Friday, 06/29/07

NCAA: Wells Returns To 'Bama

Six days after telling Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore that he was retiring, Crimson Tide head coach Jim Wells was welcomed back on Wednesday with open arms. Wells is only 52 years old, and his decision to retire last week draw great eybrow raising in Omaha as I'm sure it did throughout SEC country.

Wells is the winningest coach in school history with a record of 553-272 in 13 seasons at the helm of the Crimson Tide. He noted that he couldn't sleep after making his decision to let the game go, and struggled to come to grips with the fact that he'd be leaving behind the program that he's put into the national spotlight.

He's made three trips to Omaha with 'Bama, won six SEC Tournament titles, and two SEC Championships.

Wells said he realized in recent days that he hadn't "lost my passion for the job" and wanted to come back.

"Over the course of the last few days, I knew I just didn't feel right about it," Wells said. "I came to realize that I had personally rushed myself into that decision, that I didn't allow myself the time needed to really consider everything I needed to."

Wells is a good guy and there's not too much else to say about it. He pulled a Dana Altman, except for the fact he didn't agree to coach another team before deciding to return, and upon his return yesterday, he apologized to the fans, players, and everyone else he may have shocked.

Sometimes these coaches get baseball in the blood and just can't get it out. When it's something that you've lived with for your whole life, and you literally eat, drink, beathe and sleep baseball, that's tough to let go. And besides, what else would he do down in there?

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Monday, 06/25/07

CWS: Tar Heels Fall Again

Omaha- When North Carolina left Omaha in 2006, they went home to Chapel Hill as the second to last team standing in the nation.

In 2007, they will return home to N.C. with the same title, national runner-up.

It's also the second straight year that they fell to Oregon State in the CWS Finals, and with the loss on Sunday, they fell to 1-3 against the Beavers in the last two years.

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Sunday, 06/24/07

CWS: Back-To-Back Beavs

They did it. When everyone counted them out, they have done it. Oregon State is your 2007 national champion, and becomes the fifth program ever to repeat as national champs, joining LSU, Stanford, USC, and Texas to do so. The final score from Rosenblatt was Oregon State 9, North Carolina 3.

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Sunday, 06/24/07

CWS: It's a Beaver Nation afterall.

quick hits:

- For the 6th straight year, a team from west of the Mississippi River wins the title.

- For the 4th straight year a team outside of the top 8 national seeds wins the title.

- Hell, for the 4th straight year a team wearing orange as a dominant color wins the title.

- For the 3rd straight year a team that did NOT dogpile in the Regionals or Super Regionals wins the title.

- For the first time ever a No. 3 seeded team wins the national title.

- For the 52nd straight year, the ACC fails to win a national championship.

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Sunday, 06/24/07

CWS: The 6th place team in the Pac 10 wins the title

Domination. Ugly domination.

I've always claimed that the NCAA baseball tournament should do as Dick Vitale advocates for the NCAA basketball tournament, no teams should be given bids if they don't finish in the top five of their conference.

Yet, here we are with Oregon Freakin' State winning its second straight national title... putting a huge hole in my theory. Nonetheless, this is the best team in the country. Obviously, nobody played better baseball in the month of June than did the Beavers.

So the 6th best team in the Pac 10 whips the 2nd place team from the ACC... in a no-brainer.

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Sunday, 06/24/07

CWS: Okay TV peeps, enough gushing over Oregon State

ESPN is making OSU the most hated college athletic team since the "is this the greatest team in college football history?" 2005 USC team.

Every side story, every dugout report, every additional bonus feature has been about Oregon State tonight. If I see the camera following Darwin Barney to the bathroom, then I'll KNOW it's not just me wondering about this.

Didn't they have anything to show for North Carolina?

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Sunday, 06/24/07

CWS: In the words of Mike Patrick, "Ho-lee Cow!"

Ball game.

That's right, I said it. Ball game. It's over.

Barney's relay throw to get Fedroff out at home just took every bit of wind out of UNC's sails. Too bad too. UNC is worthy of a championship, but has just been out-fundamental'd by Oregon State. Incredible play.

Tell you what, if UNC comes back to win this one, I'll walk naked from Omaha to L.A.

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Sunday, 06/24/07

CWS: Fundamentals. Fundamentals. Fundamentals.

Another bunt, another air-mail throw to first from a Carolina pitcher.

Then a Frosh 1B runs to nowhere on a routine groundout that would've ended the inning.

Both those plays cost the Heels a pair of runs. Now they've got into a four-run hole with nine outs to go.

Ouch.

(By the way ESPN, enough with the sappy side stories... but that's what you get when you have a network that doesn't pay attention to the game the full season long.)

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Sunday, 06/24/07

CWS: Karma alert.

If there is such a thing as karma, Oregon State will win.

Since Andrew Carignan was shown barking at the OSU 3rd base coach as he walked off the field. That also immediately qualifies him for the "Jerk List" too.

Then again, maybe the 3rd base coach started it by waving all those runners toward home plate.

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Sunday, 06/24/07

CWS: Typical Carolina luck... or lack thereof

You saw the stat on the screen, when teams get the bases loaded and no outs, there's a 76% chance of scoring two runs or more. Sure enough, UNC gets only one run in that situation.

But let it be noted that Mike Stutes threw a LOT of pitches, including two walks to load the bases. So he may be joining Putkonen on the sidelines here soon.

Just getting only one run was really, really bad for Carolina. Their psyche needed more than that.

By the way, I love Orel Hershiser as a commentator on these games, but he talks way over my simpleton arse at times. All that "hip breaks over the knee and he's pitching uphill" stuff is tough to understand. (Please don't call me stupid.)

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Sunday, 06/24/07

CWS: Not what Carolina wanted, but they're making the right moves now.

I was encouraged by UNC's 1st inning... getting OSU to go a quick 3-and-out and then jumping out on top with a run in the bottom half of the inning.

But that throw-out at home by Jordan Lennerton of Josh Horton was a big blow.

Then, the three runs, including one helped by another defensive faux pas, here in the top half of the 2nd is terrible. Putkonen throwing 34 pitches already cost him his spot on the mound.

And yes, Carignan entering the game here in the 2nd is proof that Mike Fox isn't leaving anything to chance. I loved Mike Patrick's referrence to Yogi Berra's "It gets late out here early" too. Nice strikeout for Carignan leaves Carolina in a better frame of mind, down "only" 3-1.

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Sunday, 06/24/07

CWS: Beavs One Win Away

Oregon State has never been in this position before. The one that has them only having to win one of two games to win the national title. Of course last season saw them lose the first game, making the final two games must wins.

We'll see how OSU comes out tonight. My guess would be real loose, just like we've seen them in their four wins here in Omaha in 2007.

They'll have their workhorse on the mound tonight as they try and seal the deal, as righty Mike Stutes takes the bump. Stutes is 11-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 21 starts. He's tossed 127 1/3 innings, giving up 104 hits, 57 walks, and striking out 124. He's definitely a power guy. Opponents are hitting .224 against him.

For the Tar Heels, they'll also throw a righty as Luke Putkonen gets handed the ball. Putkonen is 8-1 with a 4.44 ERA in 16 starts. He's tossed 81 innings, given up 87 hits, while walking only 22, and striking out 59. Opponents are hitting .272 against him.

The redshirt sophomore was excellent in his first CWS appearance of '07, giving up only three hits and one run while striking out seven in seven innings against a very strong and hot Louisville batting order.

Meanwhile Stutes pitched very well in the win against Arizona State, as he went six innings, allowing four runs, but seemed to tire in the seventh. As always, a win's a win.

Another gorgeous day here in Omaha, as North Carolina will be tonight's home team, and with that, they are wearing their home whites with cut off sleeves that expose their Carolina blue t-shirts underneath with white caps and blue bills.

The Beavers will hope to dogpile for the first time since last year, in their road grey's with dark pinstripes and orange numbers and white OSU lettering ont he front. They were black hats with them. Personally, not a fan.

The crowd is settling in, as another large crowd is expected. Lots of orange looking for the first back-to-back champion in baseball since 1996/1997 when LSU won the title.

The wind is nearly calm for the first time in the last two weeks, and the temperature is in the upper '80's. We're set for baseball from Rosenblatt, as the team's lineup for their pregame introductions, as always, enjoy the game, and follow right along with Gametracker.

We'll either be back with a championship press conference, or a happy UNC bunch after this one.

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Saturday, 06/23/07

CWS: Fox Aint Happy

I feel like we've seen this before. The team out of the loser's bracket between these two clubs has lost the first game of the CWS Finals. Last year it was UNC beating Oregon State, this year it was the opposite. But if there's one thing that Tar Heels head coach Mike Fox can look at it, they came back to win the next two against his squad a year ago. The bottom line on Saturday night, Oregon State was a better team than North Carolina. Plain and simple.

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Saturday, 06/23/07

CWS: Champs Roll

Man, errors have really cost North Carolina against Oregon State . They did last year, and they did again today. The Beavers, with the help of two UNC errors, defeated the Tar Heels, 11-4 in front of the largest CWS Finals crowd in history.

The crowd of 26,887 saw OSU get on the board first in the second inning on behalf of a Jordan Lennerton two-run homer. Then in the bottom of the third, Mitch Canham added a SAC Fly to build the lead to 3-0.

The top of the fith saw UNC make a game of it, as Reid Fronk drove in his 57th and 58th runs of the season with a 2-run double that cut the lead to 3-2. But OSU, as resiliant as they have been, made sure the Tar Heels wouldn't even think they stood a shot.

The Beavers tacked on a run with Chris Hopkins RBI single in the bottom of the 5th, and then two more in the sixth with a John Wallace SAC Fly, and a Scott Santschi RBI single to make it 6-2. After the Tar Heels got a run back in the top of the 7th to make it 6-3, OSU put the game away in the bottom of the inning, with a four spot.

With two runners on and Joey Wong at the plate (one getting on a Tyler Trice throwing error), UNC's pitcher Trice fielded the SAC bunt attempt, and again, threw it away, but this time up the rightfield line, which allowed BOTH runs to score, and it turned it into a three base error, with Wong ending up on third base.

We'll be back with more from Rosenblatt following the press conferences.

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Saturday, 06/23/07

CWS: Ready To Go

The sun is shining, it's only about 80 degrees, and Oregon State and North Carolina are ready to start the 2007 CWS Finals. Oregon State is your home team, while the Tar Heels will be the road.

The Beavers are in their home off-white uniforms with black hats, while UNC is wearing its black tops with Carolina blue piping and numbers, with white pants and dark hats as well.The crowd is filing in, and we're expected to have just about another sellout in this year that will likely see the CWS attendance record that was set in 2006, fall.

The teams are being introduced, the Tar Heel fans behind first are up and waving their pom-poms, while the orange mass behind third is ready to do the same.

Baseball from Omaha, up next, we'll be back after the game with analysis and a whole bunch more, but for now, stay tuned to Gametracker for live scoring updates.

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Saturday, 06/23/07

CWS: Saturday's Pitching Preview

Here's a quick look at Saturday night's pitching matchup in game one of the CWS Finals.

North Carolina:
RHP Alex White 6-6, 4.74 ERA, 18 G, 17 GS, 93 IP, 92 H, 46 BB, 81 K, .269 BAA

Freshman Alex White has struggled mightily in the postseason, but just like Robert Woodard and Luke Putkonen have done, White is due for a big time start here in Omaha.

White last pitched in the 14-4 loss to Rice that sent the Tar Heels into the loser's bracket. White went just 1 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and six runs by walking one and striking out one. It was White's sixth loss of the year.

Then going back to his start against South Carolina in the super regionals, in that game, White gave up five hits, six runs (five earned), in 3 1/3 innings, while walking three and striking out two.

His start against East Carolina in the regionals really wasn't that much better, although he went five innings, he gave up nine hits, and seven runs, while walking one and striking out only one.

Like I stated earlier, he's due for a big time game in the postseason, and I'm sure head coach Mike Fox is thinking, "Tonight is as good a time as any."

Oregon State:
RHP Jorge Reyes 6-3, 3.00 ERA, 23 G, 10 GS, 75 IP, 65 H, 17 BB, 61 K, .232 BAA

Jorge Reyes is also a freshman, but he's had much better results in the postseason, as he's become the Beavers No. 1 starter. In his first CWS start of his career against Fullerton, Reyes recorded the win by giving up just three hits and one run, while walking two and striking three.

In his super regionals against Michigan, Reyes picked up the no decision after throwing seven shutout innings, allowing only three hits, and walking none. He also struck out one in the Beavers' 1-0 victory.

The regionals saw Reyes start in the second game against Rutgers, an elimination game, and in six innings, he allowed only two runs while striking out four to pick up his fifth win of the season.

So we have two freshmen that are going to go at it, but they've each pitched here at the CWS this season, so the jitters should be gone. And like OSU head coach Pat Casey said in the press conference yesterday, these guys aren't really freshmen anymore.

I'll tend to agree. See you tonight from Johnny Rosenblatt. First pitch schedule for 7:10 Eastern.

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Saturday, 06/23/07

CWS: What To Do On An Off Day...

Ever wonder what that big dome structure is over the rightfield wall at Rosenblatt Stadium? If you're like me, I sure did for years watching the CWS, and even when they would tell me it's part of the zoo, I still didn't know what was actually inside the crystal looking mammoth dome.

Friday was an off day here in Omaha, and after the press conferences were over, it was off to Zesto's to have "The Best Cheeseburger In Town" and a world-famous milkshake. The Going Yard guys profiled the place yesterday, and you can see just how they do it, by clicking here.

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Friday, 06/22/07

CWS: Different Roles For The Same Folks

OMAHA- Deja Vu all over again Yogi Berra always has told us. This weekend in Omaha, it will be just that, as North Carolina and Oregon State will meet once again to decide the national championship.

This is certainly not the national championship that anyone predicted at the beginning of the season, let alone the beginning of the postseason, and even for that matter, when we all got here at the end of last week.

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Thursday, 06/21/07

CWS: Same Place, Different Time

If the CWS finals sounds familiar, it's because it should. For the second straight season, North Carolina and Oregon State will meet in a best two-of-three to decide who the national champion is after the Tar Heels knocked off Rice, 7-4 today. It's really remarkable if you think about it. Nobody would have had these guys in here again. I mean let's be serious, only one time before has the final series featured the same two teams in back-to-back years, as the last time was in 1972 and 1973 when USC beat Arizona State each year. Well, maybe North Carolina, but Oregon State? Unbelievable. We certainly have to give them credit where credit is due, and there's a lot to be due. But let's talk about North Carolina.

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Thursday, 06/21/07

CWS: On To The Finals

The scoring opened in the bottom of the second, with a what would you know it? A UNC homerun!! Freshman phenom Dustin Ackley hit his ninth homerun of the season that hit off the top of the batter's eye in centerfield, awfully close to the Rice flagpole. He definitely planned it that way.

Rice, though, came right back with a two run single by Diego Seastrunk in the top of the third that put the Owls up by one. But never fear, those UNC bats have found the power stroke, as Tim Fedroff launched a two run homerun that put the Tar Heels up for good, 3-2.

Seth Williams added a solo shot in the fourth to make it 4-2, Josh Horton added a solo homer in the fifth, and Kyle Seager rocketed a two-run single that made it 7-2.

So that was four straight innings in which UNC hit a homerun. Not bad considering they had two all postseason coming into the game.

Rice would put up a two spot in the seventh with a Jordan Dodson RBI single and a Tyler Henley double, but with second and third and two outs and All-American Joe Savery at the plate, home plate umpire David Buck called out Savery on strikes on a pitch that was about two feet off the plate.

It caused Rice fans and players and coaches alike to start yelling words that rhymed with Buck's last name.

Rice didn't do much of anything the rest of the way against Andrew Carignan who closed it out for the final 2 1-3 innings for his 18th save of the year.

We'll be back with more from Rosenblatt.

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Thursday, 06/21/07

CWS: Since we're officially able to blog again

In celebration of that, here's a shot of Dustin Ackley rounding the bases during his 3rd inning home run.

The second part of the celebration will come when the NCAA - now in it's happy mood to be more lenient - starts allowing beer in the press box.

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Thursday, 06/21/07

CWS: One More To Go

We're one team away from our Championship Series, as Rice and North Carolina are preparing for what basically turns into a one game playoff to determine who will face Oregon State this weekend for the title. We have a great starting matchup on tap, as Rice will send out righty Matt Langwell comes in with an 8-1 record with a 2.11 ERA. While for UNC, it will be righty Adam Warren, who is 11-0 with a 1.95 ERA.

