Tempe: Fireworks Early in Elimination Game

By Jason Owens - June 03, 2007

It didn't take long for things to get exciting at Brock Ballpark today. Arguing balls and strikes in the first inning, Riverside Coach Doug Smith got himself tossed -- in a 0-0 elimination ballgame.

I'm shocked. Smith has been nothing but calm and congenial in press conferences and is the last coach here I'd expect to get so riled up. Maybe it's a motivation technique, but it doesn't make sense to me. It's real early in the game and Smith's Highlanders are clearly the favorite today.

The matchups today pit Nebraska's Johnny Dorn (9-3, 5.68 ERA) against Riverside's Pat Cassa (2-4, 4.50 ERA). Cassa looked shaky early, walking the first two batters, but got out of the inning unscathed. We go into the second with no score.

Thanks to the fans writing in with the kind words. It's great to see the support of college baseball from the traveling fans as well as the ASU fans here in Arizona. As for the setting here in Tempe today, I must be getting acclimated to the heat. I just heard today was supposed to be the hottest yet -- reaching 106 degrees -- and I haven't started whining yet.