" with the umpires, returning to the batter's box to get hit by a pitch and load the bases. Click here for more info on today's games.

What is about the ninth inning in this tournament? We had two ninth inning come backs the first day, and then LSU almost came back on North Carolina last night. This afternoon, Florida State rallied against Miami in the ninth before finally losing the battle, and Stanford did not make it easy for Georgia to secure the win tonight as closer Joshua Fields hit a batter and walked another before his defense turned a double play.

Teams are just fighting with everything they have until the last out -- college baseball the way it should be when an NCAA trophy is on the line. Good night from Omaha, let's play two nail-biters tomorrow.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 10:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As the sun set behind the third base line at Rosenblatt tonight, I strolled through the right field stands to check out the crowd. I can definitely understand why outfielders lose fly balls (it's happened twice in the last couple days). The sun is so incredibly strong that every person in the crowd has the hand up to their face to shade their eyes. It was tough to watch the game from out there, directly facing the sun like that, so I feel for the players trying to see and play at the same time -- not an easy task.

The blinding sun did not keep fans' spirits down, however, and tonight they got the "wave" going around the stadium. It actually made it around the whole place at least five times, and considering the wave fizzles out quickly in most ballparks, I credit the Omaha fans for staying with it.

The fans are getting a pretty good game, too. Stanford leads 3-2 in the seventh, and there's been a little bit of everything with the big highlight being a Jason Castro home run in the third inning. Castro is Stanford's All-American catcher, who was drafted in the first round by the Houston Astros. The Cardinal was on a plane to Fullerton at the time of the draft, so Castro did not find out if he had been picked until the flight landed and his phone was overwhelmed with voicemails and text messages to congratulate him.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 09:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Florida State is the first team College World Series fans will say goodbye to after the Seminoles 7-5 loss to Miami in today's elimination game. The Seminoles are heading back to Tallahassee after making its first CWS trip since 2000.
FSU has advanced to the CWS 19 times -- the most by a team without winning a national title.

Miami now holds a 3-2 record against FSU in CWS play after stopping the Seminoles streak of six victories in NCAA Tournament elimination games this year.

I'm sure it will be a tough flight back to Tallahassee -- it's never fun to go home first. This loss will probably sting for awhile, especially because it was against the Hurricanes, but the Seminoles have to look at where they were two weeks ago. FSU was the No. 4 national seed and was shutout for the first time all season by Bucknell in the first game of the Tallahassee Regional. And then, they had to beat one of their biggest rivals -- Florida -- to stay alive. And then, they lost to Wichita State in the first game of Super Regional action. They came a long way -- all the way to Omaha -- and didn't have to sit home and watch it on TV, dreaming about playing in Rosenblatt.

Like FSU head coach Mike Martin said in his post-game press conference, there will be six more disappointed coaches sitting where he was before it's all over, but Seminole players should be leaving with smiles on their faces because of what they accomplished this year. It's tough to be one of the final eight teams after starting in a group of almost 300 Division I squads vying for one of those spots in February. It was a great run.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 06:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There's no question that Florida State can hit -- they've got 12 through six innings, but the Seminoles are having a little trouble capitalizing on all of those base runners today. They've left 11 baserunners stranded so far -- at least one in every inning. They've had opportunities, but Miami has kept the 'Noles from doing any real damage.

But with only a two-run lead (4-2) in the sixth, this game is far from over as we've learned over the last couple days in Omaha. Stay tuned, there's a lot of baseball left.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 04:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You can't come to Omaha and eat some of the area's famous steaks, and now Rosenblatt Stadium is equipped to keep up with the demand of steak sandwiches and hamburgers with its new Omaha Steaks Grand Slam Grill. The custom-built cart that is a replica of the Rosenblatt Stadium entryway, and cost approximately $60,000 in a partnership between the Omaha Royals and Centerplate, the stadium's food service company.

The new Grand Slam Grill is helping speed up waiting in the long lines of hungry customers with their mouths watering from the smell of the world-famous fare. Business is up about 30 percent from last year with the new grill according to Centerplate's Ryan Slane. The stand is cooking about 1,500 hamburgers and 1,500 steak sandwiches per day.

OK, now I'm hungry.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 02:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Miami right-hander David Gutierrez exited the game early after taking a line drive by FSU's Tommy Oravetz off his shoulder during the first at bat of the second inning. He threw only 24 pitches before getting injured.

