http://collegebaseball360.com/penders-pride-powers-huskies-program/ http://collegebaseball360.com/penders-pride-powers-huskies-program/#comments Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:17:44 +0000 http://collegebaseball360.com/?p=14094

www.simplesharebuttons.com

A bit later than I intended, but I’m back with another Inside the Webb edition, and the latest round takes one last look inside the Big East where a coach is doing great things at his alama mater.

Jim Penders knows what going to Omaha means. As a child, Penders heard stories of college baseball’s holy grail from his father Jim and his uncle Tom, as both played on the hallowed grounds of Rosenblatt Stadium as members of Connecticut’s 1965 College World Series team.

Jim Penders

While the Huskies have accomplished a lot and made significant strides during Penders’ tenure, with the tradition within the Penders’ family as well as the Huskies’ program, he knows there is still work to be done.

“We still have a long way to go,” said Penders.  “As a program we have been to Omaha five times and I want to get back as a participant. But I certainly am proud of the progress that has been made.”

The expectations and level of success sought to be obtained by the Huskies are displayed day in and day out, with a constant reminder of the excellence that preceded Penders.

“I’m just the third coach in the program since J.O. Christian,” said Penders referring to the legendary Huskies’ skipper who coached from 1936-61. “Larry Panciera (1962-79), Andy Blalock (1980-2003), and Christian all have their numbers retired and names on the outfield wall. It’s is a reminder of the standard you have to live up to and gives me pride to put on the Blue & White.”

Those mentioned standards could explain why though the Huskies set a program record with 48 wins in their 64 games played a season ago, Penders alluded to the fact his team did not reach any of the benchmarks set forth and there is not a sense of complacency settling in.

“We did not reach any of the goals we set last year,” said the coach who is now entering his eighth season. “Our goals were not to host a Regional, or to win 48 games, nor to win 22 in a row. We set our goals to win the Big East, win a Regional, and win a Super Regional to get to Omaha. We didn’t do any of those.”

Those failures have allowed Penders to keep his players hungry and humble as the 2011 season nears, but so too do the actions of the former Huskie himself.

“During the first meeting of the year I read the team an article,” said Penders. “It was a 2010 preseason article where I substituted Ohio State with Connecticut, Buckeyes for Huskies, their player’s names with ours, and our players thought that article was really about us.”

Penders hopes his Huskies do not follow the course that would embark the Buckeyes who were ranked as high as 14th in the preseason before finishing 2010 with a 28-23 record. Tying for seventh in the Big Ten, Ohio State failed to make the conference’s postseason tournament, let alone a Regional.

“We have a ton of respect for Ohio State, for what Coach Todd did who is a Hall of Fame coach, and the unbelievable amount of success they have had,” said Penders. “But I know they didn’t reach their goals and I just wanted our guys to be aware of that. You can get caught up in hype. Preseason rankings and such is very useful for recruits and boosters to feel good about, but it is absolute poison to us within the program.”

“Every year the media likes to pick a Northern sweetheart. Everyone falls in love with a Northern team that might get to Omaha. We refuse to drink the poison.”
While Penders wants his team to avoid the poison and to have blinders to the preseason hype, internally the bar has been raised and the desire to fulfill high expectations churn, if not publicly.

“We really focused on everyday keeping the same attitude,” said Penders on the autumn practice environment. “With talent we have back, we’re confident we’re capable of getting there, but at the same time, just as we are, there are 300 other teams that are undefeated at this moment. We’re never going to be afraid of talking about Omaha and getting there, but we also don’t talk about it every day. We talk about hitting the outside pitch, getting bunts down, running the bases properly.”

Before steps to Omaha can be made, steps to the top of the Big East ladder need be made first. As Louisville under Dan McDonnell has become the powerhouse program, Penders knows in order to reach the ultimate goal they first need to conquer those closer to home.

“We expect to compete for the Big East championship,” said Penders once again mentioning the first Connecticut baseball goal. “If we focus on the same goal, of the Big East title, nowadays if you win that, the rest, Regionals, and hosting, you’re in competition for.”

Each step Connecticut makes, every goal it achieves, and the success the program encounters is doubly special for Penders who has spent 18 of the past 20 years inside the Huskies’ program. As a player from 1991-1994, Connecticut advanced to NCAA Regionals in Penders’ final two seasons, also winning the Big East in 1994, a season Penders was a co-captain catcher.

UConn hosted an NCAA Regional at Thomas Dodd Stadium in 2010.

After two years away from the Storrs, Connecticut campus, Penders served as a graduate assistant for two seasons before becoming a full-time assistant coach under Baylock from 1999 until taking over for his former coach following the 2003 season.

Now at the helm of what many feel is the most talented Connecticut team ever, Penders is in a position to cement his legacy among the great Huskie coaches. With a team that returns seven position players, all of which batted .300 or better led by a shoe-in first-round draft pick junior outfielder George Springer, and two thirds of its weekend rotation, also bolstered by an expected first-round pick in Matt Barnes, the chance for a special season is a reality for Connecticut.

While the head coach knows that the talent is there, he knows the Huskies will only go as far as their hard work will take them, a staple that has been passed down from Christian, to Panciera, to Baylock, and now Penders.

“We emphasize staying level and controlling what you can control. Focus, attitude, and effort are the only three things that you can control and mastering those is what we need to work on, said Penders. “I pride myself on never being too high, never being too low.”

When it is all said and done, Penders may be forced to take pride in one last thing, the 2011 season. A season that looks to be ready to someday have stories told of a special Huskies team can be passed down to the next generation of Penders.

www.simplesharebuttons.com

]]> http://collegebaseball360.com/penders-pride-powers-huskies-program/feed/ 0

Click this link to get your officially licensed Notre Dame t-shirts for just $5 from Dugouthats.com!!

In college athletics few names, if any, are as recognizable as Notre Dame. In college baseball no name lives by itself such as Omaha. For Mik Aoki, his goal is to reunite one of the sporting world’s most prominent names with college baseball’s ultimate destination.

On July 13, Aoki became the 20th head coach in Notre Dame baseball history. In his first press conference as the Irish skipper, nearly right off the bat Aoki touched on the Notre Dame name, and the goal of getting to Omaha.

Mik Aoki

“I think that this is a place that arguably, Notre Dame is the biggest brand name in college athletics, and one of the best academic institutions in the country,” said Aoki. “I feel that that model is one that can help us get back to Omaha.”

Getting back to Omaha is not a simple task for the Irish. Since the NCAA went to the current 64-team tournament field, Notre Dame’s 2002 College World Series appearance is the only trip to Omaha a “Northern” program has made. While the Irish were able to overcome the odds nearly a decade ago, times are not what they once were in South Bend.

That College World Series appearance came in the middle of a grand era in Notre Dame baseball. With Paul Mainieri at the helm, the Irish appeared in NCAA Regional action every season from 1999-2006, hosting Regionals in ‘99, ‘01, ’02, and ‘04. The end of the eight-year tournament run, would coincide with Mainieri’s exit as the coach took over at LSU. In Mainieri’s 12 seasons from ’95-06 the Irish won 71 percent of their games, going 533-213-3.

With Mainieri leaving town, seemingly so to did Notre Dame’s existence in the national spotlight. As Dave Schrage followed as the next Irish coach, the college baseball community knew the mighty shoes Mainieri left would be hard to fill, however few saw the fortunes that would lie ahead for the Irish.