We saw each of these pitchers at some point in the CWS, out of relief. Langwell got rocked a bit in 1 2/3 innings against Louisville, but Warren pitched very well against Mississippi State, picking up the victory for the Heels.

Warren has only allowed more than two runs once this year in his starts. Looking forward to a great matchup in front of another great crowd, including my dad who has flown out from New York to see some of the greatest baseball fans in America.

It's a nice night but very hot, temperature is still 87, but it feels more like 97 walking around out there. Enjoy the game everybody.

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Thursday, 06/21/07

CWS: It's time for the NCAA to return the love

Yesterday I took my family and camera to the awesome Henry Doorly Zoo, right next to Rosenblatt Stadium, then to two College World Series games.

The zoo was incredible, the weather was perfect and the baseball was top notch.

It looked like another perfect day in Omaha.

Looks, however, can be deceiving.

Mostly because there is a group of suits that just don't seem to get it.

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Wednesday, 06/20/07

CWS: The End Of A Run

UC Irvine's run through the 2007 NCAA Tournament is definitely one of the highlights. Unfortunately the Anteaters' run has come to an end after a 7-1 loss to defending national champion Oregon State. The Beavers now move on to the Championship Series for the second consecutive season, and need just two wins to become back-to-back national champions.

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Wednesday, 06/20/07

CWS: Another One Bites The Dust

Unfortunately, another team has left us here in Omaha, and it's those loveable Anteaters. Oregon State ended UC Irvine's run in the 2007 College World Series, with a 7-1 victory on Wednesday night. With the win, the Beavers advance to the Championship Series for the second straight season, where of course, they won it last year

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Wednesday, 06/20/07

CWS: Eat This

Welcome to the nigtcap, as UC Irvine gets set to try and stay alive against Oregon State. With a win, the Beavers would return to the championship series after winning it all last year. A beautiful night is on tap, with temperatures still in the 80s.

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Wednesday, 06/20/07

CWS: They'll Meet Again

North Carolina homerun? Could it be? It is! UNC finally hit a homerun, only its second of the postseason today against Rice, as of all people, Dustin Ackley hit a three run homerun that put today's game out of reach, and kept the Tar Heels' hopes alive.

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Wednesday, 06/20/07

CWS: Welcome To The Postseason, Dustin Ackley

North Carolina's Dustin Ackley has officially arrived in the 2007 postseason, as he hit his first postseason homerun and broke out of a brutally tough stretch to keep the Tar Heels alive, as they won 6-1 over Rice. The two teams will now meet on Thursday to decide who will move on to the championship series.

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Wednesday, 06/20/07

CWS: Owls And Heels Again

Welcome back to Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium as North Carolina gets set to take on Rice. It's a gorgeous day, a little bit warmer than it has been the last couple of days, with temperatures expected to get up near 90, but there's not a cloud in the sky.

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Tuesday, 06/19/07

CWS: Wild Night In Omaha

So you want to be a national seed? There's now only two remaining after Arizona State was knocked off by Cinderella UC Irvine on Tuesday night, 8-7 in 10 innings in front of the second largest crowd in CWS history, 29,034. Where to start with this game? Might as well begin back when it all began.

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Tuesday, 06/19/07

CWS: Anteaters Live

UC Irvine has eliminated Arizona State by the final score of 8-7 in 11 innings. Much more to come but UC Irvine trailed 7-3 heading into the bottom of the 8th inning and came back to win it on an Ollie Linton RBI single with the bases loaded. Crazy scene as the Anteaters move on to play Oregon State tomorrow night.

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Tuesday, 06/19/07

CWS: Feels Like '81 In Here

When you turn on your television sets tonight and see Arizona State's high gold socks and bright gold hats, we're not back in 1981. The Sun Devils have brought back their uniforms from yester-year as they get set to play UC Irvine tonight in our second elimination game of the day.

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Tuesday, 06/19/07

CWS: Louisville's Run Comes To An End

No one expected them to be here. No one expected them to make the NCAA Tournament for that matter. What the Louisville Cardinals accomplished in not only making it to Omaha as one of the final eight teams left in 2007, but also winning a game here, is something that first year head coach Dan McDonnell can now use with his program for years to come. Remember the name, becuase they'll be back.

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Tuesday, 06/19/07

CWS: Tar Heels Alive

North Carolina lives on to see another day, as they defeated Louisville by the final score of 3-1. This was the quickest game by far of the week, as it featured only six hits. There was actually one less HBP than hit, as there were five on the day.

The scoring happened early, and nothing came across after the second inning. Logan Johnson hit his fourth homerun of the College World Series in the first inning, which tied the CWS record for most by an individual in the CWS. That gave the Cardinals a quick 1-0 lead.

North Carolina then came right back in the top of the second, with a Seth Williams RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. With runners on first and third and two outs, the next batter Garrett Gore grounded a ball to third, and Chris Dominguez threw it away, allowing not only the runner on third to score, but also Seth Williams all the way from first. That made it 3-1, and that's where it stayed the whole rest of the way.

UNC finally got a good pitching performance out of a starter, as Luke Putkonen picked up his eighth win of the season, while Colby Wark is your loser, falling to 3-4.

Much more to come from Rosenblatt, as we're down to five teams remaining in the 2007 season.

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Tuesday, 06/19/07

CWS: Kroll is MIA, guess I'll write a quick "preview"

I think Doug Kroll is still trying to shake off the hair of the dog that bit him last night or face down in the gutter somewhere. (Although I was the one that pulled an all-nighter in order to take a friend to the airport for his 5am flight). So I'll just let you know that North Carolina and Louisville are just about ready to throw out the first pitch in game 9 today from Rosenblatt.

First big thing I notice is that the wind is blowing straight in from center field, so that will play a huge factor in Louisville's "bash and pop" offense they've been relying on since they've been here in Omaha. Carolina hs hit just one home run the entire post-season, so they'll be less effected by this.

(Then again Chris Dominguez has been hitting some of these balls to that non-planet called "Pluto" anyway, so we may have some yard calls yet.)

On the mound:
North Carolina: Luke Putkonen (7-1, 4.74 and not so hot lately)
Louisville: Colby Wark (3-3, 3.63 and pitched decent against heavy-hitting Okie State last week)

Even with the North wind blowing in, it's still a pretty warm day. Hopefully the cloud cover we're experiencing now will stick around, since I'll be spending a good portion of the day in the stands.

Oh wait, there's Doug. He just walked in looking like the wreck of the Hesperus.

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Tuesday, 06/19/07

CWS: Is this heaven? No, it's Omaha

For one week of the year, though, this really does feel like heaven.

Especially since I'm not spending all my time in the press box with Kroll and Sorenson.

Witness...

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Tuesday, 06/19/07

CWS: Beavers Dig Omaha

The Beavers just seem to love Omaha. Obviously after winning it last year, they know how to play here and showed it, winning big 12-6 after leading 12-1 after six innings. The Beavers scored in every one of the first six innings, as they blasted Brian Flores and Josh Satow.

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Tuesday, 06/19/07

CWS: OSU Rolls

Oregon State defeated Arizona State by the final sscore of 12-6 on Monday night, capping a really eally long day of baseball. We finished up just about ten hours after we started.

The Beavers scored in every inning from the first through the sixth, putting up a two spot in the first, four spot in the second, one in the the third, fourth and fifth, and finally a three spot in the sixth.

Mike Lissman had four RBI in the first two innings, after driving in a run with a single in the first, and launching a three run shot to left in the second to get things rolling, as the Beavers never looked back.

Mike Stutes picks up the win after going six plus innings, allowing three hits, four runs, while walking five and striking out four. He didnt have his best stuff, but he battled and ran out of gas in that 7th inning.

Brian Flores gets hit with the loss, but we may see him again tomorrow night. The Sun Devils have another date with UC Irvine, who they beat 5-4 on Saturday, while Oregon State has tomorrow off, and will play tomorrow's winner in that game, on Wednesday.

Be back with more from Rosenblatt.

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Monday, 06/18/07

CWS: Change In Plans

Instead of starting lefty Josh Satow, Arizona State head coach Pat Murphy elected to start lefty Brian Flores. I'm not sure why.

Gotta love Murphy, he's a thinking man that will try anything to win. Flores is 11-1 this year with a 3.74 ERA and pitched well against Ole Miss last week. Let's see if his decision was a good one.

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Monday, 06/18/07

CWS: It Had To End Some Time

There were times during UC Irvine's 13 inning 5:40 win that some people never thought this thing was going to end. I was ctually surpised there's never been a longer game in CWS history, as we beat the record by 40 minutes. I have to give credit to Mark Etheridge for being right about seeing a really lon ggame. That's the reputation for West Coast baseball, especially in the Big West. The guys step out, the coaches change signs, they make their fair share of pitching changes and mound visits. Next thing you know we're in the 13th 5 hours and 40 minutes later.

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Monday, 06/18/07

CWS: As Long As It Gets

We just completed the longest game in College World Series history, as UC Irvine lives to see another day, as they defeated Big West rival Cal State Fullerton, by the final score of 5-4 in 13 innings. This one would have been long even without the extra innings, as we were at about the four hour mark when we headed to extra innings, and we finished at 5:40, surpassing the previous record from 1981 when Oklahoma State beat Arizona State, 11-10 in 13 innings, that took exactly 5 hours.

The winning run scored on a Bryan Petersen basehit in the bottom of the 13th, after Fullerton had lived another out when Matt Morris singled to left and leftfielder Josh Fellhauer gunned down Taylor Holiday at homeplate, but on the plate, runners moved to 2nd and 3rd, and Dustin Birosak gave up the gamewinner after coming into the game to face Petersen.

More to come from Rosenblatt, as Fullerton heads back to the West Coast, while UC Irvine now waits to play the loser of Oregon State/Arizona State.

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Monday, 06/18/07

CWS: Friends And Foes

They're the best of friends, UC Irvine head coach Dave Serrano and Fullerton head coach George Horton. Serrano used to be the pitching coach with the Titans, but on this day, they are foes. I'm sure they even went out and had a steak last night, but unfortunately for the Big West, somebody is heading back home to California after this one today. In our second elimination game of the week, The Anteaters and Titans will meet for the right to stay alive another day.

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Sunday, 06/17/07

CWS: Three Hour Tour

I'm convinced every game here these two weeks will be three hours! Another three hour game tonight, as Rice defeated North Carolina, 14-4. Part of the reason why the game lasted as long as it did, was the fact the Tar Heels used eight pitchers. And that ladies and gentleman, is an CWS record for pitchers used in a game.

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Sunday, 06/17/07

CWS: Rice For Real

The Rice Owls are here to win it all. Plain and simple. They beat up on the North Carolina pitching staff and won it running away, 14-4. The Tar Heels used a College World Series record eight pitchers in the defeat, with Alex White proving ineffective once again, only lasting 1.1 innings giving up six earned runs and five hits.

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Sunday, 06/17/07

CWS: Planting A Seed

This is the one a lot of us have been waiting for. Two national seeds are getting set to get underway here in Omaha as North Carolina and Rice will do battle with the right to remain in the winner's bracket. It's got the makings of being a CWS classic.

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Sunday, 06/17/07

CWS: Louisville Wins First CWS Game

In a year of firsts for Louisville, first year head coach Dan McDonnell has won the program's first CWS game, by defeating the Bulldogs of Mississippi State, 12-4. A power display is all that can be said about this Louisville team. They threw up 18 more hits on the board, and launched four homeruns, including two by third baseman Chris Dominguez.

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Sunday, 06/17/07

CWS: Louisville's Marks OK

Louisville starter Justin Marks got nailed in the knee with a linedrive in the bottom of the sixth inning in a very scary moment. The ball actually hit him in the inside of the knee, and he went down and rolled around writhing in pain for a couple of minutes, but got back up and took a couple of practice tosses before continuing on.

Marks walked a batter, then gave up a three-run homer to Brandon Turner before he was pulled by head coach Dan McDonnell. Marks was examined by doctors in the lockerroom where it was determined he would NOT need x-rays and it was labeled as only a bruise.

Definitely good news for the Cardinals.

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Sunday, 06/17/07

CWS: Red Hot Cards Win

Chicks dig the longball. Not sure if I do anymore, but we saw five more homeruns today, four by Louisville, en route to a blowout 12-4 win over Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are the first team to leave us here in Omaha, as they will head home after going 0-2. Without further ado, here's how the scoring went down this afternoon, again with the wind blowing straight out to leftfield.

Louisville's bats continue to stay hot, as they put up 18 hits on the afternoon, and put up crooked numbers in each of the first four innings. Logan Johnson hit his third homerun in two games in the first inning, a long bomb to centerfield, for his 16th of the season to make it 2-0. In the next inning, Chris Dominguez continued his unbelievable postseason success, launching his 14th homerun of the year, a no doubt about it shot to leftcenter to make it 3-0.

In the top of the third, Isaiah Howes hit a two run double to really break the game open, making the score 5-0 in favor of the Cards. In the top of the fourth, Daniel Burton launched a three run shot for his 8th homer of the year that made it 8-0. If you're wondering, that was the shortest homer of the day.

Mississippi State got on the board in the sixth with a three run shot by Brandon Turner, his third of the season, to cut the lead to five. But then Chris Dominguez came up again in the next half inning, and this time hit a homerun to leftfield that I still don't think has landed yet. It came about two feet from hitting that big scoreboard up there. An absolute mammoth blast, for his 15th of the year to give the Cards a seven run lead. Chris Cates followed with an RBI groundout in the inning, while Mitch Moreland added an RBI double off the top of the fence, one of those yellow partitions.

Logan Johnson capped the scoring for Louisville with a run scoring single, but no RBI in the ninth.

I can't believe how hot this team is. Louisville has been unbelievably hot, and they live to see another day.

Justin Marks is your winner, as he moves to 9-2, while Chad Crosswhite is your loser at 8-5. Time of the game was 3:18 in front of a crowd of 18,187 here at Johnny Rosenblatt.

More details to follow after the press conferences.

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Sunday, 06/17/07

CWS: Everyone Knows It's Windy

Story of today...The Wind! A stiff southerly breeze has swept over Omaha, and you know what that means? A wind that is blowing straight out to leftcenter. And I mean, the wind is blowing so hard that the flagpole is moving, and bent towards left. The forecast calls for temperatures right around 90 again, and wind gusts up to 35 MPH. Bottom line? Expect some high scoring affairs.

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Saturday, 06/16/07

CWS: Champs For A Reason

Oregon State is showing people why they are still defending national champs. It's one thing to win the title last year, and finish this season sixth in their conference. The Beavers proved the naysayers wrong once again, defeating Fullerton, 3-2 in a game that featured some homers and some pretty good pitching.

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Saturday, 06/16/07

CWS: How 'Bout Them Champs?

Don't count them out yet. Oregon State used a great pitching performance from starter Jorge Reyes, who went six innings giving up just one run and three hits, en route to a 3-2 win over Cal State Fullerton.

Oregon State got on the board first, and led this thing the whole way, with DH Mike Lissman rocketing a homerun to leftfield off Wes Roemer to make it 1-0, it was his tenth homer of the year.

The Beavers added a run in the secondas rightfielder Scott Santschi (making just his 22nd start of the year, roped an RBI single to make it 2-0. Then in the third, Fullerton's Scott Mahin got the Titans on the board with his tenth homerun of the year to cut the lead in half.

We went through the middle innings unscathed, until the top of the seventh when Santschi struck again. This time with a solo homerun, his first of the season to pad the lead and make it 3-1. The bottom of the 8th is an inning that coach Horton is going to want back. His Titans had 1st and 3rd with nobody out when Josh Fellhauer laid down a squeeze bunt to try and plate Joe Scott, but Scott stopped and was caught in between third and home. The rundown allowed Fellhauer to go to 2nd, and Hardman to third. A supplement fly ball to left by Mahin cut the lead to 3-2, but that's all they would get.

That's an inning where OSU handed them some runs, after an infield single that was a borderline error at third, but they just couldn't come through.

Things did get hairy in the ninth, as Wallach popped up to left with two outs, and LF John Wallace and SS Darwin Barney each looked at eah other at the ball fell in as an error was charged to Wallace. Patterson was pulled from the game for Eddie Kunz. OSU's closer came in and gave up a single to Jon Wilhite to put runners on first and third with two outs before getting a groundout to end things, and send home the huge Beaver contingent to their hotels, very happy.