Eric Erickson, who started for the 'Canes in the last meeting against FSU on April 20, relieved Gutierrez. Erickson held the hot-hitting Seminoles to three runs on five in four innings pitched in an 11-10 Miami victory.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 02:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you look out to the grandstand in right centerfield, you'll see a whole section of kids in white T-shirts, enjoying a great Monday treat. There are almost 300 deserving children that received tickets through Omaha area YMCAs and the Boys and Girls Town. They earned the tickets for their achievements through the various programs, and are having a great time so far.

The kids are showing off their College World Series T-shirts, and players were tossing balls in the stands during batting practice. Jarrell Randle of Omaha even caught a home run ball hit by one of the Miami players -- a great souvenir for the youngster.

Jarrell proudly holds up his souvenir ball.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 02:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Good afternoon from Omaha! We're getting ready for a game that I hope is worth all the hype. Florida State and Miami will vie for survival in the first elimination game of the 2008 CWS at 1 p.m. CT.

It seems like just yesterday that Miami and Florida State were playing at Rosenblatt Stadium for the 1999 NCAA Championship. But it was nine years ago -- hard to believe. I was here for that game, too, and the teams are in the same dugouts, there are pretty much the same coaches and support staffs, and there's no doubt there's a rivalry that is second-to-none in college baseball. FSU lost two of three games to Miami in April, but the Seminoles almost came back to win the third came of the series in Tallahassee -- it was a fight to the end.

Let's hope for another classic game like the championship game in 1999 (Miami won 6-5 and FSU pitcher Blair Varnes played with a hurt knee). It may not be for the championship this time, but it's definitely for Sunshine State pride.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 01:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After a gloomy start to the day, this turned out to be a perfect day for baseball. For the Tar Heels -- the national runner-up in each of the last two seasons -- the skies were a beautiful Carolina Blue tonight as they got an 8-4 victory over LSU, the hottest team in the naiton.

Carolina's pitching was stellar, but I knew it would be. It was their hitting that impressed me -- 17 hits -- it just felt like the Tar Heels were always threatening offensively. It should be a fun match-up with Fresno State on Tuesday.

Good night from Omaha. We'll see you tomorrow for a classic rivalry game between Miami and Florida State at 1 p.m. CT. There's nothing better the 'Canes and the 'Noles battling to stay alive.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 10:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Two runs on four hits in the eighth inning and the Tigers trail 8-4 with one more turn at the plate left. Never count LSU out -- the Tigers can score four runs in the blink of an eye.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 09:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Since leading both the first and second innings with solo home runs (Michael Hollander and Matt Clark), LSU has been kept in check by North Carolina pitcher Alex White mustering just one hit over the last five innings. By the way, Clark leads the nation with 27 home runs.

The Tigers' lowest hit total of the season was three against Ole Miss on April 11 in a 2-1 loss. LSU has produced at least nine hits hits each of the last nine games, so keeping down this potent offense is a pretty impressive feat by White and the Tar Heels.

We'll see how the final two innings go. LSU knows how to come back and win. They scored five runs in a ninth-inning rally against UC Irvine in the Super Regional that totally turned around the series. So, if you're watching on TV, don't turn it off yet, you might be sorry you did.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 09:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A big swing by LSU third baseman Michael Hollander on the leadoff at bat of the game put the Tigers on the scoreboard in no time, 1-0. It was the first home run to lead off a College World Series game since Rice's Tyler Henley accomplished the feat against Miami in 2006. It was Hollander's sixth home run of the year.

LSU fans erupted as the Tigers got an official start to their party. The Tigers have won 25 of the last 26 games, and yeah, it's early, but they look like they're on a a hot streak once again.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 07:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

LSU fans love their baseball, and their beloved Tigers are back in Omaha for the first time since 2004, so it's been a few years and they are going to have some fun tonight. Tiger fans are passing out Mardi Gras beads to every person they can convince to wear them -- ushers in the LSU section included. The stadium is filling up now and I would say the half of the crowd is wearing purple and gold.

There's no doubting the Tigers have the most loyal fans in Omaha -- they even come here in droves when the baseball team is back in Baton Rouge. I also have to say that they are pretty creative with their "get ups". There's a guy sitting by the team's dugout with a full body Tiger suit on and his face painted in stripes -- Now, that's dedication.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 06:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A solid performance by junior left-hander Justin Wilson and some incredible run support gave the Fresno State Bulldogs their first CWS win since defeating Florida State 6-3 in their opening game in 1991. It was really amazing to see the Bulldogs keep pounding out the runs and never letting up against Rice -- one of the most successful programs in the nation over the last decade.