After a 28-28 record in Schrage‘s first season, Notre Dame would improve the next two, going 33-21-1, and 36-23. With the number of wins increasing over the previous two seasons, expectations were high for Notre Dame in 2010. In a season where the faithful expected the Regional drought to end, it would be another streak that ended, a more ominous one.

What unfolded was a 22-32 season as Notre Dame finished sub-.500 for the first time since 1987, so long ago that no current Notre Dame baseball player was yet to be born. After going 119-104-1 in four seasons Schrage was relinquished of his duties, opening the door for Aoki.

Aoki knows the task in front of him. He knows that at Notre Dame the expectations are high and his results will not fly under the radar as was the case during his previous stop. At Boston College, where Aoki spent six seasons, the college was in the heart of a heavy professional sports metropolitan.

At Notre Dame being affiliated with a major university and premiere athletic department comes raised expectations and a brighter magnification. The raised stakes did everything but shy Aoki away from taking the job.

“I think that was part of the attraction of this job,” said Aoki. “I think that in the way that it’s supported, the name brand of Notre Dame, the tradition, and the very recent tradition that this place has, I really truly believe that this program is capable of competing at a national level, at a very high level, a Omaha-type level… I think of this being an Omaha-type program.”

“It’s not a pressure, it’s something I embrace about the program,” Aoki added. Aoki points to the potential that the Notre Dame program has as one of, if not the most influential aspect of his decision to take the job.

“When you look across the Midwest and the Northeast, there are only a handful of programs that you can truly say are Omaha-type programs. I would not have left Boston College, which I think is a great place that I truly loved being at, I would not have left that situation to come to anything short of what I think Notre Dame represents and the potential Notre Dame has.”

Part of what Notre Dame represents is a strong, passionate, and loyal fan base. Discussing his short time at Notre Dame Aoki speaks highly of those around him. While Aoki knew of the expectations to win, the infinite potential the program has, and past success, the amount of support the program receives and realizing the attention paid to the program, exceeded any expectations he had of his new job.

“The one thing that did exceed my expectations was the level of interest in Notre Dame baseball and Notre Dame athletics in particular,” said Aoki.

“Obviously the interest the people have in the football program goes without saying, but I think it extends beyond football to all of the sports at Notre Dame, and certainly baseball is included. That part of it is something I really have not been at a place where the people are as locked in on things as they are here.”

What did happen in Boston was that Aoki was able to turnaround a dormant program in a very difficult ACC. For that to be the case in the Big East for Notre Dame, Aoki alludes to two tasks he and his staff are working to improve.

“There is talent on this team, however I think the talent level is thin. Number one obviously we have to do a good job recruiting players, then secondly, we have to do a really good job of developing player.”

Often when the development of a player is read about, asked of, or discussed, the mind thinks of bigger, stronger, and faster. For Notre Dame and Aoki the development goes beyond physical measurables and starts with the mind being right.

“The big thing from a mindset standpoint is for our players to feel like baseball is the best part of their day again. I think that has been lost for some of the guys in the program. That its fun and that its something that is definitely worth the time, the effort, the extra hours that they’re going to need to put in to be the type of program that gets back to Omaha.”

Mentioning that he feels that a little of the passion for the game of baseball has gone adrift among his players, Aoki and his staff are making it a concerted effort to make sure that America’s pastime is enjoyable.

“I think we need to do a good job as a coaching staff of coaching them and coaching them hard, but making sure that we’re sending a really positive message to them and that they have fun,” spoke Aoki.

“Because when you boil it all down it’s just a stinking game you know. It should be something that is fun, and in my opinion it should be something that is a hell of a lot better than figuring out calculus derivatives or something like that. I like to think they look forward to practice, the challenge, and the journey of making themselves better players.

So far Aoki feels his message is getting to his players.

“By and large I think our kids have done a really good job of trying to buy into what we’re selling of working and getting back to having some fun while we’re playing and practicing, and working at getting better.”

Making sure fun is evident in the game of his players is a staple Aoki hopes sticks with his program. But do not mistake installing joy and passion in the game as a substitute for working hard and competing relentlessly.

“We talk to our guys all the time that regardless of who you’re playing, whether it’s a big-name team like Florida or Texas, or a lesser known team in a non-conference game, that we’re going to play it the same way,” said the coach.

As Aoki digs in and is ready to turn the tide for the Blue and Gold, he expects that a program with his fingerprints is going to work hard, be mentally tough, and compete with pride day in and day out.

“Those are the three biggest things… compete like crazy, work like crazy, and have some fun while doing it.”

And if all of those things come together?

“I think the sky is the limit at this place.”

The first installment of Inside the Webb heads down to Louisville where off a school-record 50 wins and national-seed season, the Cardinals are aiming to soar even high in 2011.

In Louisville that world is a pretty darn good place to be in.

To say the 2010 season did not end as envisioned for Louisville is an understatement. As the No. 7 National Seed in the NCAA Tournament, big things were expected from the Cardinal as McDonnell’s veteran-squad was expected to head to the College World Series for the second time in program history, the second time in just five years.

However a heartbreaking Regional in which Vanderbilt upset the host Cardinals in a back-to-back days to end the Louisville season at appeared to many to be the start of a tumultuous time.

Within one week of season’s end, Louisville, who finished 2010 with a 50-14 mark, would see 10 players drafted with four incoming freshman as well being tabbed by MLB clubs.

On top of that, assistant coach Chris Lemonis was one of four finalists for the vacant Ohio State head coaching position, while pitching Coach Roger Williams was being courted by National Champion South Carolina, for a vacancy on their staff.

Suddenly it appeared Louisville’s seat at the grown-up table with the elites of the college baseball world would be pushed to corner, forcing the Cardinals to rebuild and revamp their suddenly powerful program.

Well I’m sorry to inform the LSUs, Fullertons, and South Carolinas of college baseball, don’t push aside Louisville just yet.

Though the Cards were hit heavily by the draft, Stewart Ijames spurned a professional offer, as three of the four incoming freshman headlined by eighth-round selection Dace Kime.

Both Lemonis and Williams are back to their duties in the Bluegrass state digging in alongside McDonnell, and the program few are paying attention to is again back to work, trying to yet again move the bar higher, which with a young group has McDonnell excited and eager to dig in.

“There is a lot of respect from the previous classes did…but there is still a lot to accomplish,” said McDonnell.

What type of expectations are in Louisville?

“We want to win our first national championship, we have a high bar but we’re very hungry.”

It is true Connecticut has two elite prospects in pitcher Matt Barnes and outfielder George Springer. However McDonnell was quick to point out that he also can boast a roster with top talent as the Cape Cod League’s Top Prospect Award went to Cardinal closer Tony Zych. Fellow pitcher Derek Self had a good summer as well in the prestigious league, and second baseman Ryan Wright was a Team USA member alongside Springer. Those three along with Ijames show the cupboard is not bare.

Though it may be young in spots.

“A lot of experience left, and we had a big recruiting class, we’re going to be young, stated McDonnell. “But we’re excited about this freshman class, they’re talented.”

The excitement of the newcomers centers around Adam Engel, Kime, Alex Chittenden, Ty Young, and Kyle Gibson. Many are raving of the shortstop Engle and his athleticism, McDonnell said he broke all of the Cardinal’s physical fitness records upon entering Fall practice. Kime is going to be special according to his coaches, while Chittenden, in the infield, and Gibson, behind the plate, are both making pushes for insertion into the UoL lineup.