More to come from Rosenblatt, where once againt he final score, Oregon State 3, Cal State Fullerton 2.

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Saturday, 06/16/07

CWS: Bleacher creatures

Well, I can't talk about the game of course (6th inning, 7:49 PM CDT), but that turns out to be a good thing during Game 4 of the College World Series. I'm comfortably ensconced (if a little cramped) in the left-center-field bleachers, three rows from the top of a packed Rosenblatt Stadium. And let me tell you, the focus here is not necessarily on the game.

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Saturday, 06/16/07

CWS: Day Two, Game Two

As the day for any West Coast college baseball fan continues, we have another great one set to begin here from Rosenblatt Stadium, as defending national champion Oregon State makes its Omaha return against a Fullerton team that was here in '06 as well.

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Saturday, 06/16/07

CWS: Bright Lights And Long Balls

First of all, give Pat Murphy the award for best press conference. It's always a good time, and he didn't disappoint today. Luckily, his team won for our sake, 5-4 in a great baseball game that featured real good pitching, and the longball.

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Saturday, 06/16/07

CWS: Sun Devils Use Long Ball

Finally not a slugfest. In today's opening game, Arizona State defeated UC Irvine by the final score of 5-4. Shockingly, a team didn't hit double digits in the hit department!! Pitching, what a concept!

Like yesterday, though, this one was all about "momentum," or like a basketball game, it was a game of runs (figuratively speaking). Arizona State got on the board first in the second inning with Matt Spencer's three-run homerun, his ninth homerun of the year. It was an absolute no doubt abouter. But then the Anteaters showed some fight.

In the top of the fourth, Bryan Petersen hit a two run triple to leftfield to cut the lead to 3-2. Sean Madigan followed with an RBI double to tie the game. Ollie Linton connected on an RBI single to take the lead 4-3, but the at-bat Irvine may want to remember is Tyler Vaughn who left runners on 2nd and 3rd as he grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.

The longball continued then for ASU, as CJ Retherford hit a solo homer, his fourth of the year to tie the game, and then the big blow by Ike Davis in the bottom of the 8th sealed the deal for the Sun Devils, sending them into the winner's bracket on Monday.

Your winning pitcher is Jason Jarvis, who improves to 2-2 on the year.

Your losing pitcher is Scott Gorgen, who falls to 12-3 on the season.

The attendance in the first session here at Rosenblatt, 19,368. Off to the press room, be back with much more.

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Saturday, 06/16/07

CWS: Another Day, Two More Games

As one might expect, it's hot in middle America in the middle of June, and today's no exception. Current gametime temperature is 88 degrees, with the high expected to end up right at about 90. If you needed one word to describe what it's like outside, i'd use, blistering. Arizona State and UC Irvine are set to go, and here's a quick look.

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Saturday, 06/16/07

CWS: Game three about to throw it out.

UC Irvine (45-15-1)
Arizona State (48-13)

It will be Matt Gorgen (12-2, 2.68), who has to be the hottest pitcher in the country the last few weeks matching up with Mike Leake (13-1, 3.59), who has only one loss of the year (but you knew that from reading the stats after his name, sorry, my fault.).

UCI is coached by Dave Serrano, who according to the press guide, graduated from some place called Trinity College. ASU is coached by Pat Murphy, who you either love or hate, and is a grad of Florida Atlantic.

Should be a wicked game, considering UCI's many underlying storylines (great pitching, rock-solid/spectacular defense, first time in Omaha) going up against Arizona State's Heavy Metal offense (think more Metallica-like than Winger).

The Sign of the Weekend---

(The sign reads "Management reserves the right to bend your hat if you look like a dork!" It's hangin' on the door of the Stadium View Card/Memorabilia shop right across the street from Rosenblatt. It's a beauty.)

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Friday, 06/15/07

CWS: Another Comeback

Game two, much like the first except without as many runs and hits, but still, a lot of scoring and a comeback was involved. North Carolina defeats Mississippi State by the final score of 8-5.

The Tar Heels fell behind 4-0 in the second after Robert Woodard had absolutely nothing, giving up seven hits in the process, including six in the second inning. He lasted just 1.2 innings.

But a two spot in the fourth, and a six spot in the sixth turned things around, and the Tar Heels were able to jump in front where the bullpen was able to hold things.

In that second inning for the Bulldogs, Russ Sneed knocked in two with a double, Connor Powers hit a SAC Fly, and Brandon Turner had an RBI single to give MSU the lead. But in the fourth, UNC started to chip away as Chad Flack hit an RBI single to score Dustin Ackley, while Benji Johnson followed with an RBI single of his own to cut the lead in half and made it 4-2. Then all heck broke loose in the bottom of the sixth. Seth Williams reached on an error by third baseman Russ Sneed and on the play a run scored to make it 4-3. Then Benji Johnson followed with a double literally off the top of the fence to tie the game at 4-4. After the Bulldogs loaded the bases, Reid Fronk was hit by a pitch to take the lead 5-4, Tim Fedroff hit a SAC Fly to make it 6-4, and finally Dustin Ackley followed with a two-run single to make it 8-4.

Mitch Moreland of the Bulldogs hit an absolute monster shot to straight away center that definitely pushed 450 feet to add another run in the seventh. But the Bulldogs were shut down in the ninth by UNC closer Andrew Carignan.

More to come from Rosenblatt.

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Friday, 06/15/07

CWS: Game Two

Back again. That's what North Carolina's mission has been since the final out was made last year against Oregon State in the championship series. They are back and ready to go. The Heels will take on the Bulldogs of Mississippi State.

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Friday, 06/15/07

CWS: Quite The Way To Open

Who would have told thought that two teams, top ten in ERA, would combine for 25 tickets and 34 hits between them. That's what Lousiville and Rice combined to do, as Rice defeated Louisville 15-10 in the first game of the 2007 College World Series.

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Friday, 06/15/07

CWS: Slugfest, Wow

I had everything all typed out praising Louisville for staying hot and continuing their roll from the Regionals into the Super Regionals and straight here to Omaha. But that serves me right for counting out a team in a college baseball game. Rice used three mult-run innings to overcome a 10-4 deficit, and defeated Louisville 15-10 in the first game of the 2007 College World Series.

Who would have thought this one would be a slugfest, when two of the best pitching staffs matched up against one another. But 25 runs and 34 hits later, that's what we're left with.

Louisville scored in each of the first five innings, and led 5-0, and led 10-4 after four and a half. But then the Rice bats REALLY woke up against Lousiville starter Zack Pitts. The Owls put up a three spot in the fifth, a run in each the sixth and seventh, followed by a huge six spot in the 8th to win the thing after trailing going into the 8th.

Will have details coming right after the press conference.

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Friday, 06/15/07

CWS: Rice wins game one 15-10

Louisville - 10 15 4
RIce - 15 19 0

Time of game 3:28

WP: Bobby Bramhall, 7-2
LP: Trystan Magnuson, 3-3

Danny Lehman and Joe Savery get fives after being knocked in by Jordan Dodson

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Friday, 06/15/07

CWS- The College World Series is about to start

This blog entry is NOT posted during game time.

This is the view from the press box at Rosenblatt as Rice and Louisville line up for the national anthem before the first game of the College World Series.

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Friday, 06/15/07

CWS: Game One Notes

Welcome to Omaha everybody as game one of the 2007 College World Series is set to begin. Louisville and Rice have each finished their BP and infield practice and the groudscrew is set to put the lines here on the field at Rosenblatt. Let's take a look at the Cardinals and Owls lineups.

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Friday, 06/15/07

Rice: Analysis you can't get anywhere else

Everybody's been breaking down the opening-day CWS matchups all week. We all know Rice is playing Louisville, we now know that it will be Rice freshman righthander Ryan Berry against Louisville junior righthander Zach Pitts. Louisville has been en fuego at the plate and runs like crazy on the bases, especially the ridiculous Boomer Whiting, who has 73 stolen bases on the year. That's more than the entire Rice roster has attempted (70). Rice has been so-so at the plate but filthy dominant on the mound, allowing less than two earned runs per game in the postseason.

So what new information can I give you in the scant hours before the 1 p.m. CT opener Friday? How about a karma report on the assembled teams, a Rice baseball history lesson and some tales from the real Road to Omaha.

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Friday, 06/15/07

Who takes the title in Omaha?

It's been a tournament of remarkable surprises so far, but I think that Omaha is where things will start to level out. We were asked to submit our picks, and I only saw three teams in person this year--Arizona State, Mississippi State and Rice--this year, yet I feel pretty confident in picking Wayne Graham's Owls to take home another title.

Why? Three reasons: Rice's ability to consistently get on base, to pitch as well as anyone in America and a hot streak that's unmatched by any team in America.

Let's start with the hitting. The Owls won't necessarily frighten anyone with their big bats (only two players slugging over .500) but what they do is wear pitchers down with the ability to work opposing arms deep in the count. Every hitter in the lineup by Diego Seastrunk have an on-base percentage over .400, and that enables the Owls to scatter men all over the diamond until the big hit comes.

And putting that kind of pressure on pitching makes other teams go to the 'pen, and even in Omaha, many teams don't have more than four or five good arms on the team, period. So, that patience will help Rice get some looks against six and seven-ERA pitchers as the games and tourney move along, where the odds really favor Rice.

Second, no one has got the mix of arms the Owls have. They've got a staff ERA of 2.83, and about eight quality arms who saw significant action this year (and a few more waiting behind them, just in case). They'll also have Cole St. Clair, one of their better arms, ready for Omaha. St. Clair threw just 21 innings all year after suffering a shoulder injury lifting weights, and the dominant lefty closer, who appeared on Team USA last summer, should be rounding into form as things get started in Omaha.

If that's not enough, consider this: The Owls have lost TWICE since a March 27 defeat at Texas, and one of those was an April 14 loss at Houston. Yes, that's winning 36 of 38 games in that stretch, including 27 of the last 28. Granted, Conference USA is not the ACC or the SEC, but there are some reasonably-good teams there, and no one challenged themselves out of the league like Rice.

Finally, baseball's a funny game where teams can lose or win a number of close games and allow their record to obscure how good a team they generally are. Assuming a team doesn't load up on patsies (and the Owls didn't), a team's overall runs scored and given up are a great indicator of how good a team they really are. Rice passes the test there, too, having scored over twice as many runs as their opponents (477 to 233).

If I had to go with a team besides the Owls, it would be Arizona State. Brett Wallace and the Sun Devils have what may be America's best offense (they slug .537 as a team), and a good rotation of Josh Satow, Mike Leake and Brian Flores. But teams need pitching depth to win a tourney like Omaha, and although those three can all go nine innings, I just don't see the depth behind them.

And, I'd be remiss if I left out North Carolina. The Tar Heels are built similarly to Rice, as they get on base and beat you with a lot of hitters who have some power, and a deep pitching staff as well. But I'll give the edge to the Owls here, too, because I don't think that the 'Heels have the arms at the very top of the rotation like Rice.

So there you have it: I like the Owls to be the last ones standing in Omaha this week in a tourney where five of the eight national seeds didn't make it to Omaha.

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Thursday, 06/14/07

CWS: Fullerton Playing Like Titans of Old

Don't look at Fullerton's regular season statistics when gauging its chances at the College World Series.

You can't judge the Titans by their .280 team batting average. You can't judge them by their 38-23 record. You can't judge them by their lack of a double-digit home run hitter. This is not the same team now that struggled to a fifth-place finish in the Big West.

Like Head Coach George Horton said after beating UCLA in the Super Regionals; there's just something about those uniforms.

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Wednesday, 06/13/07

Mississippi State Preview

With a knick knack paddy whack give the Dogs a bone, this old man came rolling home. The same could be said for Ron Polk and his Mississippi State Bulldogs as they roll into Omaha for the first time in 10 years. What will the results be? Soon, we shall see.

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Wednesday, 06/13/07

CWS: Guess who's back?

The champs are back for the third straight season and are riding a wave of success into Omaha. Oregon State knocked off regional host Virginia twice, Big East Champions Rutgers two times and then took two from Big Ten Champs Michigan during Super's.

The Beavers are as hot as any team entering the CWS, having gone 10-14 in Pac-10 play and just sliding into the tournament, the Beavers have put together a string of outstanding pitching performances to get into the final eight.

Here is a preview of the defending national champs, enjoy.

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Wednesday, 06/13/07

CWS: The Right Cards

The Louisville Cardinals arrive on Wednesday at the College World Series as one of the biggest stories. No one expected them to be here. Heck, no one ever has. The Cardinals, under first-year head coach Dan McDonnell, make their first appearance in the College World Series, in only their second postseason appearance in school history. Here's a look at one of the hottest teams in the nation.

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Tuesday, 06/12/07

CWS: Devils eye second chance at dogpile

After beating Ole Miss Sunday to punch their ticket to Omaha, the Arizona State Sun Devils executed the lamest dogpile I have ever seen.

They first just gathered together and hugged each other.

Then, as if someone realized, "Hey, we're supposed to dogpile!" they began to very orderly climb on top of each other until they created a pile.

As far as dogpiles go, this one was barely chihuahua-worthy.

"As soon as [the final out] happened, I looked at [SS Andrew] Romine because he's already been there, and I didn't know what to do," confessed first baseman Brett Wallace. "He started jumping up and down and he came over and gave me a hug. I honestly didn't know what to do."

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Tuesday, 06/12/07

Tar Heels Try To Take The Next Step

There's a new sheriff in town in the Carolinas, and his name is Mike Fox. The North Carolina Tar Heels, who were eliminated from post-season play by South Carolina in 2002-2004, faced down their old nemesis and advanced to the College World Series for the second straight year. Having come oh so close last year before a heartbreaking loss to Oregon State in the national championship game, the Tar Heels weathered the loss of standout pitchers Andrew Miller and Daniel Bard in the first round of last year's draft, and head to Omaha for an encore performance.

Here's a look at the Tar Heels around the diamond:

POSITION PLAYERS:
C Tim Federowicz, So (.357-4-64)
1B Dustin Ackley, Fr (.416-7-66, 11 SB)
2B Garrett Gore, So (.333-2-26)
SS Josh Horton, Jr (.331-8-50)
3B Chad Flack, Jr (.251-7-44)
LF Reid Fronk, Jr (.327-11-54)
CF Seth Williams, Jr (.301-8-40)
RF Tim Fedroff, Fr (.344-4-36)
DH Kyle Seager, Fr (.311-2-28)

The Tar Heels lost only Jay Cox from the every day lineup from last year's team, and after plugging in a couple of impressive freshmen haven't missed a beat. And they haven't even missed Matt Spencer, who started 46 games last year and has had a big year at Arizona State after transferring. Although they have hit fewer home runs (64 vs 83) and stolen fewer bases (46 vs 91) compared to last year's team, they have still managed enough offense to get things done.

Ackley, Collegiate Baseball's Freshman Player of the Year leads the team in batting average, RBI, stolen bases, and hits. He's struggled in NCAA tournament play (.182 BA), but had the game winning hit in the bottom of the ninth against East Carolina to win the Chapel Hill Regional. Gore and Seager shared second base until Gore settled in there, and he is a difficult out in the nine hole. Seager has been productive since taking over at DH. Horton was drafted in the second round by the Oakland A's, and although he's committed 17 errors, has made some outstanding defensive plays and has a great arm, not to mention that he's probably the best clutch hitter on the team. Flack has had a down year offensively, but it was his two-run home run on Sunday night which broke a 4-4 tie (and a 9 game homerless streak for UNC) to give them the lead for good on the way to a Super Regional Championship. That homer came exactly one year after his two home runs beat Alabama to send UNC to last year's CWS. Fronk played third base his first two seasons, but after struggling there at times has made the move to left field and excelled both defensively and as the leadoff hitter. Williams has been impressive defensively in centerfield and leads the Tar Heels in hitting in NCAA play (.444). A big year at the plate allowed Tim Fedroff (yes, it's easy to get him confused with Tim Federowicz) to take over right field. Federowicz is the clean up hitter and second on the team in RBI; he'll occasionally come out from behind the plate to pitch in relief as well.