Fresno State's 17 runs today are the most scored by a team in the College World Series since Tennessee scored 19 against Georgia on June 11, 2001.

We're not done yet though -- LSU and North Carolina are set to play at 6 p.m. CT in the nightcap. They are two of the hottest teams in the nation -- should be a good one.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 05:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Seven of the nine players in the Fresno State lineup have at least one hit day after the Bulldogs' five-run outburst in the sixth inning. Designated hitter Jordan Ribera -- the nine-hold hitter -- capped off another huge inning for Fresno State with his fourth homer of the year -- a three-run shot over the centerfield wall as the Bulldogs increased their lead to 16-1.

Through six innings, Fresno State has only left four runners on base, making the most of their opportunities. The Bulldogs' 16 runs are the most they have scored in a game this season -- besting their 15-run total against San Diego on June 1. It is also the most runs Rice has given up in a game this year.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 04:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I imagine the adrenaline is pumping for the Fresno State Bulldogs today. The Bulldog hitters put on a show in the fourth inning, scoring seven runs on four hits, including two huge home runs by freshman shortstop Danny Muno and first baseman Alan Ahmady. Muno's three-run shot was only his third homer of the year, and he had not hit one since April 20. Ahmady added a two-run dinger, his 13th of the season and first of the NCAA Tournament.

So, Rice is down 11-0 in the fourth inning - a huge hole to dig out of -- but again, we've seen some comebacks in 2008. It will be a battle -- the record for biggest comeback in a CWS game is nine runs and that was in 1960. Minnesota rallied from nine down in the seventh inning against Southern California to win the game 12-11 in 10 innings.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 03:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After a scoreless first inning, Fresno State jumped on the board with four runs in the second, capitalizing on two walks and an infield error. Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Danny Muno ripped a two-run single to grab the lead, and then centerfielder Gavin Hedstrom belted a double down the leftfield line to drive in another two.

What a confidence boost a four-run lead must be for a team that was a No. 4 seed in their regional, and for Bulldog pitcher Justin Wilson. Of course, if the day goes anything like yesterday's games, this is nowhere near over ... until it's over.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 02:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rice head coach Wayne Graham watches his team take batting practice.

There is a special hat sitting in the Rice dugout today in honor of an Owl fan that never got the chance to make it out to Omaha.

George H. Thomen, a 1941 gradute of Rice, became an avid Rice baseball fan in his retirement, but had not been able to see his team play at the College World Series in their six previous appearances. He, along with his granddaughter Tracy Kuhlman who graduated from Rice in 1993, planned to take the trip this year. Thomen was battling cancer, but wanted to make the trip anyway. Unfortunately, he was not able to make the trek as he passed away in early May right before the regionals.

The family decided to take the trip to Omaha, and bring along Thomen's Rice baseball cap in honor of their late grandfather. When Rice head coach Wayne Graham heard the story, he said to place the hat in the team's dugout. So, today, Thomen's hat, and probably his spirit, are with the Owls.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 02:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fresno State fans proudly wear their "Dog" T-shirts.

If you walk around Rosenblatt today, you're bound to see my favorite T-shirt of this year's CWS (so far) -- "Underdogs to Wonderdogs" with a big Fresno State Bulldog on the front. The Bulldogs are definitely deserving of the phrase on the shirt after starting the season with an 8-12 record and then going on a hot streak, winning 11 of their last 13 games, to advance to Omaha.

Karen and Mark Hedstrom from Irvine, Calif., parents of centerfielder Gavin Hedstrom, had about six dozen of the T-shirts made up and handed them out to players parents and fans in the team hotel this morning. Gavin Hedstrom is having an outstanding NCAA Tournament, batting .320 with a home run and eight RBI in seven games so far.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 01:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When Rice lost to East Carolina in the 9 a.m. elimination game of the Conference USA Tournament on May 22, it was the first time the Owls have gone 0-2 in a league championship in recent memory.

As is tradition with the league's sports information directors, the dirtiest, most beat-up batting practice ball is awarded as the Conference USA Hall of Shame ball to the first team eliminated, and so Rice's John Sullivan received the "award".