The infusion of youth will complement the veterans who may not have been everyday starters in the past, but have experience and are expected to perform. Prime example of that is in the outfield where a returning star is entrenched, with a player who not a starter in 2010, but has seen plenty of playing time.

“We’re going to be experienced in the outfield, two of the three spots will have veterans starting” eluded McDonnell.

A year ago Ijames hit .324 with 14 home runs and 63 RBI before being selected by the New York Yankees in the 29th round. The offensive prowess the second-team All-BIG East performer displayed, alongside Nate Holland who missed all of 2010 with a hip injury, but has 56 games under his collegiate belt, will heavily be depended upon.

Moving into the infield, like fellow classmates Ijames and Holland, junior Ryan Wright’s big bat is expected to lead the way. As second-team All-American, first-team all-conference selection, before being tabbed to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, Wright led the Cards in RBI with 80, was second on the team with a .366 average, second in home runs with 16, and stole 10 bases. Whether it is Chittenden or Engle who is his double-play partner, at second-base McDonnell has one he would trade for none.

Or Wright’s twin-killing partner could be a returning player looking to seize the moment. That prospect is not lost on McDonnell.

“Its going to be different than last year,” said McDonnell of a lineup that has question marks. “There is a chance for a lot of guys to step up and play, to have everyday roles. They see the opportunity in front of them.”

On the mound Louisville has the unique duty of replacing two All-Americans, yet still have an abundance or riches.

Louisville will need to replace their Friday night ace in Thomas Royse as well as closer Neil Holland. Those are big holes to fill, but showing the mark of a consistent contender, McDonnell has options.

The closer’s role will be the easier of the two tasks to fill as Zych has all but secured that spot, providing the Cardinals with the luxury of having a closer who can dial it up to 96.

How the weekend rotation will shake out is a completely different task, a chore that could ultimately determine the success of Louisville in 2011, as an emphasis on pitching and defense replaces a mindstate of hang ‘em and bang ‘em the offensively talented Cardinals have enjoyed the last few year.

McDonnell pointed to sophomores righties Justin Amlung and Matt Koch as two among five or six that are fighting for weekend innings.

“Last year as freshman we threw those two into the fire and they handled it well. Credit Williams as he gets them ready to compete.”

Competed, and competed well the two did. Amlung finished 5-2, with a 4.27 ERA and 55 strikeouts, in 65.1 innings over 20 games which included 10 starts. For Koch, his 2010 record was 3-0 as he recorded 31 strikeouts pitching in 11 games, maing six starts, compiling a 3.27 ERA in 44.1 innings.

When you add in Self’s 7-0, 4.52, 50-strikeout, 61.2 innings season, with a pair of sophomores returning after missing all of 2010 with injuries in RHP Mike Nastold (2-0, 3.52, 28 K, 32.1 IP in ’09) and LHP Keith Landers (1-0, 3.86, 10, 9.1), and the high ceiling of Kime, you begin to wonder is it wise to pencil in the Huskies as the Big East champ just like that?

While they know with just seven juniors, and four seniors, they’re not going to get the preseason love that was showered in years past, that they’ll need to prove it on the diamond first, that suites McDonnell fine. While it may take outsiders a bit longer in 2011 to take notice, those within Louisville’s world led by McDonnell are doing just fine.

“Expectations have changed here. I told the coaches following last season’s finish, that ‘if you’re in the thick of it, knocking on the door year after year, you’re going to have heartbreak’ you learn from it. It is good that our fans, administration, coach, and players were crushed. They expect postseason success, and we’re going to continue to make a great commitment here in college baseball.”

From Collegebaseball360.com Editor Sean Stires: Collegebaseball360.com is very happy to welcome a new contributor to our site. Chris Webb runs Buckeyestatebaseball.com, and now he will be bringing his insight to this site. Here’s what Chris has to say about our new joint endeavor:

While I have contributed content for CB360 in the past, focusing on Big Ten and the Mid-American Conference, I am proud to announce that going forward I will be a regular contributor to the site, providing commentary and news stories from the college baseball world in a new College Baseball 360 column “Inside the Webb“.

Going forward, Inside the Webb will have original content from every Friday. From coach and player interviews, to commentary on pressing issues within the game, Inside the Webb hopes to bring a new voice to the college baseball community, enhancing College Baseball 360’s scope, professionalism, and ability to cover the sport.

I look forward to being a catalyst in College Baseball 360’s growing coverage, and will strive to deliver informative, unique, and interesting content.

CB360 contributor Chase Titleman shares his thoughts on Rosenblatt and the national champion South Carolina Gamecocks …

The two were a marriage made in heaven for college baseball fans that have had a 61-year crush on an old and outdated stadium, and a college baseball championship tournament that started with humble beginnings.

The parallels between the two are striking, a fitting end to a 61-year run of fun in the summer along the Missouri River within Nebraska’s eastern border.

Think about it.

Rosenblatt Stadium has been remade so many times over the years she looks like that house on the neighborhood street corner that has been remodeled so often that you faintly recognize the original design.

With a minimal concourse causing major traffic jams in between innings (or games for that matter thanks to the NCAA’s policy of emptying the stadium after every game), long lines to the restroom facilities, minimal shade to escape the 105-degree heat index, poor locker room facilities and a convoluted parking nightmare for the paying patrons eager to witness the splendor of it all, Rosenblatt certainly isn’t the most ideal stadium to host the sports grandest event.

The best thing you could say about Rosenblatt is that she has persevered through the years and weathered storm after storm from the NCAA figureheads (always demanding upgrades or the insult of removal of the College World Series from Omaha itself). She always has dusted herself off and answered the call, just like South Carolina did in 2010.

But what makes Rosenblatt so special isn’t the design of the stadium – although it certainly satisfies my lovefest for old time ballparks that reek of baseball’s long gone era of history and tradition. What makes Rosenblatt so hard to depart from, as she fades into the twilight of her career as an NCAA National Championship host site, is the people and the interlocking community that surrounds Bob Gibson Boulevard.

The people of Omaha and the surrounding community bring that good old-fashioned, down-to-earth, Midwestern sensibility with them each night to the ballpark, which makes for a sensational experience focused on family values and fun. It’s as American as hot dogs, apple pie, tailgating and fireworks amid the simmering summer heat along the Midwest in July … few NCAA events can touch it.

The friendships made at Rosenblatt are the type that transcend the test of time – the kind of relationships that last a lifetime, with baseball being the focal point that draws everyone together.

Together, the people of Omaha and that old venue of a diamond called Rosenblatt have provided the best experience a college baseball player ever could hope for. Many have used her to drive their dreams and ambitions in the off-season, to one day be a part of the magical show that runs the last two weeks of June each season.

Many times in life, we find that newer isn’t always better.

Sun sets on Rosenblatt Stadium

The College World Series was the last great secret in sports. It was a respite to a simpler time that was built around family entertainment, traditional values and fun. But like all things in sport, corporate America must seek her destructive influences, hidden within the suggestive concept of growth and progress, which at times is nothing more than a grand illusion, her tentacles march onward like a creeping vine.

There was no finer representation for America than Rosenblatt Stadium, Omaha and the College World Series. A place where the crowd, the athletes and a stadium could unite and bring magical moments to fruition within the daily display of excellence.

What exactly did we need to change when we had the greatest secret in sports all to our own?