STARTING PITCHERS:
Robert Woodard, Sr (10-2, 3.01)
Alex White, Fr (6-5, 4.22)
Luke Putkonen, So (7-1, 4.74)
Adam Warren, So (10-0, 2.09)

Woodard is the stabilizing force and rudder of the team; he is 33-5 for his career and went 22-0 at home. He had a complete game shutout against Clemson in last year's CWS. White is legit- he has great tools but only two wins in his last eight starts; he's gone 0-1 with a 12.96 ERA in his two NCAA starts so far. Putkonen is a talented draft-eligible sophomore, taken in the third round by Detroit. He has also been inconsistent late in the year, with only one win in his last six starts (0-0, 9.00 ERA in NCAA play). Still, he's 13-1 for his career. How good was UNC's bullpen in the Regionals and Super Regionals? Warren went 10-0 as the midweek starter and didn't see the mound in either round. If UNC gets off to a good start in Omaha, having him as a fourth starter could be huge.

BULLPEN:
Andrew Carignan, Jr (2-1, 1.36, 15 saves)
Rob Wooten, Jr (6-1, 2.15)
Matt Danford, Sr (5-0, 2.83, 1 save)
Tim Federowicz, SO (2-2, 4.05, 3 saves)

Carignan throws smoke and has been UNC's nearly flawless closer the past two seasons, getting 15 saves each year. He had a gutty 4 inning relief appearance Sunday night against South Carolina, holding them scoreless as UNC's offense took control of the game. Wooten has 41 relief appearances and really emerged in the post-season; he appeared in all 6 UNC games of the first two rounds, winning three. He didn't allow a run and struck out 14 batters in 9 2/3 innings. Danford has done a little bit of everything in the bullpen and is 19-5 in his UNC career. His action in the first two rounds has been limited only because Wooten has been throwing so well.

North Carolina has come from behind in the sixth inning or later in each of their past five victories, and hope that experience in winning close games will get them to the top of the hill at Rosenblatt. At a school with such high profile coaches as Roy Williams and Butch Davis, baseball coach Mike Fox has quietly built UNC into one of the top programs in the country. Annual trips to Omaha may become a common occurrence for Tar Heel fans. Hopefully with the growing of the baseball fan base and construction of a new, larger stadium it will remain a special treat and not an expectation.

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Tuesday, 06/12/07

CWS: Wallace Award Choices

I was given the privilege to cast a ballot in this year's 2007 Brooks Wallace Award. The award, named after the former Texas Tech shortstop and assistant coach, is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate baseball player. With the list trimmed to 10 players, it was my job to select the top three, so here's who I selected.

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Tuesday, 06/12/07

CWS: Fear the Mighty 'Eater

Make no mistake, UC Irvine is not headed to Omaha to sightsee.

"We're not going to Omaha just to go," said Coach Dave Serrano. "We're going to Omaha to try and win a national championship, and we've got as good a shot as anyone else."

Serrano's right about that. The Anteaters are a loaded team, and here are five reasons why one shouldn't overlook UC Irvine.

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Monday, 06/11/07

Corvallis: Sights and Sounds

It is indescribable what happened to the Michigan pitching staff in today's match-up at Goss Stadium. After Zach Putnam threw a gem in a 1-0 loss, Michigan's staff could not find the plate against the Beavers of Oregon State. The Wolverine staff combined for 10 walks and a hit batter including four from starter Mike Wilson who went 1.1 innings.

Oregon State struck early as plating four runs in the second thanks to Wolverine pitchers offering free passes. OSU was able to benefit from a 3 hit 3 RBI day by shortstop Darwin Barney, whose double in the fifth plated one of three runs that inning.

OSU starting pitcher Mike Stutes was lights out on the hill racking up nine strikeouts against the Wolverine bats. Stutes gave up only four hits to UM including two solo shots over the left field wall by Michigan center fielder Eric Rose.

As the game ended, OSU lined up and celebrated with hand shakes to each other and then with the Wolverines. OSU players revealed later, that you get one dog pile a year and they did not want to waste it.

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Monday, 06/11/07

Corvallis: Back to Back to Back to Omaha

After a pitchers duel in Game One, it was an indescribable Game Two that sent Oregon State back to Omaha with an 8-2 victory over the Wolverines. I will have more for you after the post game press conference, including details on scoring, a fan recap and quotes.

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Monday, 06/11/07

Corvallis: Mike and Mike on the Mound

We are about to get going here in Corvallis, Oregon. It is a beautiful Monday afternoon during finals week as the Beavers and the Wolverines get ready to tangle in Game Two of a Best of Three Super Regional. Oregon State is the home team today and is wearing their off white uniforms with Beavers on the chest in old-school lettering, black hats with the traditional OSU baseball logo. Michigan is on the road in grey uniforms with blue lettering across the chest, blue hats with a yellow M.

Michigan looks to get revenge from the 1-0 loss yesterday in a Zach Putnam one hitter. OSU who has not lost a series this season after winning Game 1, looks to get back to Omaha for the third straight season.

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Monday, 06/11/07

Fullerton: Unlikely Titans in Familiar Territory

UCLA needed a career performance from freshman pitcher Gavin Brooks tonight to have a chance against Fullerton. They got it.

But the Fullerton pitching staff was just a little bit better as CSUF didn't allow any earned runs in a thrilling 2-1 Super Regional clinching victory over UCLA.

"That was as good of a baseball game as I've been involved in in a long long time," Fullerton Coach George Horton said. "This is about as sweet as it gets for me."

The sweetness he was referring to was the fact that of 15 Fullerton teams to earn a trip to Omaha, this was one of least likely to make it. The Titans struggled in conference play and finished the regular season with a 6-11 run. They finished fifth in the Big West. They have two hitters in the starting lineup hitting better than .300. But now they're one of the last eight teams in the country that will play for the CWS title starting next week.

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Monday, 06/11/07

Fullerton: Titans Fans Get Final Cheer

Tonight's game provided plenty of excitement on its own, but a little help from Tommy Lasorda and a fully-charged crowd made for an electric atmosphere at Goodwin Field.

The Titans fans, sensing the impending trip to Omaha, showed up in full force; and Fullerton needed every bit of help they got in pulling of the 2-1 clinching win. Dodgers great Tommy Lasorda even showed up to sign autographs and show some support.

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Monday, 06/11/07

Fullerton: Titans Edge UCLA for Trip to Omaha

After a 12-2 snoozer in Fullerton's favor on Saturday, we were treated to a thriller tonight as the Titans pulled out a 2-1 win over UCLA to complete the 2-0 Super Regional sweep and punch their ticket to Omaha.

Both teams got outstanding pitching performances as Jeff Kaplan earned the win with 6.2 innings of one-run work followed by shutout ball from the CSUF bullpen. UCLA freshman Gavin Brooks looked about as good as somebody can in a loss with 12 strikeouts, no walks and two earned runs in eight innings of work.

UCLA went into the ninth with the 2-1 deficit and it looked like it would tie it up when Justin Uribe led off with a double and reached third base with one out. But he was thrown out at the plate when third baseman Evan McArthur fielded a groundball and threw a perfect strike for the fielder's choice out at home.

I'm off to get the scoop from the press conferences and will be back to wrap things up.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Tempe: Wrapup -- the Art of the Dogpile

It's always fun to watch teams clinch a berth in Omaha just to see how they react. Most come together in a joyous, emotional dogpile that makes you wonder how no one gets hurt. Rice didn't dogpile Saturday, sending the message that they're not satisfied with making it to Omaha, that they want to win the whole thing and dogpile then.

Arizona State did neither.

They kind of gathered together and hugged, then slowly and orderly started piling up on each other once they realized that dogpiles are seemingly required behavior.

The good news for ASU is that they have the talent to earn another chance to dogpile this season.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Chapel Hill: Sweet Swan Song For The Bosh

It was "a great way to send out Boshamer Stadium", according to North Carolina Coach Mike Fox, as UNC came from behind yet again to defeat South Carolina 9-4 and earn a second consecutive trip to Omaha. The Tar Heels will meet Mississippi State on Friday, June 15th in the late game.

Trailing 4-1, UNC scored three runs to tie it in the top of the sixth, then took the lead on a 2 run Chad Flack home run in the top of the 7th inning. "The Stopper", Andrew Carignan pitched four innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. Carignan, the UNC closer who usually pitches only one or two innings at a time, struck out pinch hitter Drew Martin to end the game and set off a frenzied celebration by the Tar Heels. Catcher Tim Federowicz hurled the ball high up over the backstop following the final out, with the ball landing a few feet away from where I was sitting on press row.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Tempe: Satow pitches Devils back to Rosenblatt

Look out Omaha, Murph's coming back to town.

Arizona State got 7.2 innings of shutout pitching from Josh Satow and a game-breaking homer from Brett Wallace to beat Ole Miss 7-1, sweeping the Tempe Super Regional series.

The win sends the Sun Devils to the College World Series for the 20th time, the third time under head coach Pat Murphy.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Tempe: Dogpile alert

It was the most orderly and safety-conscious dogpile I've ever seen, though.

The Arizona State Sun Devils will head back to Omaha for their 20th visit.

The Devils rode 7.2 shutout innings from little Josh Satow to a 7-1 win, sweeping Ole Miss in the Tempe Super Regional.

Back in a bit with a game story, quotes, and a wrapup.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Corvallis: Note on Game Two

Forgot to mention in my previous entries the time for game two.

Game two in Corvallis depends on the outcome of Arizona State and Ole Miss. If ASU wins then the Beavers and Wolverines meet at 4; Pacific. If ASU loses the teams tangle at 1; Pacific.

I for one am hoping for a 4 o'clock start time, because I have a final tomorrow. Stupid Intro to Visual Arts.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Fullerton: Got Any Extra Tickets?

I love walking through the parking lot at a sporting event with a computer strapped over my shoulder and my media credential in full view and having somebody ask me if I have any extra tickets. No; I don't have any extra tickets.

It happens at pretty much every sold-out event that I cover and it never ceases to amaze me when people don't put two and two together. Anyhow, the point is that Fullerton fans are sensing a clincher tonight and the demand appears high for what could be the last home game of the season before a trip to Omaha.

They sense a win tonight with good reason. Nothing from UCLA's performance on Saturday prompted me to believe that they're going to put up a fight tonight, even if Bruins Coach John Savage doesn't think it will be tough to bounce back from a 12-2 drubbing (he said so in the press conference). Maybe he knows something that I don't.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Louisville: Finally, Some Supperlatives

Isn't the best part about the end of a tournament the awards? Well, I guess so. But Louisville made it real easy to do so, by completely shutting down the Cowboys, which came in with one of the top ten offenses in the nation, hitting at a .326 clip. Well, they left with their tails between their legs, scoring just five runs in three games, including a shutout in the first game of the super regional.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Louisville: Comments And Other Stuff

There was 3:31 of baseball, but the greatest moments probably came after the final out when the Cardinals players and staff all mobbed each other around the pitcher's mound for the traditional dogpile. To be honest, I'm not sure what the appeal of that is, as I'm not sure how more players don't come out of their hurt. But to each his own. Plus, this one was over after the fourth inning!

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Louisville: Omaha In The Cards Today

Where to start with this one. It was ugly yet sweet at the same time, and it was real cool to be apart of a historical moment for a school. The final score from Louisville today, the Cardinals 20, and Oklahoma State 2. The Cards will travel to Omaha for the first time, in only their second postseason appearance ever. Let's get into some details about today's thrashing.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Corvallis: Info and Quotes

Not one runner for either team reached base until the bottom of the fourth when Michigan lead-off hitter Jason Christian rapped a base hit before OSU starter Jorge Reyes sat down the next three Wolverines he faced. On the other side of things, Michigan starter Zach Putnam had a perfect game going until surrendering a walk to Scott Santschi in the top of the sixth. He did however keep his no hitter until the ninth. In as much of a pitchers duel as you get in college baseball, Putnam began the ninth having already thrown 111 pitches. He began the inning walking Santschi for the second time in the game. OSU coach Pat Casey went with the quick and aggressive Braden Wells as a pinch runner and had Lonnie Lechelt bunt him to second. Lead-off batter Chris Hopkins went down on strikes before freshman Joey Wong hit a hard ground ball through the infield scoring Wells from second.

Below are quotes from the press conference's. Michigan, coach Rich Maloney and starting pitcher Zach Putnam. Oregon State, coach Pat Casey, second baseman Joey Wong, starting pitcher Jorge Reyes and pinch runner Braden Wells.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Corvallis: Didn't realize Goss could rock like that

Goss Stadium was rockin' as 3,284 fans packed into the stadium and into temporary bleachers in the outfield. The crowd was obviously very orange and black with a contingent of blue and yellow in the stands down the first baseline. Fans packed the walkways outside Goss, standing on buckets and make shift risers. In the parking garage across the street fans stood against the walls to catch a glimpse of the action. Center field has become home to "Scaffolding Land" as fans build structures to view the game free of charge.

Every time an OSU pitcher got two strikes on a Wolverine, Beaver Nation was on its feet clapping and stomping. Of course as Joey Wong slapped the ball past the shortstop and third baseman scoring Braden Wells, OSU fans exploded, I have expected to see a re-enactment of Beaver Nation pouring onto the field at Reser Stadium after the Beaver football team knocked off USC.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Chapel Hill: Heading to Omaha

UNC has taken the deciding game, 9-4, to advance to the College World Series in Omaha, behind four innings of relief by closer Andrew Carignan.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Corvallis: I can not believe that was a college game

Michigan starting pitcher Zach Putnam took a no-hitter into the ninth inning and began the inning with a walk of Beaver outfielder Scott Santschi. Braden Wells entered as a pinch runner and advanced to second on a Lechelt sac bunt. After Chris Hopkins struck out, freshman Joey Wong got the first hit of the game for OSU an RBI single into left field through the infield giving the Beavers the 1-0 victory against the Wolverines.

More to come after I get back to my room, and quotes from the press conference to come.

OSU 1- UM 0

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Wichita: Wrapping It All Up

UC Irvine is headed to the College World Series, thanks in part to a 3-2 win over Wichita State today at Eck Stadium. Here's some parting thoughts as we turn our focus to Omaha...

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Tempe: Can we top last night?

I'm back on the roof of the press box at Arizona State's Packard Stadium for game two of the Tempe Super Regional.

After last night's magical 4-3 ninth-inning comeback win over Ole Miss, the Devils are one win away from setting a date Saturday in Omaha with the UC Irvine Anteaters.

An Ole Miss win would force a winner-take-all game tomorrow.

The game will begin at 4 p.m. local time, and I know what you're thinking -- why in the name of Oddibe would anyone schedule a June baseball game in the desert at 4 p.m.?!??!

Well, it's because of television, and the boys in Bristol may get some real excitement, as it's about 143 degrees here and the buzzards are already circling the stadium waiting for someone to drop.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Wichita: How Sweet It Is for UC Irvine

Dave Serrano wanted everyone to enjoy this moment. Everyone.

The UC Irvine coach came into the press conference with not only four of his players, but with all of his assistant coaches, trainers and staff, making the room crowded, but full of smiles from a bunch of happy Anteaters.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Chapel Hill: Crunch Time

Who wants go to Omaha? With a trip to the midwest mecca of college baseball on the line, North Carolina and South Carolina will battle for that honor.

Here are the starting lineups for the deciding game of this series. South Carolina won the coin toss and will be the home team.

UNC:
Reid Fronk LF
Tim Fedroff RF
Dustin Ackley 1B
Tim Federowicz C
Josh Horton SS
Chad Flack 3B
Kyle Seager DH
Seth Williams CF
Garrett Gore 2B

Luke Putkonen (7-1, 4.46) P

USC:
Travis Jones 2B
James Darnell 3B
Justin Smoak 1B
Phil Disher DH
Trent Kline C
Andrew Crisp LF
Harley Lail RF
Reese Havens SS
Steven Reinhold CF

Mike Cisco (6-2, 3.76) P

PREGAME: Kyle Shelton of UNC was the first player out on the field for warmups. All the South Carolina players ran out and touched the College World Series sign on the outfield wall as they began their pre-game warm-ups. The crowd filed in earlier for this game than the earlier game, since the sun is setting and temperatures are now bearable.

BURNOUT: About 15 minutes ago there was a loud buzzing noise, followed by a thick puff of acrid, black smoke from the truck that carries one of the extra sets of lights for the ESPN broadcast. Fortunately, there has been no more smoke or disconcerting noises and the lights on this truck are still functioning.

NO TRESPASSING: As soon as I arrived for this game, I tried to walk up to the top of Ehringhaus dorm to get a view of the field from the balcony, as several have done for the first two games. Darn it, I was foiled. At the third floor there was a security door through which I could not pass. Either those watching from up there have an access card/code, or they are craftier than me.