Sullivan laughed it off, and told his colleagues that he would be taking the ball with him to Omaha. Well, despite Rice's C-USA Tournament early exit, the Owls made Sullivan's predication come true and it here sitting in the press box today next to his computer.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 01:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Happy Father's Day to my dad, my husband (and father of my two daughters) and all the fathers out there! Watching the College World Series either in person or at home on television is a wonderful way to spend some time with your dad, so try to catch the action today. My dad taught me most things that I know about baseball from bunting to how to slide -- it's a great way for a family to bond.

Warm wishes to Georgia catcher Bryce Massanari, who is celebrating his first Father's Day after he and wife Lauren had a baby girl Marly on April 30. The first-team All-SEC pick has been on fire since his daughter's arrival, batting .402 with six homers and 29 RBI. Last night against Miami, he led off the ninth inning with a basehit to start the Bulldogs' four-run rally. Enjoy your team's win and savor your first Father's Day!

Bryce Massanari (Photo: Steve Colquitt)

Dads of Fresno State players Nick Hom and Jake Floethe are enjoying Father's Day by taking in the Bulldogs improbable run to the College World Series.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When I woke up this morning, I thought it was still the middle of the night. It was dark and gloomy, and the rain was hitting the windows. Thunder rolled and lightening flashed and I thought we would be in for a long day of rain delays. But Mother Nature must like baseball. It started clearing up before I left my hotel in downtown Omaha, and when I got to Rosenblatt the sun was peaking through some fluffy clouds.

I think the severe storms this morning chased away a lot of the fans. Yesterday, we sat in traffic for almost an hour to get into the parking lot, and this morning the trip took about five minutes. It's still early, so fans still have plenty of time to get here and watch Rice and Fresno State battle in the first game today at 1 p.m. CT.

The field looks great, and Rice just strolled onto the field and will start batting practice. It is the Owls' third straight appearance in Omaha. So, if the skies cooperate and stay clear, it should be another great day -- let's play two!

A view from downtown Omaha this morning.

It's clearing up.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Another ninth-inning rally is in the books for the opening round of the 2008 College World Series.

Georgia had only posted a 1-20 record when trailing after eight innings, but the Bulldogs mustered up a thrilling ninth-inning comeback to beat No. 1 Miami, 7-4, tonight. The Bulldogs scored four runs on three hits and two Miami errors -- roughing up the 'Canes closer and first-round MLB draft pick Carlos Gutierrez. Head coach Jim Morris said in the post-game press conference that a ninth-inning unraveling has happened to every closer he's ever had, it just happened a bad time -- he knows that Gutierrez is one of the reasons his team is in Omaha.

Two unbelievable games and it is only the first day -- we still have a long way to go until the championship series next week. Click here for more on the day's games.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 10:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, the 2008 NCBWA National Stopper of the Year Joshua Fields trotted out to the mound for his third overall appearance in College World Series play. He struck out Miami's DH Dave DiNatale -- the only batter he faced. Fields, a senior from Hull, Ga., struck out three batters in two innings pitched in the 2006 CWS.

The first-round draft pick by the Seattle Mariners ranks third in the nation with 16 saves this season. Just another guy that might be in the "bigs" one day.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's fun to watch players do well in Omaha that will playing at the next level one day. Miami's Yonder Alonso gave the fans a little taste of what he could be doing for the Cincinnati Reds in the next few years -- hitting home runs. The junior first baseman not only blasted his 24th round-tripper of the season to the left field stands tonight, but the solo homer gave the Hurricanes a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Thanks for the great memory Yonder -- you gave college baseball fans a thrill tonight -- probably one of many to come.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 09:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Georgia senior third baseman Ryan Peisel ripped a two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning and relief pitcher Alex McCree held the 'Canes scoresless in the bottom of the frame, so now we're all tied up heading into the final (hopefully) three innings of the game.

Freshman Chris Hernandez pitched a stellar game in the first six-plus innings before being relieved by right-hander Kyle Bellamy after issuing his first walk of the contest. Bellamy is making his 42nd appearance of the season for the Hurricanes -- a team-high -- and has tossed the most innings (59.1) of any non-starter for the Bulldogs this year.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 09:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After catching up after marathon game that started the day, the Miami-Georgia nightcap seems like a sprint. We're done with five innings and the top-seeded Hurricanes are leading 3-1 with help from a pair of homers by second baseman Jemile Weeks and centerfielder Blake Tekotte.