Forget the new fancy ballparks full of perks and modern architecture.  Rosenblatt didn’t need any to survive on her own. For all her faults, she provided her own uniqueness in a charming, magical manner. Once again, the same could be said of South Carolina for the Gamecocks ran against the grain of what a traditional champion appears to be.

If you were looking for perks at Rosenblatt, you didn’t need to venture any farther than Starsky’s Bar and Grill, or Zesto’s Ice Cream shop at the southern edge of the ballpark.  If you were looking for tailgating fun, there was nothing better than the upper parking lot, especially when LSU came to town, tooting their gumbo and seafood on the grill. We didn’t need corporate America, as we found so much more in a community built on giving all of her best (even if it was just one time a year, just as the athletes did on the field).

The College World Series will move downtown next year to a sterile and commercial environment, for corporate America demands her fair share of revenue within a spiraling economy. Corporate America doesn’t give a darn about middle America and her petty little neighborhoods. The hidden veil behind corporate America cares only about the bottom line – and as long as the means justifies the end, so be it, tradition be damned.

Big business wins and mainstream America is sent packing. We all lose in the process.

The same similarities can be said for this year’s South Carolina baseball club, although we lose nothing in the process of crowning the chicken as champ, for there are lesson’s galore that any collegiate athletic program can glean from within the confines of South Carolina’s baseball program.

The best team with the best players doesn’t always win; the team that performs the best often does win, and playing the best involves heart, desire, perseverance and overcoming adversity. There were 301 collegiate Division I baseball programs that began the year with the endgame of Omaha in mind, but none were better than the Gamecocks this season.

South Carolina was not the greatest team in the world – when considering the athleticism of the individual athletic parts – but they were the best team in terms of persevering and navigating a 20-week challenge course called the college baseball season. Not one team came close to overcoming the peaks and valleys of the game itself, especially when coming from behind or holding a close lead late in the game.

Just like the Rosenblatt concourse, the offense of the Gamecocks many times this year came to a screeching halt.  Such an offense wasn’t pretty to watch or experience, unless you particularly like an offense that survived in Omaha this year by getting the majority of its scoring rally’s started with two outs and no one on base.

But when the other team can’t score a run, what does it matter? It adds to the drama that can only be described when sitting in the stands and experiencing the scorching Nebraska sun.

Game-1 of the College World Series Championship game was a prime example. South Carolina’s two run rally in the opening inning turned the wheels of destiny in its favor. It started innocently enough … how about a bunt, a bloop, a check-swing and an error to build the framework for a national champion (all coming with two outs and not a soul on base)?

I am quite certain that this isn’t what coach Ray Tanner is looking for when he hits the recruiting trail each and every season, trying to design the inner makings of a champion. What he does look for is a player everyone hates to face, such as third baseman Adrian Morales – the type of player you hate to play against, but love to have on your team.

Or how about the tournament’s most outstanding player Jackie Bradley Jr., a player that I saw for the first time and immediately remarked about his hitting style: with the proper mix of balance and tilt seen in big-league hitters. You could see that instantly when Bradley smashed a curve-ball deep over the right-field wall.

While most of the amateur players stay square to the ground trying to orchestrate a planed swing for square contact, Bradley stays square to the pitch by tilting his body language as the barrel travels through the zone, allowing him to generate lift and leverage for a greater consistency in hitting balls out of the ballpark.

It was that kind of postseason for South Carolina, led by a bunch of unsung heroes grinding through the season with one whale of a player in Bradley to anchor the lineup. Hidden in plain sight for all to ignore was senior pitcher Blake Cooper, as his steady hand provided a calming influence and confidence boost to a struggling offense.

Although South Carolina had minimal outbursts of power, who could forget the smashing 8-spot put up on #1 seed Arizona State in the 2nd inning? The big hits came from Bradley, Christian Walker and Morales, as the Gamecocks posted their first of six consecutive victories (four of which they played with the fear of elimination hovering not far in the backdrop).

There probably were too many bloop hits from South Carolina, if you like traditional power baseball full of rockets sailing around the ballpark (as we often see with championship caliber baseball programs at the Division I level).

The postseason was a turbulent ride for South Carolina, starting with the season-ending series for the SEC regular-season championship (when the Gamecocks were soundly beaten by Florida). To compound the matter, South Carolina went 2-and-out in the SEC Tournament and promptly rode home on the bus and began a series of two-a-days to recapture their identity.

Whatever happened in between the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Columbia Regional certainly worked for Tanner, a down-to-earth coach with a special southern sensibility about him. Tanner came across as a family man who was guiding his team in a crowded stadium at Rosenblatt – which similarly is built on traditional values that include your word, your honor and trusting each other, the same values that drove the Gamecocks dugout to the national championship.

It was hard not to root for Tanner and his South Carolina squad. The Rosenblatt community must have felt the same way. The obvious underdog that captivated everyone’s attention this year was the TCU program. But when the Frogs were eliminated by the powerful pitching from a UCLA staff that featured seven 2010 MLB Draft selections, many then came to the realization that South Carolina actually had a pitching staff with better numbers and possibly a greater resolve than TCU’s. The South Carolina bunch never flinched as you could feel the tension mount throughout the championship clash between Pac-10 and SEC foes.

South Carolina had the resolve to survive and advance, focused on getting to the next pitch and the next inning – as Michael Roth proved in both of his unanticipated gems that helped guide his team to the national title. The team showed a resolve to survive and advance, along with a readiness and willingness to pitch on such short rest (as Cooper demonstrated throughout the tournament in his sterling performances).

The Gamecocks had a resolve to survive and advance versus the variables, which included the weather on multiple occasions and the umpiring on a few. UCLA certainly wilted on the final night when the umpiring didn’t go their way, nor could the Bruins contain their emotions, losing yet another player to a broken hand (yet again by their own doing).

The midnight conversation between pitching coach Mark Calvi and Cooper is certain to become the stuff of legend and championship lore in years to come around Columbia. And that brings us back to Rosenblatt Stadium, soon to be long forgotten within a decade by a younger generation that certainly will be captivated by the grand illusion of TD Ameritrade Park and the surrounding circus of entertainment.

While the Gamecocks were focused primarily on surviving and advancing pitch-by-pitch and inning-by-inning, perhaps their greatest motivation came in the form of a young fan, surviving from day-to-day versus a hidden an unseen opponent called cancer.

A touching moment came in the post-game national championship celebration, when Tanner – obviously choked with emotion – took nearly 30 seconds to gather himself to tell the story of the Gamecocks’ greatest fan and certainly the team’s largest inspiration for surviving to see another day when the end is near (both in terms of the championship season and Rosenblatt itself). Like life itself, all great things must end, but history moves onward.

There are many similarities between the Gamecocks and Rosenblatt, a great combination for college baseball in closing the only real championship chapter of history known to the sport.

And just like the injustice done to Rosenblatt herself, who could ignore the injustice surrounding Cooper’s missing name on the all-tournament team? (but not among CB360’s CWS Primetime Performers).

I agree wholeheartily that Bradley was the marquee player in this year’s CWS. But the player of the tournament has to go to Blake Cooper, for his performance illuminates the similarities found between Rosenblatt, South Carolina and college baseball itself.

How can you ignore a man who answered the call time and time again, only to be upstaged by the environment around him as the higher authority of the national media, representing corporate America herself, chose to upstage such a great competitor and a string of performances? He was hardly mentioned in the telecast when matched up against Gerrit Cole in Game-1.