ELECTION 2008: On my way to the game, I passed a rally for former North Carolina Senator and presidential hopeful John Edwards. The son of a mill worker was born in South Carolina, raised in North Carolina, started college at Clemson, finished at NC State, and received his law degree from UNC. No word on which team he's pulling for- probably the one with the most voters.

NO LIVE BLOGGING: Follow the game on GameTracker, and Touching the Bases will be back after the game.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Wichita: The Agony of Defeat

When you go down the tunnel to the media entrance for the press conference, only a curtain seperates a hallway that the media walk through and the Wichita State locker room. With the curtain open, you could see some very pained faces on the looks of the Wichita State Shockers.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Wichita: How This Game Was Won

Right now I'm standing (and sweating) in the WSU press box. The interviews are finally finished, the Anteaters have finally made their way back into their clubhouse, and it's time to tell the story of how UC Irvine claimed its first trip to Omaha.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Chapel Hill: Game Two Wrap

North Carolina native Arik Hempy pitched 6 2/3 innings for South Carolina to keep the Gamecocks alive and force a third game in the Chapel Hill Super Regional. After throwing balls on his first five pitches, Jeff Jeffords righted the ship and picked up his sixth save, while Alex White (6-5) took the loss for UNC.

Player of the Game: Justin Smoak, South Carolina
After going 0 for 3 in the first game, Smoak had an RBI double, solo home run and scored three runs in going 2 for 3 to lead the Gamecocks at the plate.

Could Have Done Better: UNC lefthanded hitters
As a group, they went 3 for 17 with 6 strikeouts, mostly against Hempy.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Wichita: Omaha, Meet the Anteaters

For those of you who don't know the UC Irvine Anteaters, you'll be able to learn all about them at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Bryan Petersen delivered a double that bounced off the wall in right center, sending Anteaters leaping out of the dugout to greet Matt Morris at home, and ending the season for Wichita State. In dramatic fashion, UC Irvine wins 3-2, taking the Super Regional 2-0 and advancing to the 2007 College World Series.

Of course, our coverage is far from done here in Omaha. We'll get quotes, reactions, and a final wrapup here from Eck Stadium. Once again, Irvine can rejoice, as their beloved Anteaters will taste Omaha for the very first time.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Corvallis: Looks like we might get some baseball

Mother Nature is trying her hardest to delay this series once again. It looked like the clouds would pass but they opened up and it is starting to sprinkle again. It should stop soon though. We have the same pitching match-up that was set to to take place yesterday as Beaver freshmen Jorge Reyes takes the hill against Michigan's Zach Putnam.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Chapel Hill: Gamecocks Even Series

South Carolina withstood another North Carolina comeback and a long weather delay to hold on and beat the Tar Heels, 8-6, in game two of this series. Arik Hempy gets the win, while Alex White takes the loss.

The deciding game will be played tonight at 7 pm.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Louisville: All Comes Down To This

You know how they say there's nothing better than a Game Seven? Well in college baseball, there's nothing better than a game three in a super regional with a trip to college baseball's mecca on the line. This afternoon from Jim Patterson Stadium in Louisville, it will be the Louisville Cardinals hosting the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a one game decide it all. Let's get down and dirty.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Chapel Hill: Game Two, Part Two

After a rain delay of approximately 17 hours, we'll pick up the second game of this Super Regional in the middle of the seventh inning, starting at 2:36 pm. The resumed game, and third game if necessary, will be on ESPN2. Either way, this will be the final day of baseball at the 35 year old Boshamer Stadium- until it gets rebuilt starting as soon as the game ends.

Again, no live blogging, so keep up to date with Gametracker.

I'll be back after the game to give you the rundown.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Wichita: A Lot on the Line

It's an overcast morning here at Eck Stadium in Wichita, Kansas, as we get set for the second game of this 2007 NCAA Super Regional. UC Irvine attempts to take their place among college baseball's elite with a trip to Omaha, while Wichita State looks to force a deciding game and give the masses of yellow and black something to cheer about.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Tempe: Wrap on the Instant Classic

Wow.

This one had it all.

Ole Miss ace Will Kline shut down the nation's best hitting team and took a 3-1 lead into the ninth, but Arizona State rallies for three runs to win it 4-3.

Wow.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Fullerton: Dominant CSF Win Makes Statement

Something has gotten into this Fullerton team. Evidently they woke up recently and realized that yes; they are one of college baseball's elite programs. They're expected win big and make deep runs into the postseason. They're not expected to finish the season 6-11 and limp into the NCAAs.

But whatever ailed the struggling bats and ace Wes Roemer, who had a subpar season (by his standards) after a stellar 2006 campaign, is not an issue right now. Fullerton shelled Tyson Brummett for eight hits and nine runs in just 4.1 innings. This is the same guy who pitched a complete game against them earlier this season.

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Sunday, 06/10/07

Tempe: Devils rally to shock Rebels.

Will Kline pitched the game of his life and shut down the biggest bats in the NCAA for eight innings.

Unfortunately for him, he couldn't go nine.

The third-ranked Sun Devils, who entered the game batting .351 as a team and averaging 9.7 runs per game, were held scoreless for the first seven innings, but rallied for three runs in the ninth to shock Ole Miss 4-3.

Brett Wallace delivered the game-winner on a two-out single to center.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Fullerton: Rowdy Fans Glad to Have Titans Home

After having to watch their Titans travel for Regionals, the Fullerton fans were more than ready to make up for missed time in today's 12-2 win over UCLA. They were numerous, loud and sometimes obnoxious in cheering the Titans on.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Chapel Hill: Weather Delays Us Until Sunday

First lightning, then rain has led to the postponement of the South Carolina-North Carolina game until Sunday.
The game is in the middle of the seventh inning, and will be resumed at 2:36 pm Sunday.
If a third game is necessary, it will still take place as planned at 7 pm tomorrow night.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Fullerton: Titans Cruise Past UCLA

Ok. After a hectic start to the day and adjustment to our new NCAA-imposed ban on providing actual live updates, I've gotten into a rhythm here in Fullerton. And so has the home team.

UCLA may have had a fighting chance against Fullerton if innings lasted two outs instead of three. But that's clearly not the case, and a pair of two-out rallies in the first two innings set the tone for the Titans' 12-2 drubbing in the first game of their best-of-three Super Regional series.

Tyson Brummett, who pitched a two-run complete game victory against Fullerton earlier in the season, managed to get the first two batters out of each of the fist two stanzas. But it was disaster from there on, as the Titans racked up five consecutive base runners and three runs in the first and four straight base runners and two runs in the second to put the Bruins away early.

UCLA looked ready to respond with three hits to start the first against Wes Roemer, but only managed one run and didn't score again until Fullerton already held an 8-1 lead. Roemer went on to log a complete game victory.
I'm off to the press conferences to search for some juicy quotes; I'll be back with a complete rundown of the game and everything else here at Goodwin field.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Houston: No excuses, crazy fans, and the importance of experience

Although he did not pitch and went 0-fer on Friday, Joe Savery provided a lot of the storylines for this super regional. His draft-day press conference Thursday was as emotional as can be, but he showed his sense of humor after today's game.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Houston: Savery leads Owls back to CWS

Thanks to some controversial calls early in the game and some terrific pitching throughout, Rice advanced to its sixth College World Series in the last 11 years and its second in a row with a 5-2 victory over Texas A&M Saturday night before a Reckling Park-record crowd of 5,234.

FIrst-round draft pick Joe Savery kept himself from having to pitch in a Game 3 by going 3-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBI, and Owl starter Matt Langwell benefited significantly from a first-inning interference call that negated two Texas A&M runs. But Langwell settled down to work into the seventh, and closer Cole St.Clair finished the game for his eighth save of the year. Rice will play the winner of the Oklahoma State-Louisville super regional next Friday in Omaha.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Tempe: Hotter than the devil

It's a dry heat.

It's a dry heat.

It's a dry heat.

And the thermometer in my car said it was 104 degrees of dry heat.

I'm at Packard Stadium on the edge of the Arizona State campus getting ready for a 6 p.m. start of game one of the Ole Miss-ASU super regional.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Wrapping up the Starkville Super Regional

Well, it's over. Mississippis State has taken the series 2 games to none with win today. But first things first....

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Fullerton: Titans, Bruins Square Off

Fullerton knows Super Regional baseball. I didn't even have to get past the parking lot to realize that the ante has been upped this week with UCLA and Cal State Fullerton squaring off for the right to go to Omaha.

The parking lot at Goodwin Field is filled with tents and tailgaters and people were searching for extra tickets on the sidewalk for this sold out Fullerton Super Regional. The Titans have four national championships and plenty of experience in postseason play. It shows.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Chapel Hill: Game Two

North Carolina will try to seal the deal against South Carolina tonight and join Mississippi State in Omaha for the College World Series. However, to do so they'll have to hold down the potent USC bats and get strong pitching from freshman Alex White (6-4, 3.87). They'll also have to come up with some offense against Arik Hempy (6-3, 3.38), the junior lefthander who bounced back from Tommy John surgery to be a force on the mound for the Gamecocks this year.

UNC came from six runs down to score 9 runs with two outs in the sixth and seventh innings last night to take game one, 9-6. There were 2,895 in attendance for that one.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Wichita: Wrapping Up Day One

We've finished the first game from Wichita, with UC Irvine winning a pitcher's duel over Wichita State, 1-0. Here's some observations and analysis from today's action.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Houston: No pressure, guys

Both teams will face plenty of pressure today, with Rice a win away from its sixth trip to the College World Series in the last 11 years, and Texas A&M needing to win to force a decisive Game 3 tomorrow. The best news for the Aggies is that they are unlikely to be fazed by trailing the series. A&M lost its Big XII Conference Tournament opener but rebounded to take the tournament title. In the regional round, the Aggies lost a winners' bracket game to Louisiana-Lafayette before rallying with a win over Ohio State and back-to-back triumphs over ULaLa to reach this weekend. The Aggies will start sophomore righthander Kyle Thebeau (3-5, 4.50), pitching on four days' rest after a career outing in Monday's regional final. Rice will counter with sophomore righthander Matt Langwell (7-1, 1.73), the team's ace of sorts during the latter part of the season.

There's more to this preview, but once the game begins, you will have to resort to GameTracker to follow along.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Louisville: Wrapup And Analysis

There's nothing better than a game where either team can go home or go to Omaha. This is what it's going to be like tomorrow here in Louisville. Each coach will throw the kitchen sink out there between the lines to stay in the game, and each team still has enough arms left out there where tomorrow shouldn't get too much out of hand. But let's get back to today real quick.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Louisville: Quotes And Comments

On a day where Louisville could have sent themselves to Omaha for the first time, it really felt like it in the stadium. There were more people than even yesterday's record crowd crammed in on a gorgeous day that saw temperatures in the mid-80s and not a cloud in the sky.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Louisville: Just Not In The Cards

For the second straight day, everything was going their way. The pitching had been fantastic, the bounces went their way, the calls went their way, and when they needed it, their bats supplied just enough. But in the end, on the shoulders of their best reliever, Omaha just wasn't in the cards today for Louisville. Oklahoma State defeated Louisville by the final score of 3-2 in 12 innings.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Dogs punch ticket to Omaha with 8-5 win

Mississippi State advanced to the College World Series for the first time since 1998 with a rousing 8-5 victory over the Clemson Tigers. Mitch moreland came in for Aaron Weatherford with 1 out and 2 on in the bottom of the 9th to save the win. A NCAA record crowd of over 13,000 fans cheered and rushed the field as the last out was made.

More later

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Wichita: Tomorrow is Proving Day

The message from both teams during the post-game press conference was the same. It was a great pitcher's duel, the ball bounced UC Irvine's way, and tomorrow was going to be the day to prove something to the fans, as well as a nationwide audience.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Corvallis: We Play Tommorow

Game called, tommorow at 1 p.m. Pacific.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Wichita: Round One to UC Irvine

If you wanted a low-scoring, pitcher's duel, this was your game...

UCI.....000...000...010....1..7..0
WSU..000...000...000....0..8..0

Irvine manages to score the only run of the game on a two-out, bases loaded grounder that Shocker pitcher Noah Krol couldn't handle, allowing Cody Cipriano to score from third. Wichita sent the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but Tyler Hill popped a foul ball to third, stranding Josh Workman at first and sending an Eck Stadium record crowd of 8,153 back home disappointed.

Meanwhile, it was another outstanding performance from Anteater P Scott Gorgen, who proved he's the real deal with his second straight complete game.

WP - Gorgan (12-2)
LP - Womack (3-2)

We'll be back with quotes, analysis, and a wrapup of today's action here in Wichita.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Corvallis: Guess What? It is raining!

Go figure it is pouring right now with an hour to the start of the game. Even with the FieldTurf in the infield it is looking sketchy as to whether or not this game is going to be played today. If it does however Michigan is the home team and is in the third base dugout while the host Beavers are in the visitors position down the first base line. The starting pitchers are slated to be Zach Putnam for the Wolverines. Putnam has eight wins with four losses coupled with a 4.13 ERA. Slated to start on the bump for the Beavers is freshman Jorge Reyes who earned starting spot midway through the season allowing him to collect five wins on three losses with a 3.48 ERA. I will keep you updated until the start of the game. Oh, and I just met Barry Larkin that was pretty cool.

Rain note-
It is expected to keep on raining throughout the day so keep your fingers crossed the stero-typical weather passes.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Wichita: Getting Set for Game One

It's a great day for baseball here in Wichita, as throngs of fans are filing into Eck Stadium for today's opening game of the 2007 NCAA Wichita Super Regional. The UC Irvine Anteaters are warming up as we speak, preparing for a showdown with Gene Stephenson's Wichita State Shockers.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Louisvlle: Round Two

If we look at a Super Regional like a heavyweight bout in boxing, Oklahoma State took their punches yesterday, and lost the first round to Louisville in a big-time way. But just like in boxing, Round One doesn't matter that much if you come out and win Round Two. The Cowboys will be looking to do just that when they face Louisville at noon trying to keep their season alive.

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Saturday, 06/09/07

Game 2 Matchup

It's 7 AM on a Saturday morning, and I am sitting in the Leftfield Lounge at Dudy Noble Field. Things are setting up for a great game 2. Folks are already out and cooking around the outfield, and feeling the effects of 94% humidty at this time. Game time is calling for temps of about 85 with 65% humidity!!! And the matchup on the field should be even hotter than that!!

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Friday, 06/08/07

Chapel Hill: Final Wrap

In the 9-6 UNC game one Super Regional victory, reliever Rob Wooten (6-1) got the win for the third straight game. Closer Andrew Carignan pitched two scoreless innings to get his 15th save. Curtis Johnson (1-3) took the loss in relief for South Carolina.

"Came from behind again, didn't we?" That's how North Carolina Coach Mike Fox started the post-game press conference after UNC came from behind late to win for the third straight game.

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Friday, 06/08/07

Chapel Hill: Post-Game

As expected, the crowd at tonight's game was about evenly split between fans from South Carolina and North Carolina. The capacity crowd was well-behaved, despite the rather strong rivalry that has developed after playing each other now four times in the past six years. I saw one UNC fan who was razzing the Gamecock faithful during the game, but never saw any real chirping back and forth. UNC basketball players Brandon Wright and Wayne Ellington were among the crowd early on. Both were freshmen this past season, and Wright is expected to be a high draft choice in the upcoming NBA draft. Ellington will return to UNC next season.

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Friday, 06/08/07

Houston: Breaking down Game 1

What a game. There are a ton of things to talk about after this one, but first a quick look ahead to tomorrow's Game 2. A&M head coach Rob Childress was a bit coy when asked for tomorrow's starter, saying he would wait for Rice to name its starter. Moments later, he confirmed the obvious - it will be either lefthander Kirkland Rivers (2-3, 5.61) or righthander Kyle Thebeau (3-5, 4.50), the regional hero, tomorrow. Rice head coach Wayne Graham announced righthander Matt Langwell (7-1, 1.73) as his starter.

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Friday, 06/08/07

Houston: Owls pull out amazing win in 10th inning, 3-2

Ignored in the draft earlier today, Rice junior leftfielder Jordan Dodson came through with the game-winning single in the bottom of the 10th inning after starting the game-tying rally in the ninth as Rice rallied to beat Texas A&M 3-2 Friday night at Reckling Park in Houston before a crowd of 5,074.