The wind is not blowing as hard as the first game as Georgia just caught three Miami fly balls on the warning track, nearly missing the outfield wall. Close, but not quite.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 08:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We're starting a little late tonight, but by only a few minutes, considering the length of the first game. It's a quick turnaround for everyone. Stadium personnel had to clear the stadium and then take tickets for the next group of fans, the grounds crew had to get the field ready.

So, if you're watching on TV, the stands might be a little empty at first, but that's because they're still lined up to get in the stadium. The first shadows are falling on the field after a wonderful, sunny day, and soon the sun will start to set over the outfield wall.

There's been a lot of baseball this afternoon, but we're only half done. Batter up!

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 07:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm interested to watch Miami's Yonder Alonso take the field in the Hurricanes' game against Georgia this evening and see what kind of offensive damage the first baseman can do.

Alonso is a cool story because his family left Cuba for the United States when he was nine years old. His father, Luis, was a player for the Cuban national team, and took his family out of the country in search of a better life in Florida. Now, he's playing in the College World Series for the second time and was a first-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds. He batted .367 with 23 home runs and 71 RBI this season.

"There's no question he's our MVP," said Miami head coach Jim Morris. "It just shows the American dream can come true. They gave up everything to come here."

Miami's fellow Atlantic Coast Conference members know what kind of havoc Alonso can create. He was a menace to Florida State and North Carolina during the regular season, belting 12 hits, five home runs and 17 RBI in the six games against the two foes.

North Carolina head coach Mike Fox said that's Alonso is as good as he's seen in 10 years with the Tar Heels. "There’s nothing he can't hit."

Wonder if Georgia will be able to stop the slugger. We'll find out when the Hurricanes and Bulldogs tangle at 6:12 p.m. CT.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 06:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What a comeback by the Cardinal in the top of the ninth inning! Ten Stanford batters. Four FSU pitchers. Eleven runs scored -- are you kidding me? The 11 runs tied a CWS record for most runs scored in one inning. The last time it happened was Cal State Fullerton against LSU in 1994.

Hats off to Stanford for sticking it out and posting the 16-5 win.

The game took four hours and 11 minutes -- the third-longest game in CWS history. Anyone up for a two-hour pitcher's dual?

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 06:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There's only so many chances you can give the Florida State offense. With two runners on base, second baseman Jason Stidham gave the Seminoles new life with a three-run homer to right field in the eighth inning, tying the game at 5-5.

A tie ballgame in the ninth inning and a great start to the 2008 College World Series, and now Buster Posey is taking off his catcher's gear and coming into pitch for the Seminoles. The last time a catcher came into pitch in the CWS was Matt Wieters of Georgia Tech against Cal State Fullerton in 2006.

Should be an interesting ending.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 05:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Stanford pitchers Erik Davis and Drew Storen loaded the bases with Seminoles in the seventh inning, but Florida State failed to capitalize on their scoring chances yet again. The Seminoles have left 10 runners on base today, helping the Cardinal hold steady with a 5-2 lead.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 05:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Florida State is trailing 5-2 in the seventh inning, but probably no other team has the potential to score runs like the Seminoles this year. FSU has scored 106 runs on 128 hits in its eight previous NCAA Tournament games, and has came back to win a regional and super regional after losing the first game both weekends. So, can they muster some offensive fireworks and come back again?

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 04:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After a leadoff home run by FSU's Dennis Guinn chased Stanford starting pitcher Jeremy Bleich, senior right-hander Erik Davis headed to the mound. Davis is one of the great stories in college baseball right now. In the summer of 2006, he was hit in the face by a line drive while playing in the Cape Cod League and had to undergo two reconstructive surgeries. Amazingly, Davis returned to pitch later that summer.

While Bleich was out for seven weeks this season with elbow tendinitis, Davis became the Cardinal's No. 1 starter. He has compiled a 7-3 record with four complete games this year. The native of Mountain View, Calif., is making his first relief appearance of the season.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 04:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After walking two straight batters with one out in the fifth inning, Stanford pitcher Jeremy Bleich welcomed National Player of the Year Buster Posey to the batter's box. Bleich did not back down to Posey, probably the most feared batter in college baseball right now and struck out the All-American catcher, getting a HUGE out for the Cardinal. That brought up FSU right fielder Jack Rye with two runners on base, who flew out to left to end the inning. Rye has stranded five runners in three at bats up to this point.

The retiring of Posey and Rye put some life into the Stanford dugout and the Cardinal offense has begun to come alive in the top of the sixth inning. Leftfielder Tony Gerhart led off the inning with a solo homer to right center and catcher Jason Castro followed with a double that just missed going over the leftfield wall.