Without Cooper, the Gamecocks most likely would not have advanced past Drew Pomeranz and Ole Miss in April, nor would they have defeated the CWS ace Cole and UCLA in June. While all the scouts were drooling over Matt Purke, Bauer and Cole, most only gave a passing glance to Cooper (as often is the case for some top college pitchers who don’t project as elite pro talent).

Ever heard of Greg Maddux? He didn’t throw hard either, and all he did was win for over 20 years in the big leagues, just as Cooper did in many of his 20 starts this season.

Like an overlooked stadium in her twilight, Cooper is symbolic of Rosenblatt herself. Let’s all tip our hats to South Carolina, Rosenblatt and Cooper, just an ordinary stadium, an ordinary team and an ordinary player that when combining all the parts together will become the final curtain-call for a grand old stadium. It all adds up as the stuff of legends in college baseball.

A fitting end to a great run for Rosenblatt and South Carolina.  Hail to the chicken!

Preview Of Game 2 CWS Finals: UCLA vs. So. Carolina

South Carolina Is Trying to Win its First Major NCAA Championship Today!

As mentioned in yesterday’s pre-CWS article, UCLA is a different team when (1) it doesn’t score in the first inning and (2) most importantly, when the Bruins give up runs in the 1st inning. If they haven’t erased the deficit by the 6th inning, it is pretty much over for the Bruins as they don’t have a bulkhead of come-from-behind victories in 2010.

This is one of the reasons why I think South Carolina has a key edge this year, because it can win in all types of situations: ahead by a large margin early in the game; behind by a large margin early in the game; or in a see-saw contest where the lead changes hands late in the game and they have to come from behind to win it.

I also mentioned that UCLA is ripe to be beaten when the opponent scores 7 or more, and last night, with South Carolina scoring seven, it didn’t bode well for the Bruins.

The seven runs produced by the Gamecocks was their second-highest output this year in the CWS.  But don’t be too quick to give the title to South Carolina, as they have been in this situation many times before. Just as Clemson – another team that SC has beaten to get to the CWS Final in 2002 & 2010 – has struggled to reach the CWS Final, South Carolina has struggled in the past to win the overall championship.

As a matter of fact, this is the fourth time in South Carolina history that the Gamecocks have been one win away from a national title. The others were 2002 (lost to Texas 12-6), 1977 (lost to Arizona State 2-1) and 1975 (lost to Texas 5-1).

South Carolina, which is 102-56 all-time in NCAA Tournament play (10-1 in the 2010 NCAA Tournament) is 26-2 when scoring in the 1st inning this season and 36-6 when scoring first … numbers that do not bode well for UCLA.

Both teams likely will be starting a lefthander for tonight’s game and all eyes will be on the flags in center field when the teams walk into the ballpark. Over the years at Rosenblatt, due to the nature of the location as the stadium sits up on a high bluff next to the Missouri River, the wind can wreck havoc on the game itself.

Last night was the first night in the 2010 CWS that the wind wasn’t blowing out to either left-center or right-center field.

South Carolina head coach Ray Tanner remarked several times that the wind may have helped starting pitcher Blake Cooper with his curveball and changeup in last night’s ballgame. With the single run allowed in 8.0 innings versus UCLA, it marked the 11th time in 20 starts this season that Cooper has allowed 0-2 runs. His 20 starts this season leads the entire Division I field.

Cooper’s 10 strikeouts last night also tied the CWS Finals record, matching versatile Texas pitcher Chance Ruffin (vs. LSU in 2009) and former Fullerton workhorse Jason Windsor (vs. Texas in ’04). Cooper has a 3-1 record with a 2.18 ERA in five NCAA Tournament starts this season, fanning 38 over 33 innings of work.

In Omaha,Cooper is 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA in three starts, allowing 13 hits over 18.2 innings of work.

Can Jackie Bradley, Jr., lead the Gamecocks to their first championship?

As a pitching staff, South Carolina has a 2.41 ERA in six CWS games with 50 strikeouts and 9 walks while holding the opponent to a .186 batting average. The Gamecocks have held all six opponents in Omaha to 0-4 runs. SC is 30-4 this season when holding the opponent to 0-3 runs, including each of its past four opponents in Omaha.

South Carolina’s two leading hitters will need to continue their hot streaks tonight versus Bruin lefthander Rob Rasmussen, who faced a similar situation in the Los Angeles Super Regional when he defeated Fullerton for the right to journey to Omaha.

South Carolina centefielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who in many media member’s opinions is THE marquee player in this year’s tournament and a likely 1st-rounder next season, extended his hit streak to 22 games with a bunt single in the 1st inning last night. It set the wheels in motion for South Carolina’s jump to a 2-0 lead. Bradley now is 10-for-24 (.417) in Omaha with 9 RBI, which leads all players in the CWS.

Gamecocks cleanup hitter Christian Walker (1B) is hitting .396 (19-for-48) in the NCAAs, as he went 2-for-5 last night with a run scored.

UCLA, on the other hand, ended up with some dubious marks as a result of South Carolina’s domination in Monday’s Game #1 title tilt.

With the loss, the Bruins fell to 9-3 in 2010 NCAA Tournament play and 51-16 overall in 2010. The Bruins are 42-34 all-time in 16 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Most importantly, UCLA’s one run last night tied a season low matched on five other occasions in 2010. The Bruins have not been shut out in 2010, but Monday’s game marked the second time this season that the Bruins were shut out through the first five innings. Remember the importance of scoring first against the Bruins, holding the lead after the sth inning and scoring 7-plus runs overall … all of which were factors that South Carolina accomplished yesterday in the 7-1 victory.

The 11 hits and 6 runs given up by Gerrit Cole tied career highs for the Bruin ace, and his 2 strikeouts matched his lowest total in 33 career starts.  ole has 153 strikeouts this season, a total that ranks second on UCLA’s single-season list behind teammate Trevor Bauer’s 165. Cole is third nationally in strikeouts, behind Bauer (#1) and The Citadel’s Asher Wojciechowski (155).

UCLA assistant coach Vanderhook will be hoping to help ignite the Bruins' sticks vs South Carolina.

UCLA’s Cody Regis extended his hit streak to 13 games and is swinging a hot-stick to lead the Bruins in Omaha (7-for-20/.350).

All in all, UCLA must avoid falling behind early and would be best served to have the lead going into the final nine outs if they expect to stay alive to fight another day in Omaha.  At least that’s what the Sabermetric numbers indicate. Laugh if you will, but most of the time the numbers don’t lie. That’s why insurance companies pay the bean-counters big time.

Three consecutive trips to the College World Series can create unrealistic expectations for any program, let alone one that plays inside the fish bowl called the Southeastern Conference (SEC). (front-page photo of Niko Gallego courtesy of UCLA)

College World Series Gameday: TCU (53-13) vs. UCLA (50-14) …

Coming into the game between UCLA and TCU, a close inspection of the team stat page in each program’s media guide revealed some interesting data.

The number six and the sixth inning would be an important run total and a pivotal inning for both teams, in determining who was going to win the epic matchup involving two programs loaded with pitching depth.

Rob Rasmussen Wwent 4.1 innings giving up 3 Runs on 6 Hits. (Photo: Chase Titleman)

UCLA has piled up some impressive statistics, most impressive (other than the 50-14 record with a program-best 22-game win streak to start the season) is the PAC-10 season strikeout record in which the Bruins logged 665 punchouts in 582 innings (10.3 ’s per 9-inning game).

