For the second straight season, the University of Virginia baseball team stayed the entire “fortnight” (to borrow a popular Wimbledon term) in Omaha during the 2015 College World Series. The Cavaliers arrived on Thur., June 11 and still were playing on June 24, the third and final day of the CWS title series.

(Note: scroll down for an assortment of bonus summary wrapup offerings from the 2015 CWS – including a wide variety of embedded and linked video, links to final stats/recaps/press conference transcripts/tournaments stats, etc., plus notes & highlights – all courtesy of CB360.)

And for the second straight season, it was the familiar “V is for Victory” theme, with Virginia again facing Vanderbilt for all the marbles. It marked only the third time in the nearly 70-year history of the CWS that there was a rematch to decide the title. But – unlike in 1973 (when USC beat Arizona State, again) and 2007 (an Oregon State repeat final vs. North Carolina – this time the script was flipped.

This time, it was the Cavaliers dancing on the infield at TD Ameritrade Park.

Two days earlier, after the Monday opener in the best-of-3 series, Vanderbilt was poised to become only the sixth program ever to win CWS titles in back-to-back seasons. Ace pitcher Carson Fulmer ended his career with another win, a 5–1 result that left Virginia on the precipice of another oh-so-close finish.

But the pendulum swung 24 hours later, after a stunning 3–0 win from the Cavaliers. The UVa coaching staff began the day by handing the ball to freshman righthander Adam Haseley (Windemere, Fla.), better known as the team’s starting centerfielder and leadoff batter. Haseley had logged 24 innings, spanning four starts and six relief appearances, but the rookie had not seen the mound in game action for a full month – stretching back to his start (4.2 solid innings) in the team’s 10–2 loss vs. North Carolina State, at the ACC Tournament.

Haseley’s gap between pitching appearances was a bit deceiving, as UVa had played the minimum of three games in the NCAA Regional round and then only two during the Super Regional weekend (followed by four games, all at the CWS, over the next 14 days). Nine games in 30 days is a pretty mild workload for any pitching staff – so it was not as if Haseley’s absence from the mound was due to inferior pitching skills.

A quality two-way player in his pre-college days, and in spot duty with the Cavs, Haseley answered the call in Omaha by logging five shutout innings. Virginia then brought the hammer with junior RHP Josh Sborz, who went 4.0 in relief to close out what ended up being only the second shutout loss of the season for Vanderbilt. Earlier in the CWS, the Cavaliers also had handed Florida its second shutout loss of 2015, in a 1–0 thriller.

One year earlier, after Virginia similarly had lost the first game vs. Vanderbilt, UVa had turned to left-hander Brandon Waddell in game-2, looking to force a decisive third game. The Houston native delivered a complete-game, 7–2 victory – setting the stage for the epic finale, won 3–2 by the Commodores.

Waddell clearly would have been the gm–2 starter again vs. Vanderbilt in 2015, but he was pressed into duty over the weekend in the Saturday rematch vs. Florida that decided the bracket champion. Waddell also had been the starter in the earlier 1–0 win over the Gators, who then stayed alive on Friday night with a 10–5 win over the Cavs.

In what amounted to an elongated three-game series between Virginia and Florida, Waddell delivered once again, and the Cavs held on for a 5–4 win that sent them back to the CWS Finals.

Fast forward to game–3 of the title series, four days later, and Waddell was back on the mound, working on short rest. Despite allowing a couple early runs, the veteran southpaw turned in seven innings, then handed things over to classmate and fellow lefty Nathan Kirby. For much of the 2014 and ’15 season, Kirby had been the ace of the UVa staff – but a midseason back injury had sidelined him until his uneven return start in the 10–5 CWS loss vs. Florida.

Kirby fittingly recorded the final six outs in the 4–2 title clincher. Virginia impressively had needed only four pitchers (Haseley, Sborz, Waddell and Kirby) over the final two, pressure-packed games vs. Vanderbilt.

The previous year’s title showdown similarly had seen Vanderbilt win despite being the only finalist that had to play on Saturday (following a Friday loss vs. Texas, while UVa had beaten Ole Miss). Despite facing a more rested Cavaliers team in 2014, the Commodores emerged the champion. In 2015, the roles were reversed and the less-rested/seemingly disadvantaged squad again prevailed.