It's amazing how one strikeout can get a team going.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 03:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Leadoff walks are bound to catch up with you, and today is no exception. FSU's Matt Fairel walked Stanford's Cord Phelps to start the fourth inning, and he scored the first run of the CWS thanks to a double to right field by DH Randy Molina. Stanford leads 1-0 in the middle of the fourth inning.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 03:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As I am sitting in the air-conditioned press box shivering, Stanford is still waiting for their bats to warm up after three innings. The Cardinal's only base runner was Jeff Whitlon, who was walked by pitcher Matt Fairel in the third inning.

So far, it's not the offensive thriller I had hoped for.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 02:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rosenblatt Stadium is filling up and the first inning of the 2008 College World Series is in the books with the game still scoreless.

Florida State threatened Stanford catcher Jason Castro showcased his talents as Jeremy Bleich struck out Jack Rye and Castro threw out Jason Stidham on the attempted steal of third base. Stanford's defense started a little shaky, but Castro's play gave the Cardinal a boost to end the inning with the double play.

We'll see if the rest of the Stanford defense calms down in the remaining innings. Who wouldn't have some nerves in the first game in Omaha?

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Batting practice is over, and the teams are taking infield, which means the first game of the 2008 College World Series is just minutes away. It is another great sunny day in Omaha, perfect for baseball.

However, the wind really blowing today and it's blowing OUT. The Weather Channel says the wind is whipping at about 20 mph with gusts of 31 mph.

It should be an interesting day. Stanford head coach Mark Marquess commented yesterday on how FSU has put up "Little League" numbers with a .354 batting average and 101 home runs this year.

Will Stanford starting pitcher Jeremy Bleich be able to keep FSU hitters in the park? We'll see. The left-hander has not allowed an earned run since returning from an injury on May 19, and he pitched six innings in a 3-2 win against Cal State Fullerton in the Super Regional.

Stanford has belted just 76 homers compared to FSU's monster numbers, but the Cardinal has four players in the lineup with double-digit homers led by centerfielder Sean Ratliff with 21 this year.

Will the wind be a factor? Winning probably won't be a breeze.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Florida State head coach Mike Martin, grandson Tyler and assistant coach Mike Martin, Jr.

Florida State baseball has been a family affair for a long time, but never quite like this year. Martin has been at the helm of the Seminole program for 29 years with his son Mike, Jr., as a player in the 1990s and as an assistant coach for the last 11 seasons. This season, Martin's seven-year-old grandson Tyler is serving as the Seminoles bat boy -- a great experience for the youngster.

Former Stanford pitcher and ESPN analyst Kyle Peterson and Rod Delmonico.

In addition to the Martin clan, volunteer assistant coach Rod Delmonico and son Tony, the Seminoles' starting shortstop are on the Florida State roster. Rod spend 18 years as the University of Tennessee, where Tony played for his father. Before going to Tennessee, Rod was FSU's assistant for six seasons. Now, he's back he Tallahassee coaching and enjoying his son's stellar junior year. Delmonico is batting .380 with 93 hits and 67 runs scored this season.

Brothers Buster and Jack Posey add to the family atmosphere for Florida State. Jack is a freshman, and younger brother of Buster, the All-American catcher.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 01:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Buster Posey, Jana Howser and FSU head coach Mike Martin.

I started the morning in Omaha by heading down to the Omaha Chamber of Commerce for the Dick Howser Trophy ceremony. The trophy is presented to college baseball's player of the year, and voted on by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Florida State's Buster Posey was this year’s recipient after leading the nation with a.460 batting average, 92 RBI and 26 home runs. It is only fitting that a Seminole win the award. Howser was a two-time All-American at Florida State as well as a head coach for the Seminoles. FSU's home playing field is named Dick Howser Stadium. Posey is the second Florida State player to receive the award. J.D. Drew won it in 1997.

Howser's daughter Jana was on hand to present the award for the first time, and Posey, despite his long resume of honors, was humbled by this particular accolade.

"For the past three years, I’ve had the privilege to walk into Dick Howser Stadium and Mike Martin Field every day, seeing Dick Howser’s name on the scoreboard," said Posey. "It is evident how important Dick Howser was to this university, college baseball, and Major League Baseball, and how important he still is."