Equally impressive is limiting the opponent batting average to .217 and the fact that the offense has jumped into high gear, hitting .311 in eight postseason games this month.

At 50-14 overall, the Bruins sport a 21-4 record on the road, 8-3 in 1-run games and 4-0 in extra inning affairs. Overall, the quality pitching depth has limited opponents in 2010 to 0-2 runs in 30 ballgames (UCLA is 29-1 in those games).

With all these impressive stats running rampant in the media guide, it is rather hard to find a chink in the Bruin armor.

But a closer examination reveals that the Bruins are only 9-7 when the opponent scores in the first inning, which TCU did on Friday afternoon when Taylor Featherston drove in a run on a bases-loaded walk when UCLA starter Rob Rasmussen struggled with his command.

When UCLA scores in the first inning, they are 22-3 … but they drew a blank tonight in Omaha during the opening frame. Advantage TCU!

Furthermore, when trailing after six innings UCLA is 3-11, but when leading they are 43-1. So when the Bruins began the top of the 7th inning trailing 3-1, you can bet your bottom dollar the west-coasters were in a tight fix given the few statistical numbers that have not worked in their favor this season (although they did stage a memorable late-inning rally to beat Cal State Fullerton in the Super-Regional round).

Cody Regis started the 7th inning with a drag-bunt single on the first pitch, and a pitch later Joe Giovinnazo hit a high-chop grounder to third to advance Regis (iovinnazo was out on the play). Trevor Brown entered the game to pinch-hit for Uribe, a rather odd move considering Uribe is hitting .329 on the year while Brown is hitting .296, but Coach John Savage wanted a better right-left matcup versus the taltented LHP Matt Purke (Uribe swings lefthanded).

Working the count full at 3-2, Brown drew a walk, finally running the TCU All-American Purke from the game and setting up runners at 1st and 2nd with one out.

The pitching change called upon another decision by Savage and he chose lefthanded hitter Jeff Gelalich to hit for Krill, for the same reason as the Uribe-Brown scenario as the new TCU pitcher Tyler Lockwood is a veteran righthander.

When Gelalich grounded a ball to third base, only his foot speed prevented the Frogs from turning a double play ball to get out of the inning (his speed also would come in handy two batters later).

Steve Rodriguez then walked to load the bases, which brought up leadoff hitter Niko Gallego, who hit a high chopper to third base and once again the speed of Gelalich beat the race to the bag (prolonging the inning). The Bruins had cut the lead to 3-2, but Beau Amaral struckout in a key at-bat as the Bruins left three runners on base and swam upstream against the statistics all evening long.

UCLA’s chance to defy the statistical trend faded, as the Bruins now are 5-14 and 4-15 when trailing after the 8th and 9th innings, respectively. They will need to limit TCU from scoring in the 1st inning tomorrow and likely must hold TCU to 0-5 runs to enhance their oddes at victory.

Taylor Featherston, Jerome Pena & Bryan Holaday all homered for TCU

In the bottom of the inning, Matt Curry – who hit the thrilling gamewinning grand slam versus Florida State two nights ago –  singled to right and Jantzen Witte bunted Corry to second. Hot-hitting Taylor Featherston then hit a towering home run into the leftfield bleachers to extend the lead to 5-2. An inning later, Bryan Holaday hit his 16th home run of the season (TCU’s 99th long ball of the season) to slam the door on the Bruins at 6-2.

With each team now beating the other in Bracket #1, the third and decisive game of the head-to-head series will be decided tomorrow afternoon at either 1 p.m. or 6 p.m (depending on the outcome of the Clemson – South Carolina ballgame this evening). If Clemson wins, they will clinch a championship series berth and if South Carolina wins, it forces a game-3 doubleheader tomorrow for both brackets (first game at 1:00 p.m. and the second to begin 50 minutes following the completion of TCU vs UCLA).

UCLA Postgame Comments:

Coach John Savage:

“It was one of those days. … You have to give Matt Purke and TCU a ton of credit. I thought he did a good job of pounding the zone … seemed like we were swimming upstream all day. Credit Lockwood as well. We just have to make sure there is no residue tomorrow. We will go with [Trevor] Bauer. We had a misstep today, but give a lot of credit to TCU.

“I thought Rob [Rasmussen] did fine. He had some tough luck defensively. It seemed like we couldn’t finish innings defensively.  e walked three guys in 4.1 [innings], which is uncharacteristic. They pecked away and then got some big swings late.”

On the decision to go with Clayton Claypool: “We could have gone in many directions. … Tomorrow, we have plenty of arms out of the bullpen. Bauer is one day short of a normal week. [Gerrit] Cole will be ready to go and then we have Klein, Grace and Goeddel.”

UCLA PLAYERS

Starter Rob Rasmussen: “I just tried to keep my team in the game as much as possible. I think you have to give Matt Purke a ton of credit. He did an excellent job all day.”

Shortstop Niko Gallego: “Wind was really brutal out there. … The wind was blowing pretty good, TCU had to deal the same wind, we should have handled it better, but no excuses, we should have played better defensively and handled the wind better.  [On Purke] … Not anything that he was doing,. He was pitching well, he threw a great game, he has his own rhythm and stuck to it.”

TCU Postgame Comments:

Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle: “Really good win for us, UCLA has a really great club. Matt [Purke] did a good job of making adjustments, especially with the sinker. I was nervous after the first inning, leaving the bases loaded with the catch in center field. … That was a tremendous play. [Lockwood] pitching on fumes did a great job. We survived another day.”

On the number of close calls: “On maybe the check-swing I could see arguing, but I thought he was safe at third. You can only control the things that you can control. At least for me it has to be something very grievous for us to lose our cool.

“The scary thing about UCLA is they know who they are, they are doing the same thing we talk about … maximizing their time at bat and minimizing their time on the mound. I think they are very well-coached. Bauer is a 3- or 4-pitch guy, he has a great routine, mentally strong. I’m sure he is a bulldog. My college coach coached those guys in Team USA and has always gone on and on and on about those guys. It’s not about the team that is the best, it’s about the team that plays the best.

“This is classic, this is what Omaha’s all about. [UCLA] still is in the driver’s seat because they have the extra day’s rest.We are both against the wall due to elimination. I don’t know who we are going to pitch tomorrow, but we have some options. Don’t let coach Savage fool you, they are pretty loaded over there.”

On Matt Purke’s Performance: “Sign of a good pitcher is winning when you don’t have your best stuff. He got groundball outs in hitters counts. Anyone can pitch when you have your best stuff … that’s a piece of cake. Jerome [Pena] has done a great job. He hasn’t even played infield in JC ball, it’s all about pitching and defense.“

Secon Baseman Jerome Pena: “On the home run, I was behind in the count again so I was guessing a bit and I got a good swing on it.”

Starter Matt Purke: “This place is an adventure on its own. We’ve been told to expect the unexpected here. Something on the boxscore that you were interested in: I came in looking at the ERA, hoping I could get down under the three, yes, it was today’s game was like the game I had versus Arizona in the regional. Guys took a long time to get to the plate … you can’t get rattled by that. Sooner or later, I was going to get them out and they could take their time on the bench.”