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Friday, 06/08/07

Chapel Hill: Game One

UNC takes game one 9-6, after battling back from a 6 run deficit.

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Friday, 06/08/07

Lollar gets birthday present, Dogs get win!

John Lollar turned 22 on THursday of this week. On Friday, he got a late birthday present, and shared it with the entire Mississippi State team. Lollar, the junior pitcher from Germantown, TN was the winning pitcher Friday in the Bulldog's 8-6 win over Clemson.

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Friday, 06/08/07

Houston: Sneaking one in before NCAA-imposed silence

We're not going to be able to bring you anything interesting during the game (thanks, NCAA) but here's a bt of a preview for today's Rice-A&M opener at Reckling Park in Houston.

Once the game begins, your best bet is following along on GameTracker.

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Friday, 06/08/07

Louisville: Cards Roll To Big Win

Since blogging is now not allowed during play, it's time to fit nearly everything into one post. Don't get me started on the policy, but it is what it is. Louisville defeated Oklahoma State 9-0 in front of a Jim Patterson Stadium record crowd of 4,023, as the Cards hosted their first postseason baseball event ever. It was my first time seeing both teams this year, and let me tell you folks something, Louisville is for real.

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Friday, 06/08/07

Dogs win 8-6

Dogs win 8-6 over Clemson. Clemson jumped to an early 2-0 lead, then saw it vanish on a Connor Powers 2 run homer in the 5th. Clemson responded with a 3 spot in the top of the 6th, only to see MSU reply with a 4 run bottom of the 6th to take a leadd that they would never give back.

John Lalor picked up the win in relief, and Aaron Weatheroford got the save.

Attendance was announced at 12, 620......Largegst ever crowd for a SUper Regional. It was only the 7th largest crowd at Dudy Noble Field. Fans in the outfield celebrated the victory and were settling in for a long afternoon of babrbecue and celebration.

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Friday, 06/08/07

Chapel Hill: About to Get Going

Game one of the Chapel Hill Super Regional is about to get started, pitting South Carolina against host North Carolina. Harris Honeycutt (8-5, 3.59) will start for the Gamecocks, while Robert Woodard (10-2, 3.02) will try to get a leg up for the Tar Heels in this series.

Approximately 2,500 college baseball fans will cram into Boshamer Stadium for this one. The main stands hold about 2,000 people, while another 500 or so will be out on the grassy, terraced berm along the first base line. This area, which contains picnic tables and usually hordes of kids running around playing, will disappear next year when Boshamer Stadium is rebuilt and the main stands will extend down to this area. UNC got a bit of a jump start by pulling up some of the bushes that are going to be lost anyway and creating another couple of hundred "seats" for this area.

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Friday, 06/08/07

Let the games begin

Well it's finally time. Baseball in June at Dudy Noble Field on the campus of Mississippi State University. And who better to help Mississippi State bring it in, than the Clemson Tigers. These two teams are no starnger to each other, having played each other in 2006 at the Clemson Regional. THis year, the stakes are raised a bit, as the winner moves to the Big Diamond, Rosenblatt Stadium, and a berth in the college world series. WHo will it be? Let's find out

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Thursday, 06/07/07

Tempe: Super matchup that's hotter than the weather

I feel like I drew the long straw for super regional assignments.

Because the NCAA selection committee put every western team into the left side of the bracket, most of the super regional matchups are very regional but not that super.

But Ole Miss snuck into the western bracket as a one-seed and now they'll head west.

Yeah, North and South Carolina will be a war and Texas A&M at Rice will be a hoot, but can you really ask for more than Mississippi and Arizona State?

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Thursday, 06/07/07

Wichita: Omaha On The Line - Shockers vs. Anteaters

This weekend, America's pastime will travel to America's heartland, as the amber waves of grain beckon us to Wichita, where the UC Irvine Anteaters, fresh off an impressive stroll through the heart of Texas, face off against the Wichita State Shockers, a team of tradition that looks to make new treads on a traveled path to Omaha.

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Thursday, 06/07/07

Fullerton: Surprise Matchup in Southern California

UCLA (33-26) at Cal State Fullerton (36-23)

The fact that there's an all Southern California affair in this weekend's Super Regionals is not a surprise. The fact that San Diego or Long Beach are not among those teams is. But that's the case as Cal State Fullerton pulled off the upset in San Diego's Regional round last weekend and is rewarded by hosting UCLA starting on Saturday.

Four-time NCAA Champion Fullerton is obviously no stranger to the Super Regionals, having been here the previous four years, but wasn't expected to make it this far this season. The Titans stumbled down the stretch to close the regular season 6-11 and weren't even a lock to make the NCAA field. They did earn a No. 2 seed and took advantage when top seed and No. 8 national seed San Diego lost its first two games last weekend. The Titans went 3-0, defeating Fresno State and Minnesota to advance to the next round.

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Thursday, 06/07/07

Corvallis: Beavers Welcome Super Regionals Back

Welcome back to Corn-valley, Super Regionals. For the third straight season Super Regional’s are at home at Goss Stadium as the No. 16 Beavers welcome the No. 15 Michigan Wolverines.

After Michigan knocked off No. 1 Vanderbilt in the Nashville Regional it was announced that regardless of who the Wolverines met in Super’s they would be traveling away from Ann Arbor. Oregon State knocked off Virginia to clinch the Charlottesville Regional title. Michigan whose stadium is under renovation did not put in a bid to host, leaving the NCAA no choice but to send them traveling.

“I saw a lot of energy and a lot of fun,” Oregon State coach Pat Casey said. “You could see the magic late in the game. Hopefully they carry it into the series against Michigan.”

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Thursday, 06/07/07

Houston: Emotional draft day for Rice

With the weekend's super regional between No. 2 national seed Rice and Texas A&M on tap for the weekend, the focus at Thursday's press conference was supposed to be on the college game. But when Joe Savery's cell phone went off during the Rice portion of the press conference, Major League Baseball stole the show, and Rice head coach Wayne Graham choked up at the mic.

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Thursday, 06/07/07

Chapel Hill: Carolinas Super Regional Preview

The Gamecocks of South Carolina will travel north to Chapel Hill to take on their northern neighbors, the Tar Heels of North Carolina, in a battle for baseball bragging rights in the Chapel Hill Super Regional starting Friday night at 7 pm EST.

South Carolina (45-18) will be the visiting this time as they take on North Carolina (51-12) for the fourth time time in the past six years in NCAA post-season play. USC got here by virtue of winning their Super Regional, going 3-0 by beating Wofford (9-1) and Charlotte twice (12-8, 11-6). UNC went undefeated in winning its regional against Jacksonville (6-0), East Carolina (11-10), and Western Carolina (6-5). The Gamecocks eliminated the Tar Heels from the Regionals in 2002 and 2004 and the Super Regionals in 2003. All three times the games were played in Columbia at Sarge Frye Field. This will be the first time a Super Regional has been held in Chapel Hill.

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Thursday, 06/07/07

Louisville: Super Regional Preview

Baseball is the one sport where big upsets do happen, and where teams that you didn't think would still be around, let alone hosting in the round of 16, are well, still around and hosting. Two number three seeds will meet for the right to head to Omaha this weekend, when Oklahoma State travels to Louisville. Nobody, and I mean, not even the most fanatical of fans could have picked this one even out of a hat in a random drawing. Allow me to toot my own horn for a second while stating that I did predict that Missouri and Arkansas were not going to win the regionals that they hosted last week. The only problem was, I got the wrong team coming out of each of them. Instead of Creighton playing at Miami this weekend, we've got the Cowboys and the Cards from L'ville.

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Tuesday, 06/05/07

Charlottesville: All-Tournament Team

2007 NCAA Charlottesville All-Tournament Team
DH - Todd Frazier, Rutgers
C - Beau Seabury, Virginia
1B - Jordan Lennerton, Oregon State
2B - Joey Wong, Oregon State
3B - Lonnie Lechett, Oregon State
SS - Darwin Barney, Oregon State
OF - James Conrad, Lafayette
OF - Chris Hopkins, Oregon State
OF - Dave Williams, Rutgers
P - Joe Paterson, Oregon State
P - Sean Doolittle, Virginia

Most Outstanding Player - Joe Paterson, Oregon State

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Tuesday, 06/05/07

Charlottesville: OSU eliminates Virginia 7-3

OSU will be advancing to the Super Regionals for the third straight year after knocking off first-seeded Virginia 7-3 to win the Charlottesville Regional. The Beavers will host Michigan in a three-game series that will start on Saturday in Corvallis.
Oregon State won three straight games in which it could have been eliminated.
Virginia has now reached the NCAA Tournament four straight years, but has yet to advance to a Super Regional.

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Tuesday, 06/05/07

Charlottesville: OSU up 7-3 in top of seventh

In the bottom of the sixth, the Beavers extended their lead to four, 7-3, on a RBI base hit up the middle by Jason Ogata. The crowd has become quiet and resigned here at Davenport.

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Tuesday, 06/05/07

Charlottesville: Matt Packer in for Smith, OSU leads 5-3 in bottom of sixth

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Tuesday, 06/05/07

Charlottesville: OSU takes out Stutes, puts in Eddie Kunz, leads 5-3 in fifth

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Tuesday, 06/05/07

Charlottesville: Alex Smith in for Jacob Thompson, OSU leads 5-3 in the top of the fourth

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Tuesday, 06/05/07

Charlottesville: Another lead change

OSU leads 5-3 after two innings. Lonnie Lechelt hit his second home run of the weekend to lead off the inning and OSU then loaded the bases. Jacob Thompson came in to replace Casey Lambert and allowed a sacrifice fly to the warning track in left off the bat of Darwin Barney. Two batters later, Jason Ogata singled to right, scoring Chris Hopkins. Joey Wong was gunned down at the plate to end the inning.

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Tuesday, 06/05/07

Charlottesville: Virginia takes 3-2 lead

Virginia responded to OSU's two-spot in the first with three runs in the second to take a one-run lead. Beau Seabury, who had led off the inning with a single, scored on a two-out wild pitch by Stutes. Tim Henry then looped a base hit down the left line to drive in two.

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Tuesday, 06/05/07

Charlottesville: OSU takes first inning lead

With one out and runners on first and second, Mike Lissman hit a line drive just inside the right field foul line for a RBI double. Jason Ogata then grounded out to second base, driving in a second run.

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Tuesday, 06/05/07

Charlottesville: Championship Day at Davenport

The crowd is trickling in and the grounds crew is watering the field in preparation for noon's decisive showdown between UVA and OSU. Casey Lambert, who pitched 6 2/3 innings in relief on Saturday, willl start for the Cavaliers while Mike Stutes, who started for OSU on Saturday, will take the ball again today.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Charlottesville: Hopkins sparks OSU comeback

OSU was trailing 3-1 in the top of the 8th when light-hitting Chris Hopkins (1 HR on the season) came to the plate. The junior center fielder came through big-time for the Beavers, sending a towering shot over the wall in left-center. Inspired by their teammate, the Beavs went on to score two more runs that inning and one in the ninth to force a decisive championship game on Tuesay at noon.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Final thoughts on the College Station Regional

First of all, I want to thank CSTV for giving me an opportunity to Blog on this weekend's games. It was a great regional and the teams were amazing, all of them. This regional had anything you could ever want.

Kyle Thebeau put the exclamation mark on it for Texas A&M. In front of a capacity crowd here at Olsen Field, he struck out the final four batters for a complete game, and he allowed only two runs to the Louisiana Lafayette Cajuns. It was a comeback effort all weekend for Texas A&M. After defeating Le Moyne in game one, they fell to the Cajuns in game two and had to bounce back to win a double-header on Sunday.

Thebeau then took them on his back to win the finale and advance to the Houston Super Regional, defeating the Cajuns one last time, 5-2. The MVP went to Blake Stouffer of Texas A&M, who had a career day yesterday against OSU, hitting for the cycle and clubbing six RBIs in one game.

This was a very competitive group of teams. I really only saw one blow out in the seven games. I hope I get this kind of chance again in the future. Thanks again to anyone who has been keeping up with me and reading this. Gig 'em Aggies.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, SC: It's over.

The South Carolina Gamecocks will be headed to Chapel Hill, NC to take on the Tar Heels in the Super Regionals.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Wichita: Shockers Win Regional

Quick 8th for the Shockers. Gillaspie and Workman struck out, and Hill was out from a grounder to 2b.

Banwart struck out Steele. He walked Fon, and a team meeting follows at the mound. Castro comes in as a pinch hit for Abel. He gets walked, and Weldon comes in to run at first.

Noah Krol is the new pitcher for WSU coming in at the 8th inning.

Top of the 9th, and Weber is up to bat for WSU. Stoffel in pitching for Perry. Weber hit a grounder to 2b, and is out at 1b. Dirks hits a grounder to cf, and gets on 1b. Schermerhorn strikes out swinging for the 3rd out.

Bottom of the 9th, and Arizona is up to bat. They need 3 runs to head into extra innings, and 4 to win it.

That is one out for Arizona as Sedbrook strikes out swinging. Up is Ziegler, he strikes out.

2 outs, one more and this game is done with. Rhinehart, strike one, and strike two. He gets a hit to first, and Shockers win.

A victory dog pile is seen on the field, and the players get up to shake hands with the Wildcats. Not a bad game. Both teams played great. I know that sounds corney but it is true! Very clean game from the boys.

Well this now means that Wichita may host the Super Regional. That will be an exciting weekend, as was this one.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, SC: More Gamecocks

Going to the ninth inning the Gamecocks just hung another four spot on the board to take an 11-6 lead. Jeff Jeffords is still in there trying to close it out.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Charlottesville: Championship game scheduled for noon tomorrow

UVA and OSU will meet at noon to determine who moves on to the Super Regionals. Neither coach has chosen a starting pitcher yet. With the Vandy loss, Virginia would host a Super Regional against Michigan if the Cavs advance.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Michigan, the champions of Nashville

Dominic de la Osa grounded out to short on Adam Powers' first pitch to start the 10th.

Pedro Alvarez then a ball to about as deep center as one can hit it and not have it go out, and Derek Van Buskirk made a clutch catch for out No. 2. I couldn't tell if the ball was headed out or not, and the second-base umpire hesitated for a moment to make the call as Van Buskirk didn't come down with it and display it immediately.

Ryan Flaherty then lined a 1-2 pitch through the left side of the infield for a two-out baserunner.

Matt Meingasner watched two balls, then another, then a strike, then tapped a check swing back to pitcher Powers, and Michigan is going crazy in the middle of the field.

And hats off to them. They deserve it.

And Vanderbilt, the No. 1 seed, has been knocked out of the field.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: One last chance for Vandy to stay alive

Brett Jacobson has gotten Vandy out of the 10th without further damage, and Vandy will send the exact three guys it wants: Dominic de la Osa, Pedro Alvarez and Ryan Flaherty, to the plate in the bottom of the inning.

It's 4-3 Michigan, as the crowd is trying to shake off the Alan Oaks bomb and is making noise between innings.

And now, Michael Powers comes on for Michigan.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, SC: Bottom Eight

Carolina has pushed another run across on an Andrew Crisp sac fly. 8-6 Carolina with 2 on and 2 outs.

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Monday, 06/04/07

#1 Texas A&M vs. #2 Louisiana-Lafayette: Ninth inning

STRIKE THREE TO START OFF! THE CHANT IS STILL "THEBEAU!"

STRIKE THREE SWINGING AGAIN! TWO GONE!

STRIKE THREE SWINGING AND THEBEAU HAS THE COMPLETE GAME! WHAT A GAME! AGGIES ADVANCE!

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Stunner

We wondered why Michigan pinch-hit for cleanup hitter Zach Putnam with .188-hitting freshman Adam Oaks, who had one home run.

Oaks just crushed a 3-1 offering by David Price over the fence in left-center, giving Michigan a 4-3 lead again.

And Price has now been pulled for Brett Jacobson.

4-3 Michigan, one out in the ninth, and the crowd here is stunned.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, SC: Here Come the Pesky Niners

The Niners have scratched across another run in the top of the eighth making the score 7-6 in favor of South Carolina. Jeff Jeffords, one of Carolina's best relievers, has just entered the game with two outs and a man on first.

Top 8, 7-6 Cocks.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: And Michigan stays alive

Shea Robin hit a routine ground ball to Jason Christian at second, and Christian, who's been great at short all tourney, just gagged by throwing the ball about six feet wide at first giving Vandy a leadoff man at first.