In addition to being part of only the third CWS title rematch in the seven-decade history of the event – and the first ever to reverse the outcome – Virginia also ended a mind-blowing stat of futility that had stretched across a couple generations. Back in 1955, Wake Forest had become the first Atlantic Coast Conference team ever to win the CWS. When college baseball entered a new century, that ’55 Wake squad remained the ACC’s only CWS champion.

Many ACC teams tried to be the one to end the streak. As things turned out, it was Virginia – which did not even make its CWS debut until 2009 – that joined its fellow end-of-the-alphabet school Wake Forest as the league’s only CWS champions.

In many college sports, one often sees a team finish as runner-up before coming back to win it all the very next season. But in college baseball, not so much. Usually, if a team is elite enough to almost win the CWS, that means a large chunk of that team is heading off to pro ball shortly after the final out in Omaha.

So, the odds clearly were stacked against Virginia pulling off the runner-up-to-champion feat. Statistically, it’s actually more common to win back-to-back titles (8 total, when counting USC’s 5 straight titles as 4) than it is to be runner-up one year and then CWS champ the next (UVa became the 4th).

Here are the previous three teams that followed up a CWS runner-up season by winning it all 12 months later:
• USC – 1960 CWS runner-up (vs. Minnesota) … won 1961 CWS (final vs. Oklahoma State)
• Ohio State – 1965 CWS runner-up (vs. Arizona State) … won 1966 CWS (final vs. Oklahoma State)
• Texas – 2004 CWS runner-up (vs. Cal St. Fullerton) … won 2005 CWS (final vs. Florida)

For the second straight season, Virginia produced both of the pitchers on the CWS All-Tournament Team: Sborz (MVP) and Waddell, who reprised the all-tournament that he earned in 2014 along with departed senior Artie Lewicki.

In addition to Sborz and Waddell, all four members of the UVa infield – who totaled only three errors in the seven CWS games – were named to the 2015 CWS All-Tournament team, including a pair of freshmen on the right side.

• 2015 CWS All-Tournament Team
jr. RHP Josh Sborz (MVP) – 3–0 with a save in 4 GP (0.00 ERA) … 13.0 IP, 7 hits (.159, no extra-base), 4 BB, 10 Ks
jr. LHP Branden Waddell – 2–0 in 3 GS (2.84 ERA) … 19.0 IP, 12 hits (.289), 8 BB, HB, 8 Ks
fr. 1B Pavin Smith – .259 (7-for-27) … 3 RBI, 3 R, HR, 3B, BB, 7 Ks
fr. 2B Ernie Clement – .292 (7-for-24) … 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 HBP, 2 Ks, E
so. SS Daniel Pinero – .391 (9-for-23) … RBI, 4 R, 2B, 3 BB, 4 sac bunts, 3–3 SB, 2 Ks, E
sr. 3B Kenny Towns – .280 (7-for-25) … 7 RBI, 2 R, 3 2B, 2 BB, HBP, sac fly, 5 Ks, E
– rest of UVa regulars hit .240 or lower at 2015 CWS

… Brandon Waddell‘s combined stats at 2014 and ’15 CWS: 3–0 w/ 2.31 ERA in 5 starts
(11 R/9 ER–35.0 IP–23 H–11 BB–HB–18 Ks)

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Here’s how the final 3–game, head-to-head stats ended up for the 2015 CWS finalists:
… Virginia (PDF stat sheet) … Vanderbilt (PDF)
• Batting Avg.: UVa .229 … Vandy .226
• Runs Scored: UVa 8 … Vandy 7
• Extra-Base: UVa HR, 2B … Vandy 5 doubles
• Plate Discipline: UVa 9 BB+3 HBP-24 Ks … Vandy 11 BB+HBP-17 Ks
• Staff ERA: UVa 2.42 … Vandy 1.73
• Errors: UVa 0 … Vandy 1 (led to 3 UER)

… And, a year earlier here were the final 3–game, head-to-head stats for the 2014 CWS finalists:
• Batting Avg.: UVa .300 … Vandy .192
• Runs Scored: UVa 14 … Vandy 17
• Home Runs: UVa 0 … Vandy 1
• Staff ERA: UVa 3.00 … Vandy 5.33
• Errors: UVa 4 (6 UER) … Vandy 3 (1 UER)