Posey's day in Omaha has barely started though -- he and the Seminoles face Stanford in less than 90 minutes at 1 p.m. CT.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The NCAA held its annual "State of College Baseball" press conference today touching on a range of issues from the rising Academic Progress Rate in Division I to scholarship limits to the uniform season starting date for all teams. The panel of NCAA Vice President for Baseball and Football Dennis Poppe, NCAA Division I Baseball Committee Chair Larry Templeton and ABCA Executive Director Dave Keilitz field the media's questions and showcased renderings for the new baseball stadium Omaha plans to build to host the CWS in 2011-2035.

The new stadium will be built near downtown Omaha across from the Qwest Center. It will seat 24,000 and have four clubhouses, indoor batting cages and a concourse with a view of the field so fans don't miss a pitch while getting a hot dog.

The goals are to enhance the student-athlete experience and create a family-friendly enviroment in the new stadium.

"The city of Omaha is synonymous with the College World Series," said Poppe. "There aren't that many sites that have that recognition. I think of Augusta, Churchill Downs or my hometown of Indianpolis. This is very unique for a college championship to have that kind of relationship."

The project has already "hit the ground running" as Poppe said he attended meetings this morning to choose a contractor for the new stadium.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 04:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It was easy to find smiles and optimism today as the teams took turns practicing on the Rosenblatt Stadium field. It was a beautiful, sunny day as fans hummed to classic rock music on the stadium loudspeaker while watching players take batting practice. I watched Georgia's hitters take their swings for a while, but not many balls made it over the wall -- the wind was blowing in.

The weather conditions are always a factor at Rosenblatt -- a sentiment Florida State head coach Mike Martin and Stanford head coach Mark Marquess echoed at the coaches' press conference today. The weather for FSU-Stanford game at 1 p.m. CT tomorrow is expected to be pretty nice at first pitch with the temperature in the high 80s, but the wind will be blowing at about 15 mph. As the day progresses, storms could roll in, but it should clear up for the Miami-Georgia contest at night.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 02:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last year, UC Irvine wore the Cinderella crown in Omaha, but this season, Fresno State will play the underdog role and probably be the fans' sentimental favorite.

After winning the Western Athletic Conference title, the Bulldogs received a No. 4 seed in the Long Beach Regional, and over the last two weeks became the first No. 4 seed to advance to the CWS under the present format. Fresno State knocked off four teams ranked in the top 11, including No. 3 national seed Arizona State in Tempe to advance to Omaha for the first time since 1991.

"On the mound, you're not going to see a bunch of guys throwing 90 mph, you're not going to see a bunch of web gems defensively," said Fresno State head coach Mike Batesole. "Offensively, if you've ever seen Arizona State's batting practice, they probably lose 50 balls a day. I think we're still working on our original bucket. It's a club that their strongest point is their character and their heart. They play hard and they're fun to watch."

Fresno State is led by a group of eight seniors, including WAC Player of the Year Steve Susdorf. All eight of the Bulldog seniors will graduate this semester or next, while Susdorf was named a second-team Academic All-American.

The Bulldogs enter the CWS on a hot streak, winning 11 of their last 13 games, despite being on the road since May 16.

"I think they just decided four or five weeks ago that this is how it's going to be," said Batesole. "I'm very proud of that."

Fresno State head coach Mike Batesole basks in pre-CWS media attention.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 01:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A traditional event on the eve of the College World Series is an all-day autograph signing with each of the eight teams. Fans line up in the hundreds for each player's signature, some hoping for the next big Major League star. There were so many fans for Stanford, officials had to cut off the line. But for some players today, it may be the last time they will be asked for their "John Hancock" as a baseball player, as they come to the end of their college careers. Just one more moment to savor.


Stanford signs away.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As I sat listening to the Florida State post-game press conference on the local radio station in Tallahassee last weekend, head coach Mike Martin began his remarks with some familiar words, "See you in Omaha." Over the past several years of attending the College World Series, that has become one of my favorite sayings.

One of my colleagues said to me when I entered the press box at Rosenblatt Stadium today, "It feels like we never left." And no, it kind of feels like we're home.

Coming here is not just about experiencing college baseball at its finest, but about the people who attend this event every year, whether it is to tailgate in the parking lot like droves of LSU fans, or cover it for one of the various media outlets or volunteer to take care of the countless details that goes into the 10-day tournament.

It's the people are at the heart of the College World Series-- the baseball is just a bonus.

Posted by Amy Farnum Novin at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)