Brad French popped a bunt foul, then fouled off another bunt to get down 0-2. And with two strikes, he laid down a perfect bunt to advance Robin to second.

But David Macias popped to second, and Alex Feinberg lined to center, so it's still tied.

And David Price takes the mound for one more inning, and he'll see the No. 3-5 UM hitters.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Wichita: Banwart still going strong

Ryan Perry now pitching for Arizona. Abel at ss catches the hit by WSU's Schermerhorn for the 2nd out. This time a hit does get past Abel at ss, and Sublett gets a double.

Banwart is still going strong in the 7th inning having not let in any runs and only 2 hits from the Arizona Wildcats. Arizona gets their 2nd out as Rhinehart is gone with a catch by 3b. Third out for Arizona.

WSU 3 AZ 0

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Price shuts 'em down

Vandy's David Price, on in relief of Casey Weathers with a man on and none out in the ninth, gave up a sacrifice bunt for an out that advanced Kevin Cislo to second, then struck out Jason Christian and Brad Roblin on a grand total of six pitches to keep the game tied.

Price is screaming as he comes off the mound, and so's the crowd.

For the record, the Commodores have now gotten an inning out of a Friday starter, a Saturday starter, a Sunday starter and a closer who'd already pitched twice.

Tim Corbin said he'd find a way to piece-meal this game together. I guess he did.

And to top it off, freshman Mark Lamm--who would burn a redshirt year--is warming up in the 'pen.

Shea Robin, Brad French and David Macias due up in the ninth of a three-all game here.

Baseball just doesn't get much more dramatic than this.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: And here comes Price

David Price threw 130 pitches Friday night, and is coming on with nobody out in the ninth as Casey Weathers walked Kevin Cislo on five pitches.

So it's just about all or nothing for Vandy, as the Commodores really don't have any arms left after this.

Michigan 3, Vandy 3 in the top of the ninth in a classic baseball game from Hawkins Field.

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Monday, 06/04/07

#1 Texas A&M vs. #2 Louisiana-Lafayette: Eighth inning

Two out single up the middle for Parker Dalton. I'm writting a column for my newspaper, and as this game gets closer to a finish, I will only give pertinent updates from now on.

Play made at third. On to first to retire the side. Go time right now for the Cajuns.

2-0 count to the leadoff man and Childress is out to talk to Thebeau. This is likely his last batter. He has really been clutch today in a decisive game.

Base hit down the line by Bourque to lead off the inning. He's putting together quite a night offensively for the Cajuns. Thebeau remains in.

Another single. This time by Alexander. Childress SHOULD get him now. Tying run comes to the plate. The dangerous Nolan Gisclair.

Great atmosphere. Crowd chanting "Thebeau," cheering him on.

Big out made by shortstop. Throw to first for the first out. Runners advance. Not out of trouble by a long shot. Jon Lucroy now up.

STRIKE THREE! TWO GONE NOW. THIS CROWD IS ON THEIR FEET! HUGE OUT FOR THEBEAU!

AMAZING! STRIKE THREE LOOKING AND THEBEAU IS OUT OF IT!

THREE MORE OUTS LEFT FOR A&M! WHAT AN ATMOSPHERE!

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Meingasner magic

After getting down 0-2, Matt Meingasner fouled off three pitches, took two balls and lined a single to center, scoring the tying run here with two outs in the eighth.

Parker Hanks then got down 0-2, watched a ball, then grounded out to second.

But Vandy is alive, closer Casey Weathers will be asked to go another inning, and he'll try to get the No. 8, 9 and 1 hitters for the Wolverines out as Vandy will also have those hitters up in the ninth.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: There's one run

Flaherty flies to center on the first pitch, de la Osa takes third, two outs, 3-2 Michigan over Vandy, bottom of 8.

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Monday, 06/04/07

#1 Texas A&M vs. #2 Louisiana-Lafayette: Seventh inning

LEADOFF TRIPLE SPLITS THE GAP IN RIGHT CENTER BY KYLE COLLIGAN! Good start for A&M, who really wants some insurance.

Walk issued to Hicks with one out. Runners at the corners now.

Grounder to second and play cannot be made! Run scores as Blake Stouffer reaches and collects another RBI. Aggies increase the lead to 5-2.

High fly popup to second and the play is made to retire the side.

A&M gets an important run. 5-2 Aggies. Really time to go to work now for the Cajuns.

Good start for Thebeau. Strikeout swinging.

Little popup to third. Easy play to first. The Cajuns are punchless against Thebeau.

Long fly to center but it is playable. That ends the inning. A&M is 6 outs from advancing. The crowd can feel it.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: And the Commodores make some noise

Alex Feinberg popped up with one out and a man on first, and Dominic de la Osa went opposite-field with a double into the corner.

Michigan is now walking Pedro Alvarez with one out to pitch to Ryan Flaherty, who has a 34-game hitting streak.

Stay tuned....

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Pitching change for Michigan

Chris Fetter walked David Macias to lead off the inning, which has the crowd at Hawkins Field roaring. UM coach Rich Maloney wasted no time in pulling Fetter for third baseman Adam Abraham as Alex Feinberg took ball one.

Maloney's effort may have been in part to quiet the crowd, but it may have just given the Vandy fans time to think, as they break out into the deafening "black/gold" cheer instead.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Wichita: Defense on fire

Bottom of the 5th. Rhinehart gets a hit for AZ that flies over the 1st baseman's head for a single. Glenn hits one towards 3b, and Rhinehart is out at 2nd, but Glenn is safe at 1st. Diallo Fon strikesout for AZ, and that is it for the 5th.

Attendance here at the Championship game is around 7800 people. It is quite a crowd here tonight. Second largest at Eck Stadium

Arizona takes to the field for the top of the 6th inning. Workman comes up to bat for WSU. He is walked, and Hill is up to bat. Workman steals 2nd. Hill's hit is caught by AZ ss, Abel, and that is WSU's 1st out. Weber runs on the strikeout to first base, and the catcher throws it to first for the out.

Arizona now up to bat. Dwight Childs gets to first from a hit by Banwart. Fantastic play by Gillaspie as he runs infield then dives down to catch the bunt by Abel. Gaston get a single out to cf, and now up for AZ is Sedbrook. Sublett again with a great play. He catches Sedbrooks ball, tosses it to Coleman who is covering second, and then Coleman sends it to first for the out.

End of 6th innning, WSU 3 AZ 0

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Is this the break Vandy needs?

With a man on first and one out, Doug Pickens hit a scorcher... but right at second baseman Alex Feinberg for an easy 4-3 double play to end the top of the eighth.

That has the Vanderbilt crowd energized for a few minutes as "Sweet Caroline" plays over the P.A. It's been like a morgue here the last couple of innings, as the realization that a 54-12 record and a national No. 1 seed could be going down in flames.

Vandy sends 1-3 hitters Macias, Feinberg and de la Osa out to start the eighth.

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Monday, 06/04/07

#1 Texas A&M vs. #2 Louisiana-Lafayette: Sixth inning

Line shot right to second to start the sixth. One out.

Bunt popped up right to the pitcher for the second out.

Jammed him. Popup down the third base line is easy for the third out.

Another ideal 1-2-3 inning for Lafayette. Their offense needs to respond.

High pop to shallow right is easy for the first out.

Popup on the infield and that's an easy second out. Thebeau has calmed down nicely after a two run third. He's giving coach Rob Childress some valuable innngs here.

Strike three swinging and Thebeau is mowing them down. The crowd loves it. Inning over. Time running out on the Cajuns.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Fetter still fooling 'em

Michigan starter Chris Fetter still has the Commodores tied up in knots. He's struck out just three, but has kept Vandy hitters off-balance with his soft-tossing ways, getting Commodore hitters to pop up or hit harmless ground balls all night.

The Commodores hit Fetter hard in the fourth, when they had him on the ropes after Pedro Alvarez homered and Ryan Flaherty and Matt Meingasner followed with solid singles. But Flaherty got picked off third, and Fetter got a couple of ground balls to get out of the inning.

Vandy's Casey Weathers is on for his second inning of relief, and looks tough tonight. But pitching's not the issue, as the top of the Commodore order will come up in the eighth and the 'Dores six outs from elimination.

Weathers strikes out leadoff man Adam Abraham, and it's 3-1 Michigan with one out in the top of the eighth.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Charlottesville: OSU stuns Virginia 5-3

more details to follow soon...

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Monday, 06/04/07

#1 Texas A&M vs. #2 Louisiana-Lafayette: Fifth inning

Fly ball to center for first out.

Hot shot to third bobbled but he stays with it for out number two.

Grounder to deep second but handled. On to first. 1-2-3.

That's something Lafayette needed. Let's see if their bats can respond similarly.

Good start for Lafayette. Van de Keere with a liner over second for a single to lead things off.

Hit and run works for Lafayette. Single right through third and short by Bourque. Runner can't reach third, however. First and second with nobody out.

Fly ball to right. Play made and a good throw back to the infield holds the runners. One away.

Popup to short. Play made but the flip gets away. Runner heading to third but he's out on a good throw made by Dalton! That was an odd double play.

That certainly takes the wind out of the sails of the Cajuns. They had the first two on with nobody out and didn't even move them over.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Charlottesville: OSU up 5-3

Oregon State has scored four runs in the past two innings to take a 5-3 lead. Joe Paterson is on the mound right now in the bottom of the ninth, looking to shut down the Cavaliers, and set up a winner-take-all showdown tomorrow at noon.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, SC: Serving Up a Hot "Dish"

Phil Disher hits a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth to catapult the Cocks back ahead 6-5. We're in the top of the fifth now.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Fetter still has Vandy tied up

Vandy has seven hits and a walk off Michigan's Chris Fetter through six complete, but the only run Vandy has is on the ball that Pedro Alvarez hit out of the park.

Vanderbilt will now send closer Casey Weathers to the mound to start the seventh.

Michigan 3, Vandy 1 as the visiting Wolverines are now hitting in the seventh.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Wichita: Now the game gets started!

Workman gets a double as hits ball traveled down the lf line. Hill lines out to ss, and that is the inning for the Shocks.

Back to the beginning of the batting order for the Wildcats, Gaston strikes out swinging. Ziegler follows with a strike out, and that ends an quick 4th inning.

Heading into the 5th, Weber slams the ball right out of the park for the first homerun of the night! Weber, Shocker catcher, puts the Shockers on the board.

They now lead 1 to 0.

Dusty Coleman follows, and he gets hit right off the bat on the shoulder to the boos of the Shocker fans. They boo Colla again as he gets ready to pitch to Dirks. Dirks get a hit that lays out the second baseman, and he gets to first as Coleman advances to third.

Wildcats are warming up Guilmet, and Burns. Guilmet was the Wildcats' starting pitcher for this tournament, and he is brought in to pitch in the bottom of the 5th.

Shocker fans start chanting, as Guilmet gets ready at the mound.

Here we go with Schermerhorn up to bat. He hits a double that sends in Coleman for the run, and Dirks is safe at third. Shocks up 2.

Dirks comes in for the run, as Brown's hit is caught for the 2nd out. Shocks at 3, Arizona not up on the board.

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Monday, 06/04/07

#1 Texas A&M vs. #2 Louisiana-Lafayette: Fourth inning

One away on a fly to right.

Tough hop can't be handled over in short on a chopper by Parker Dalton. He reaches with one out.

Slow grounder to second and there's no chance for the double play. On to first for one out. Two away and a runner at second.

Grounder up the middle handled by short. On to first BUT COLLIGAN IS SAFE! Runners hold at the corners with two still out.

Line drive to center but it's right at the fielder. Side retired.

Cajuns almost gave some of their hard work back, but good job by Pilgreen getting out of some trouble. I'd say they still have the momentum.

Strike three looking on the outside corner. Not the way Cajuns wanted to get started.

Another strikeout for Thebeau. Two gone now. Cajuns need to make some contact.

They do there but it's a grounder right to short to end the inning.

Nothing doing in the fourth. 4-2 A&M.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Pulling out all the stops

Sunday starter Cody Crowell just gave Vandy an inning, and now it's Saturday starter Mike Minor's turn. The left-hander starts the sixth for Vandy and gets a pop-out to right on the first hitter.

Vandy left 10 men on in Saturday's loss to Michigan, and 12 on in yesterday's win. So true to form, Vandy's left five on through five tonight, and had a man picked off at third, for good measure.

Michigan still leads 3-1 in the top of the sixth.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, SC: Niners are Scrappy Little Dudes

The Charlotte 49ers have earned the respect of everyone in attendance. From a great coach to a group of scrappy ballplayers, these guys refuse to stop going at it 100 miles per hour all the time.

They've posted four runs in the top of the fourth to take a 5-2 lead. So far, after three and a half they've outhit the Gamecocks 11-2.

I'm sure Ray Tanner is happy to only be behind by three at this point.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Wichita: 3rd inning and no one on the big board

Coleman grounded out to 3b for the out. Dirks not happy with the call, as he is struck out on what looked like a ball. Schermerhorn is walked getting hit on the shoulder by the pitch. Schermerhorn has a close one as he tries to steal 2nd on Sublett's at bat, and dives back to first just in time. Sublett strikes out, and the Shocks head in.

Brown runs in and catches the ball in the Shockers bullpin to get the out. Up batting for Arizona is Abel, and he gets the third out as strikes out.

No score......

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: You know you're on when....

a team's No. 5 hitter swings and misses at stuff you're throwing in the dirt, and that's how nasty Vandy reliever Cody Crowell's slider is tonight.

Crowell was lit up by Austin Peay yesterday, but evidently has it going tonight. Crowell inherited Tyler Rhoden's first-and-third, no-out jam in the fifth with Michigan's No. 4-6 hitters coming up. He struck out Zach Putnam and Adam Abraham, then got a harmless fly ball to left to retire Doug Pickens.

So, the Commodores still trail 3-1, but Crowell's fantastic job keeps them in the game for now.

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Monday, 06/04/07

#1 Texas A&M vs. #2 Louisiana-Lafayette: Third inning

Another double hit off the wall in right. Great piece of hitting by Stouffer, who is still on a tear. Robichaux may want to think about pulling Glass now before this gets worse.

Said and done. Matt Pilgreen, who had a fantastic game against Ohio State, takes the mound. Runner at second with no one out. Aggies threatening, already with a 4-0 lead.

Bunt bounced off home plate and HIGH in the air. That holds up long enough to get the runner to third.

Bouncing ball to second. Play at the plate. STOUFFER IS OUT. FIRST BASE COACH FOR A&M IS EJECTED FOR ARGUING WITH THE UMPIRE! This is getting heated quickly. Now Childress out to talk to the ump.

Well, out of all that, Anders reaches first and the Aggies can't score. Two gone.

Strike three swinging and the side is retired.

Things got a little hairy that inning, but finally resolved. A&M still with the lead and the momentum.

Long fly ball to right is just short of the track for out number one.

Colligan makes a sliding catch in center to pull down out number two. That thing was falling fast.

Devon Bourque reaches on an error. Cajuns are yet to have a hit.

Just as I typed that, Xavier Alexander reaches on an infield single. Runners at first and second with two out. Childress out to talk to Thebeau. He wants to nip this in the bud.

BASE HIT OVER SECOND. THAT WILL SCORE A RUN! Nolan Gisclair comes through and there are runners at the corners. Two gone still.

BASE HIT JUST PAST SHORTSTOP FOR AN RBI SINGLE! Jon Lucroy with the RBI and here come the Cajuns. 4-2 A&M. Runners go to the corners.

High fly to right and that's easy for the third out. Inning over.

Good job by the Cajuns fighting back. They aren't going to lay down. 4-2 going to the fourth.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: It's not how hard, it's where you hit it

With a runner on first and none out, Brad Roblin hit a ball off the dirt area in front of the plate that softly fell over third baseman Pedro Alvarez's head and rolled down the line in left. I didn't see what happened when the ball got into the corner, as that view is obstructed from the press box, but Matt Meingasner must have had some trouble with it, as it seemed as if it took forever for him to field it.

In the meantime, Jason Christian scored from first.

Now, Nate Recknagel lines a single to left, and Tyler Rhoden, who's gone four-plus innings, is done after giving up seven singles, a homer and that double.

First and third for Michigan, who leads Vandy 3-1 with no outs in the top of the fourth.