On UCLA’s patience: “Best I could compare them to is Texas in terms of patience, they really like getting the first guy on and doing some hit-and-runs or steals. You you have to focus on getting ahead and keeping them off base. [13 groundball outs]:  These guys play phenomenal behind me.  Jerome joked with me during the FSU game that he didn’t get a ground ball. So he wanted one today”

Shortstop Taylor Featherston: “I feel like every one of my at-bats have come with two strikes, so I am kind of getting used to it.”



Sitting here in the press box has been a real treat. As various media members continue to rave about last night’s titan effort by TCU, we have come to the conclusion – here in the early innings of the SC-OU rematch – that Bracket-2 has been a real yawner thus far in the College World Series. (front page photo courtesy of Oklahoma)

Reese's is donating $200 to Boystown for every CWS home run.

The second interview I had today was with the owner of the Union Pizzeria and Sports Bar, located downtown very close to where the new TD Ameritrade Ballpark is located (it is the hotel where the Clemson program is staying during the CWS). We have run into a lot of Clemson fans and I was invited to come on the Clemson radio show tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. to talk a little baseball regarding the CWS. Should be loads of fun – hope they don’t lynch me after they read some of my articles predicting that Clemson would go 2-and-out at the series.

Boy was I wrong about that, as Clemson has been one of the more impressive teams out here, although they don’t play a lot of smash ball. Kyle Parker’s triple last night was the first extra-base hit for the Tigers in Omaha, after 17 consecutive singles.

What they have done is pitch well and aggressively attacked the bases, as those singles have quickly turned into doubles or first-and-third situations with excellent run-and-hit and hit-and-run execution. Is it just me or does every player on the Clemson roster look like they are 6-3, 185 lbs. and can run like a deer?

Maybe it is just the nice uniforms they wear, as I am a fan of the purple and orange look with the pant legs running all the way down to the shoes with the no-sock look. Far and away the best looking team out here from an athlete standpoint.

With such a yawner of a game going between OU and South Carolina, it might be a good time to introduce some of the stat leaders here at the CWS (albeit from a small sample of games, with some teams playing three games and others only two).

Hits … UCLA’s Beau Amaral leads this group of athletes with six hits, while seven others are tied at five. They include Jackie Bradley Jr. (SC), John Hinson (Clemson), Sherman Johnson (FSU), Jantzen Witte (TCU), Stephen Cardullo (FSU) and Tyler Holt (FSU).

With so many Seminoles in this list of hit leaders, one wonders why FSU is out of the tournament so quick … but their achilles heel always has been found in their lack of quality pitching depth.

Runs Scored:
1.  Tyler Holt (FSU) and Jantzen Witte (TCU) – 5
3.  Sherman Johnson (FSU) and Bryan Holaday (TCU) – 4

RBI Time:
1.  Jackie Bradley, Jr. (SCarolina) – 6
2.  Matt Curry (TCU) – 5
3.  Mike McGee (FSU) – 5
4.  Taylor Featherston (TCU) – 4

Doubles: Only one player has two (Jayce Boyd, of FSU)

Home Runs: Jackie Bradley, Jr. (SC) and Mike McGee (FSU) are the only players with two, although last night’s grand slam by Matt Curry is the benchmark play of the CWS so far. I am really looking forward to Friday’s clash, a rematch between TCU & UCLA, which are most likely the two best teams still in alive in the tourney. Curry and McGee (FSU) lead the CWS in total bases with 11.

Power Arms: We might as well put the entire UCLA staff on here with Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer leading the way, followed by Klein and Claypool coming out of the bullpen. Cole threw an 8-inning gem versus TCU the other night with 13 Ks, while Bauer threw a gem on opening night against Florida, going 7 strong with 11 Ks.

TCU’s Matt Purke also went 7 innings with 7 Ks … I am looking forward to seeing the bulk of the TCU staff that we saw on ESPN during the Austin Super Regional.

Scouts Honor: From a scouting standpoint, the top-5 athletes that really stand out from the others include position players Jackie Bradley Jr., Kyle Parker and Matt Curry, plus pitchers Gerrit Cole and Matt Purke, both former 1st-round draft picks by the Yankees and Rangers, respectively.

Kyle Parker also was a 1st-round pick and arguably is the best overall athlete here (playing both quarterback and left field for Clemson) … But the player who has been the most fun to watch is Bradley Jr. – an incredible athlete who makes it look easy. He is a legitimate 5-tool guy that you likely will see in the big leagues within five years, as he will go through the minor-league system rather quickly barring injury. The SC centefielder has a strong average arm, with plus-plus foot speed. The clincher is that he can hit for both average and power, as he generates tremendous lift and leverage at the plate with lightning-quick handspeed to boot.

Carolina Comes Back: South Carolina finally has responded here in the bottom of the 8th inning to tie the score (1-1), but Oklahoma now has runners on first and second with one out in the top of the 9th after SC first baseman Christian Walker dropped a sky-high infield popup and closer Matt Price hit the next batter to put runners on first and second with one out … but Cameron Seitzer promptly grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.

Either I am extremely tired or this game just lacks any pizzaz! Either way, press row agrees that Bracket #1 has produced the more entertaining ballgames.

Game Wrap: Can Oklahoma Grind Another One Out?

Cleanup hitter Tyler Ogle (.322, 36 Runs, 43 RBI) hit his 10th home run of the season to lead off the 12th inning and potentially delivering a 2-1 victory for Oklahoma, but South Carolina came back in the bottom of the inning to win 3-2 to force an all-Palmetto State final in Bracket #2.

It all unfolded after Robert Beary singled through the hole to lead off the bottom of the inning,  but Sooners closer Ryan Duke struck out Evan Marzilli.

One a 1-1 count, Beary stole second base on a slider down-and-away to put the tying run in scoring position and the winning run at the plate. Whit Merrifield popped out to third baseman Garrett Buechele for the second out, bringing up Jackie Bradley Jr. (whose 18-game hit streak was in jeopardy, after an 0-for-5 start).

With a base open, the question became, “Would OU “unintentional-intentionally” walk Bradley or go head-to-head for the win?  At 3-2, in the game’s only marquee moment, the crowd came to their feet to witness Bradley tie the score with a single just beyond the reach of a diving Cameron Seitzer, as Beary raced home.

Tie game, bottom of the 12th, runner on first base. Adrian Morales walked to put Bradley even closer to the plate (a bad sign if you ask me) and Brady Thomas singled up the middle to drive in the hero of Bracket-2 so far (Jackie Bradley Jr.).

It was a tough way to close the season for Oklahoma, but the College World Series now will see a rematch of a 2002 CWS bracket final – as Clemson and South Carolina will battle to play for the national championship. In 2002, South Carolina beat Clemson twice to eliminate the Tigers and earn the trip to the championship. It will be interesting to see if history repeats itself.

Post-Game Comments:

OKLAHOMA COACH SUNNY GALLOWAY

“Great college baseball game, that’s how it should be. … I’m proud of both teams, clearly if you are going to play your last baseball team [overcome by emotion] … you want to play a good one … these young men went out and excelled.

Q: “What did you tell your team?” … “Remember that feeling at Virginia … the sting of tonight will go away, but remember Virginia. I want them to have a good memory now. It’s all part of the process of building the tradition and restoring the program. We wanted the journey to continue, but that’s the sting. It’s been a great journey!

“We always think positive and plan that way …e very game here at the CWS is a fight. I remember yesterday thinking how important it might be to be the home team, and tonight it was really important.

