Chapel Hill: Crunch Time

By Kenny Cook - June 10, 2007

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.