Rhoden's replacement will be lefty Cody Crowell, who was knocked out early yesterday in a first-game start against Austin Peay.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, SC: Carolina Takes the Lead

In a move that could be questionable for the entire off season, Charlotte Coach Loren Hibbs put starter Luke Stahl back on the mound after a three hour rain delay. Stahl had already thrown 49 pitches when the game initially started. The Gamecocks jumped on him quickly, loaded the bases and squeezed two across before the inning was over. 2-1 Carolina in the top of the fourth inning.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Wichita: Confusion over who called it

A little arguement arupts as the third baseman, first baseman, and pitcher all go for the catch on Gillaspie's hit. Who called it? I don't really know, but someone was a little angry, but they get over it and the game continues. WSU dh, Josh Workman strikes out for the Shockers' 2nd out. Hill gets a single out to lf, and Weber follows with a pop up caught by 1b, 3rd out for WSU.

Great play seen at second and first, as WSU gets both runners. Just boom, boom, boom, catch at 3rd thrown to 2nd thrown to 1st. 2 outs for AZ, and Steele strikes out for the 3rd out.

Still Scoreless in the 2nd

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, SC: PLAY BALL!

Two hours and fifty six minutes later, we're back to playing some baseball. Carolina has loaded the bases in the bottom of the third. Trent Kline is up. One out. Charlotte leads 1 - 0.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Bullpen activity

With a .303 average against and a fastball that's measured with a sundial and a release point that comes in low, I was wondering if the Commodores, who had one baserunner the first time up, might hit him better.

Sure enough, four of the first seven hitters have hits off Fetter the second time around.

And now, Vandy's awful baserunning continues, as on Fetter's fake-to-first, spin-to-third move works as Ryan Flaherty gets caught in a rundown.

Two away, a man at second for Vandy in the bottom of the fourth.

Michigan 2, Vandy 1

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Alvarez goes deep

I had just commented to the Nashville City Paper's Brett Hait that Michigan's Chris Fetter might be the kind of pitcher that gives Dominic de la Osa and Pedro Alvarez fits because his stuff doesn't look as if it breaks 75 mph.

Immediately afterwards, Alvarez, a lefty, hit a ball about 410 feet over the wall about 30 feet to the left of dead-center, and the Commodores have pulled within a run.

Ryan Flaherty followed with a single to left to extend his hitting streak to 35 games, one shy of the SEC record.

Now, Matt Meingasner has blooped a single to right, so first and second now with nobody out.

The crowd's into it now, and Vandy starters Cody Crowell and Mike Minor are warming up in the 'pen if Rhoden runs into trouble.

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Monday, 06/04/07

#1 Texas A&M vs. #2 Louisiana-Lafayette: Second inning

LONG FLY BALL AND IT'S OUT OF HERE FOR A HOMER! CRAIG STINSON STARTS THE SCORING FOR A&M WITH A HIGH DRIVE THAT CLEARS THE WALL IN LEFT! He put a great swing on that and A&M strikes first. 1-0.

THAT ONE IS A GAPPER! Brian Ruggiano lines it over the shortstop and into left center and he LEGS IT INTO A TRIPLE! He drove that one nicely to find the gap. Runner on third with one out. Glass needs to be careful here and not give this wild crowd anything else to cheer about.

Bunt down the first base line is perfect by Feltner. The throw just gets him at first but another run scores for A&M. 2-0 Aggies out to the early lead.

Shot over to third is MISPLAYED! That should be an error as Parker Dalton reaches first.

Wild pitch and Dalton will advance. Glass needs to get it under control here before this thing gets worse.

LINE SHOT BY DANE CARTER INTO LEFT CENTER. THAT ONE GETS IN THE GAP AS WELL! RBI double and another run scores and it's 3-0. Aggies are making Glass pay for his mistakes. These are some fat pitches.

ANOTHER SHOT UP THE MIDDLE FOR AN RBI SINGLE! This time it's Kyle Colligan coming through. He'll get to second on a bad throw home. 4-0 now. Aggies are teeing off. This may not be Glass's day.

Finally a chopper to third retires the Aggies.

Aggies with some clutch two-out hitting. Buddy Glass can't afford any more innings remotely like that one. A&M came to play today. 4-0 Aggies.

Easy pop just out of the infield at second and there's one away.

Strike three looking. That's the last thing the Cajuns want to do. They can't be handing Thebeau confidence boosters by not taking the bat of their shoulders.

Strike three swinging this time. Thebeau is dealing to start.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Charlottesville: OSU gets one back

The Beavers narrowed Virginia's lead to two, 3-1, on a bizzare play in the top of the sixth. With no outs and runners on first and second, Mike Lissman hit a ground ball to UVA third baseman Patrick Wingfield. Wingfield tagged third for one out before making an errant throw to first base. Darwin Barney, who had been at first at the start of the play, sped around the bases but Wingfield got in his way at third. The umpire called interference and Barney was awarded home.
Jake Rule is now pitching for Virginia.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Wichita: Here We Go!

Game 7, Schermehorn gets a hit that flies past the 3rd baseman for a single. Schermerhorn steals second on a wild pitch from Colla, and then decides to go ahead and run to third while Arizona scrambles to fetch the ball. Brown still batting for the Shocks, and he strikes out swinging for the third out.

Arizona now on the plate. Dirks and Hill go running after a pop up fly hit by Gaston. They look like they are about to collide, but thankfully they dont run into eachother, and Hill gets the out.

End of the 1st inning, and no one has anything up on the board.

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Monday, 06/04/07

#1 Texas A&M vs. #2 Louisiana-Lafayette: First inning

Kyle Colligan draws a walk with one away for the first baserunner of the game for A&M.

He's thrown out on a bullet on the very next pitch. Cajuns have handled A&M's speed quite well during the regional. Tough task.

Another walk. This time there are two gone, Hicks goes to first. Glass may be a little wild this inning.

High pop to end the inning.

Good job by Glass pitching around some walks. Cajuns coming up.

Strike three swinging on three pitches. Good sign for the Aggies to have Thebeau, someone who has struggled for them, get off to a good start.

Strike three swinging again. Two strikeouts to start off.

Great play by second baseman Parker Dalton. There was a sharp grounder that ricocheted off of the first baseman's glove. It bounced right to Dalton who hung with it and threw a strike to the pitcher covering. Inning over.

Not much action that inning. Good start for both pitchers.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Wichita: Game 7- Championship

This is it. Game 7 to determine the winner of the NCAA Regionals here in Wichita, Kansas. Arizona Wildcats are up to face the Wichita State Shockers, with the Shocks having homefield advantage. This game will be the deciding game to see where the Super Regionals will take place.

Starting pitcher for the Wildcats will be #16 Mike Colla. #14 Travis Banwart will pitch for the Shockers.

Top of the batting order for Arizona is Jon Gaston. Wichita has Andy Dirks starting it off.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Recknagel strikes again

Michigan's Nate Recknagel just hit a towering home run on to Memorial Gym over the 35-foot wall in left, putting Michigan up 2-0 in the top of the third with one out.

Recknagel's the guy whose bases-loaded double in the Saturday night meeting between the two teams provided the bulk of the offense in Michigan's 4-3 win over Vandy.

Tyler Rhoden must have been rattled, as he threw two straight balls before Shea Robin went out to speak with him. Rhoden then got two strikes, two foul balls, and a third that was caught in foul territory, so two are away now.

Michigan 2, Vandy 0 in the championship game here in Nashville, top of the third.

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Monday, 06/04/07

#1 Texas A&M vs. #2 Louisiana-Lafayette

Championship monday here in the College Station Regional. This will be the deciding game of this regional to determine who moves on to the Rice Super Regional in Houston. This is the third of three games between the Texas A&M Aggies, and the Louisiana Lafayette Cajuns.

A&M was able to force this championship game by defeating the Cajuns last night by a score of 4-1.

Buddy Glass makes the start for the Cajuns. He has a 7-4 record in 14 starts and a 3.28 ERA. Kyle Thebeau gets the nod for A&M. He has a 2-5 record in 8 starts and a 5.10 ERA.

It's been a spectacular weekend of games, and I really hope this championship game is just as good.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Charlottesville: Virginia strikes first

Virginia scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to break the ice here in Charlottesville. The big hit was a two-run single to right by Mike Mitchell. OSU's Braden Wells almost made the catch but pulled up just short on the sinking line drive. The ball bounced away from him and Beau Seabury and Jeremy Farrell scored easily. Later in the inning, Tyler Cannon drove a double over the head of Wells to the warning track, driving in Mitchell.
Turpen was replaced by Blake Keitman after the Mitchell single.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Wolverines strike first

A leadoff single by Adam Abraham, a one-out single by Derek Van Buskirk, and a check-swing single by Kevin Cislo that hugged the third base line loaded the bases for Michigan, and Eric Rose flied out to left to produce the game's first run.

Rhoden then wild-pitched runners to second and third, then Jason Christian bounced a high hopper to first that Brad French struggled with the sun to field, then grabbed, then jogged to the bag for the third out.

Michigan 1, Vandy 0 after 1 1/2.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Slow and slower

Those are the two speeds Michigan's Chris Fetter showed in the first to the Vanderbilt lineup, however, it was very effective as the righty gave up just a bunt single to Dominic de la Osa, two pop-ups and a harmless ground-out to second.

In fact, it's not a bad way to pitch this Vandy lineup at all, as they've had some some trouble against off-speed stuff this year.

I don't think I've ever seen a 6-foot-8 guy show less power in an inning than what Fetter just showed.

No score after one.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: Rhoden sets UM down

The jitters may have gotten the best of Vandy's Tyler Rhoden to start the first, but he settled down nicely thereafter.

After going 3-0 to leadoff man Jason Christian, Rhoden got him on a 3-2 ground-out to first where Rhoden covered the tag after it looked like Brad French nearly lost the hopping baseball in the sun (yes, that's right: there's a brutal sun right behind the press box here).

He then struck out Brad Roblin on three pitches, and after Nate Recknagel's first-pitch single up the middle, got Zach Putnam to fly to right.

Michigan 0, Vandy coming to bat.

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Monday, 06/04/07

NASHVILLE: This one's for all the marbles

Boots Randolph played a superb national anthem on the saxophone here in Music City, and Vanderbilt and Michigan are moments away from starting the title game of the Nashville Regional. Vanderbilt, the home team, takes the field as the bleachers and the stands alternate the "black/gold" cheer.

It's righty Tyler Rhoden (4-0, 5.66) on the mound for Vandy against righty Chris Fetter (6-3, 4.71). Both teams have seven right-handed hitters in the lineup.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Charlottesville: Scoreless after three

We have a pitcher's duel her at Davenport Field. UVA's McAnaney has retired eight of the 11 hitters that he has faced while Turpen has retired 8 of 10.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Myrtle Beach: Mercifully Over

It's over in Myrtle Beach. Well, it's been over since the third inning, but it's seriously over now. This one was never in doubt, as Clemson rolls on through to the Super Regionals with a 15-3 victory over Coastal Carolina.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Charlottesville: OSU-Virginia underway

A lively capacity crowd is on hand at Davenport Field as the Cavaliers square against Oregon State. With a victory, Virginia would advance to its first Super Regional appearance in school history. Junior left-hander Pat McAnaney (2-0) is on the mound for the Wahoos while Daniel Turpen (9-1), who pitched the final three innings of this afternoon's game, is on the hill for the Beavers.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, SC: Rain Delay

Another squall on the horizon and the teams leave the field here in Columbia, SC. There is one on and no outs for the Gamecocks in the bottom of the third with James Darnell, the teams leading hitter, at bat. The 49ers still lead 1-0.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, MO: Cards Take Columbia, Mo. Regional 16-6

Despite loading the bases in the 9th, Mizzou has fallen at home to the Cardinals of Louisville.

For the #3 seed Cards, this is the first regional championship in school history. And this team will be scary, especially since they will be able to hit with Oklahoma State.

16-6 is the Final, All-Tourney Team is in the link below.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Chapel Hill: Regional Wrap

North Carolina came back from a one run deficit to score two runs in the top of the ninth, then held on in the bottom of the inning to defeat Western Carolina, 6-5, and advance to the Super Regionals. Josh Horton, who had the two run single that drove in the eventual winning runs, was named tournament MVP (he was 5 for 12 overall). Rob Wooten (5-1), who pitched in all three games of the tournament for UNC, got the win with 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Andrew Carignan pitched the ninth inning to pick up his fourteenth save.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, MO: Mizzou Left To Three Outs

After a 1-2-3 top of the 8th, the host Tigers are down to their final outs. It will take a miracle comeback to overtake the Cards 10-run lead... assuming they don't take any on in the bottom of the inning.

Which isn't something I would bet against.

Bottom 8... 16-6 Louisville, and the Cards have 21 hits

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Monday, 06/04/07

Round Rock: Final Wrap -- Smells of Omaha

Before this weekend, I had only seen an anteater once, in a zoo. I saw what it looked like, I saw how it moved, but I wasn't close enough to pick up its smell. Now I know.

Anteaters smell like Omaha.

This bunch has ridiculous speed, flashy gloves, disciplined bats, two stud pitchers, and most importantly, supreme confidence in themselves and determination.

Baseball programs always advance in steps each season. (Oregon State's title came the year after an 0-and-2 Omaha visit.) Before this weekend, Irvine had never won a postseason D-I game, so it seems really stupid to expect much more than this from them.

Yet there I was after the press conference, congratulating Taylor Holiday and telling him, "See you in Omaha."

ZOT!

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, SC: Niners Strike First

Carolina's Mike Cisco has worked himself in and out of jams through the first two innings. The Niners were able to scratch one across though on an errant throw from CF Steven Reinhold. After one and a half it's the Charlotte 49ers up 1 - 0.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, SC: The Cisco Kid

Sophomore Mike Cisco gave up two singles to start the game and then struck out two .400 hitters in a row (one was looking) and struck out .338 hitter Chris Taylor to end the inning.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, MO: Ejected

Up by 10, Boomer Whiting squared around to bunt. The next pitch he took it on a word that's a letter away from 'bunt.'

And as he ran down to first, reserve Lendsey Thomson exited the Mizzou dugout and had some words for Boomer. Home plate ump Mike Conlin took two steps towards him and gave him the heave-ho.

And again, Louisville manager Dan McDonnel is out jawing to Conlin, despite his team's comfy lead.

It could get ugly out here with tempers flaring... U of L 16, Mizzou 6 after six innings.

Kyle Hollander is in again for the Cards... it'll be tough to improve on his numbers, but we'll see if he does.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, SC: Cocks Take the Field

The Gamecocks have taken the field and we'll be underway in just a minute. Charlotte has to win two. Whoever wins this at the end of the day is headed to Chapel Hill where the Tarheels have already wrapped up their Regional.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Myrtle Beach: Gettin' Real Ugly

A five spot in the third, and a five spot in the fourth has made the score 12-0. Still only one out in the fourth, and Clemson has 14 hits, including a couple bombs by Marquez Smith and Taylor Harbin. The Tigers are running on everything, and there's not much else to say but, ball game over.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, SC: First Pitch Delayed

Today's Charlotte @ South Carolina game (or games, if Charlotte wins the first) has been delayed. With a massive Southern thunderstorm about 10 miles away, officials have decided to push back the start time to 4:25. For those in other parts of the country, it sounds odd to have "massive thunderstorms" in the same sentence with a 25 minute delay. However, in South Carolina and other states way "down here," it's not unusual to have sun blacked out suddenly by massive clouds, then a massive downpour and then sun again in twenty minutes.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, MO: Cardinals In Charge

We're only through five here and Louisville is pouring it on.

They lead 16-5 after a Jorge Castillo home run and a Pete Rodriguez RBI 2B.

Louisville is hitting .581 as a team today, and nothing Mizzou puts out there can douse the flames.

One would think that U of L couldn't keep up this pace, but they have. If they do face OK. St in the Supers, expect runs, runs, and more runs.

Meanwhile, Tiger RF Aaron Senne just absolutely cranked another one to lead off the 6th... Mizzou has an uphill battle here, but that can't hurt.

'Ville... 16, Mizzou... 6

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Monday, 06/04/07

Charlottesville: OSU eliminates Rutgers with a 5-2 victory

Jorge Reyes pitched six strong innings and Daniel Turpen, for the second time this weekend, threw three innings of solid relief, as the Beavers advanced to play first-seeded Virginia this evening at 6 p.m. Rutgers, the Big East regular season co-champion and the winner of the Big East Tournament, finished its season with a 42-21 record.

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Monday, 06/04/07

Columbia, MO: Dominguez Dominant

WOW. Chris Dominguez has sent another one out of here, this time