Thoughts on pitcher Zach Neal: “The game that Zach pitched, he accepted his role, he never questioned it and he pitched the game of his career. … Can’t say enough about how poised he was and how well he pitched. We are blessed at Oklahoma with outstanding student-athletes and young men.

On facing Jackie Bradley: “We had a plan and stayed with the plan. We tried to pitch him away and then come back in. It looked like it got too much of the plate, but you can’t blame a pitcher, you have to give credit to the hitter. Nobody lost here today. It was a celebration of college baseball today.”

OKLAHOMA PLAYERS

Reliever Jeremy Erben: “It was a heck of a ride. Can’t imagine my senior being any better than this one. It’s been a long season, but one I will remember the rest of my life.”

Starter Zach Neal: “Virginia [super-regional appearance] was one of those days where you don’t have what you usually have. I came out and tried to attack the hitters today. I just kind of came out and left it on the field.”

Catcher Tyler Ogle: “We hadn’t really put any runs together the whole game and I just wanted to get something started. As soon as I got back into the dugout, I just wanted to go win a ballgame.  Obviously it didn’t work out like that. I think a lot of guys were pressing and trying to do too much.  We are a better team when guys stay in the zone and try not to do too much.”

South Carolina Postgame Comments:

COACH RAY TANNER

“Another great baseball game between the Gamecocks and the Sooners. … Got a great start out of Blake Cooper … we just kept scrapping and battling. It was a never-give-up day here in Omaha.  Just a great game by both teams fighting hard, you hate to have anyone lose tonight.

“This game’s hard, it is a humbling game, you have to face advertsity, you keep battling and hope it falls your way. Like I said, we lost a close one to them, I was hoping we could win a close one tonight. My situation was that Blake was going to pitch if he felt he was good enough to go. If he said he was at 75%, I wouldn’t have started him.

“We will go back and regroup and try to figure out our pitching staff and where we are at. We have played like this a lot.”

SOUTH CAROLINA PLAYERS

Jackie Bradley, Jr: “They made some great pitches. I put some good swings on some balls. I kept battling, knowing I was going to get my chance. Of course, we know who we are playing [next]. It’s a big rivalry, but it’s just another game and we are going to approach it that way.”

Starter Blake Cooper: “I felt strong all day and was able to locate my breaking ball and make some good pitches. Coach Calvy came to my room about 11:30 last night and asked me if I was good enough to go, and I said I was.”

DH Brady Thomas: “I knew the pressure was going to be on them. I got a good fastball and was lucky enough to put a good swing on it.”

This one really was super!

All year long, the TCU dugout has nurtured the “rally turtle.”

After drawing it in the dirt next to the on-deck circle, they feed it, water it, caress it … anything to provide that dramatic spark in energizing the dugout. This time, the purple-clad Frogs were down to their last six outs, facing a four-run deficit at 7-3 entering the top of the 8th inning.

No one on the TCU squad wanted to go home and think about next year, for this team is relentless, tireless, fearless and full of moxie.

This was such a dramatic ending – given everything at stake with the history of Rosenblatt Stadium and the way the local people of Omaha have embraced this tournament for over 60 years – that it deserves a full recap.

Going into the 8th, national coach of the year Jim Schlossnagle decided to move Kyle Von Tungeln to the DH position. Six-hole hitter Jantzen Witte reached on a fielding error by third baseman Sherman Johnson to start off the inning. Johnson’s miscue, one of five FSU errors in the game, would have dire consequences as the story unfolded.

A pitch later, Witte was standing on second base due to a passed ball. On a 2-1 breaking ball, TCU shortstop Taylor Featherston singled up the middle past a diving second baseman Devon Travis, sending Witte to third. The dugout was energized and the rally turtle was in play. Sometimes the little sparks start such a big fire.

Centerfielder Aaron Schultz then hit a lazy pop fly to center field and Witte faked an attempt at home, but his decision to stay at third was a wise one as the ball one-hopped FSU catcher Rafael Lopez (Witte would have been out, if he decided to test the arm of the FSU centerfielder Tyler Holt).

McGee came in to face #9 hitter Brance Rivera, after FSU pitcher Geoff Parker reportedly felt a pop in his elbow. Rivera hit the next pitch to FSU shortstop Stephen Cardullo, scoring Witte but forcing out Featherston on the fielder’s choice.

TCU was down to its last five outs, facing a 7-4 deficit. My wife sent me a text stating I think we have a ballgame…let’s go frogs (always rooting for the underdogs). I sent her a text … “They need to cut this lead in half if they have a chance to win.”

TCU did more than cut the lead in half, they put FSU behind by four at 11-7 by the end of the inning … but we will get to that in a moment.

Leadoff hitter Jerome Pena walked on four pitches and then Bryan Holaday doubled down the rightfield line, scoring Rivera and advancing Pena to third.

Umpire Gus Rodriguez gave the close play at second base a long look before ruling Holaday safe.  That may have turned out to be the play of the year for the Frogs, as Holaday credited his coaching staff for teaching and reinforcing the small things that lead to the discipline it takes to execute in crunchtime situations.

Coats worked a tremendous at-bat to a full-count and then walked, loading the bases and setting the stage for not only the greatest at-bat in TCU history but an at-bat that certainly ranks among thegreatest in the history of Rosenblatt Stadium.

If it isn’t the best, it definitely will add to the lore of the place.

Curry narrowly missed a first-pitch breaking ball, worked the count to 3-2 and then blasted the fateful slider out of the stadium to dead center-field. As soon as he hit the ball, Currey immediately turned to the first-base TCU dugout and held both arms out to his teammates – as he knew he just hit the biggest home run of his life.

The only problem was that when he turned to watch the ball, he saw Holt standing at the fence as if he was going to catch the ball, hoping the ball would hit the top of the fence and stay in the yard with the fake holding the runners from scoring.

Rosenblatt had other plans … the stadium was ready to go into an absolute frenzy one more time.  Schlossnagle sprinted to the bullpen phone, not even watching the ball leave the park, trying to get closer Kaleb Merck up to be ready to seal the deal (as the rally turtle somehow had helped put the Frogs in the lead for good at 9-7).

The dugout exploded onto the field and the stadium started rocking. Stunned, I realized I had filmed the whole thing in HD, not really realizing I caught one of the greatest moment in the history of the stadium.

Josh Elander then was inserted to hit for Von Tungeln and he promptly singled to center field.  Witte, batting for the second time in the inning, hit another monster shot to left and the Seminole dugout was reeling, down 11-7 after entering the inning with a four-run lead and six outs from victory. Featherston popped out to shorstop, ending perhaps the greatest comeback in the TCU program’s history.

Florida State head coach Mike Martin gave credit to a gutty effort by TCU, rather than giving excuses and explanations. “I felt like we were going to get out of the inning … we just didn’t,” said Martin.

Martin thanked his team for taking him to Omaha: “We were up and down all year. I’ve had a lot of ballclubs that were special, but this one really was. It was a year that was special because it is dawgone hard to get out here. To all of you, thank you, you are the ones that make this game special.”

TCU Coach Jim Schlossnagle:

“So many great things happened in that inning that we pride ourselves on. Rivera beating out the double play to keep us in the inning, the slide at second base on the double, Coats laying off the 3-2 breaking ball in the dirt to get Curry up to do his work.

“No disrespect to the other teams, but UCLA and Oklahoma are the two most complete teams we have played this year. The great thing about baseball is the best team doesn’t always win, the team who plays the best does.”