… And the combined 6-game stats for the 2014 and ’15 CWS Finals Series:
• Batting Avg.: UVa .267 … Vandy .209
• Runs Scored: UVa 22 … Vandy 24
• Home Runs: UVa 1 … Vandy 1 (both in gm–3 by winning team)
• Staff ERA: UVa 2.72 … Vandy 3.57
• Errors: UVa 4 (6 UER) … Vandy 4 (4 UER)

– Virginia players vs. Vanderbilt
(regulars who played in 2014 & ’15 CWS Finals Series)
1.69 ERA – Brandon Waddell … 2–0 in 2 GS, 4 R/3 ER, 16.0, 9 H, 5 BB, 7 Ks
10.39 ERA – Nathan Kirby … 0–1 in 2 GP/1 GS, 8 R/5 ER, 4.1, 3 H, 6 BB, 9 Ks
.292 – Kenny Towns (7-for-24) … 4 RBI, 4 R, BB, HBP, 4 Ks, 2 Es
.250 – Joe McCarthy (5-for-20) … RBI, 5 R, 2B, 4 BB, 2 HBP, 2 Ks
.250 – Robbie Coman (3-for-12) … R, 2 BB, SAC, 2 Ks, E
.217 – Daniel Pinero (5-for-23) … 2 RBI, R, 3 BB, 2 SAC, SB, 6 Ks

– Vanderbilt players vs. Vanderbilt
(regulars who played in 2014 & ’15 CWS Finals Series)
0.69 ERA – Carson Fulmer … 2–0 in 2 GS, 2 R/1 ER, 13.0, 5 H, 4 BB, 2 HB, 13 Ks
10.50 ERA – Walker Buehler … 2 GS, 7 R, 6.0, 11 H, 4 BB, HB, WP, 5 Ks
.286 – Bryan Reynolds (6-for-21) … RBI, 3 R, 4 BB, SB, 2 Ks
.273 – Ro Coleman (3-for-11) … RBI, R, BB
.261 – Dansby Swanson (6-for-23) … 2 RBI, 3 R, 2B, 3 BB, 2 SB, 4 Ks
.217 – Rhett Wiseman (5-for-23) … RBI, 2 R, 2B, BB, SB, 7 Ks
.167 – Karl Ellison (2-for-12) … R, 4 Ks
.158 – Zander Wiel (3-for-19) … 2 RBI, 3 R, 2B, 6 BB, 5 Ks, E
.125 – Tyler Campbell (2-for-16) … 3 RBI, R, 2 2B, 2 BB, HB, SAC, 3 Ks
.000 – Jason Delay (0-for-8) … 2 R, BB, HBP, 2 Ks, E

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… Vanderbilt was bidding to join the following programs that have posted consecutive CWS titles: USC (1970–74; five straight), Stanford (1987–88), LSU (1996–97), Oregon State (2006–07) and South Carolina (2010–11).
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After opening the 2015 postseason with an ACC Tournament play-in win over Georgia Tech (11–0), Virginia lost all three of its ACC pool play games: 7–9 vs. Miami, 2–8 vs. Notre Dame and 2–10 vs. N.C. State. The Cavs then headed to Lake Elsinore, Calif., as the 3rd-seeded team at the NCAA Regional hosted by UC Santa Barbara (the top seed at that site), with UVa advancing after wins over USC (6–1), San Diego State (3–1) and USC again (14–10, in 11 inn.).

A day later, former ACC rival Maryland completed its own SoCal upset by winning the regional at national #1 seed UCLA. As a result, Virginia ended up hosting the ensuing Super Regional and posted a pair of late rallies to shock the Terps, 5–3 and 5–4.
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PRIMARY 2015 VIRGINIA BASEBALL LINKS
CWS Central Page (w/ wide assortment of linked content)  |  CWS Game Notes  |  Media Guide
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FINAL 2015 CWS STATS (click on links for HTML/PDFs)
Virginia (7 games) … PDF version
Vanderbilt (6 games)
Tournament Leaders/Summary (for all 8 teams)
… also for Virginia: CWS Title Series (vs Vandy) … entire 2015 NCAAs (12 gms)
… and Vandy’s 3-gm stats from CWS Title Series
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FINAL 2015 CWS GAME STATS for Virginia:
vs. Vanderbilt: 1–5  |  3–0  |  4–2
vs. Florida: 1–0  |  5–10  |  5–4
vs. Arkansas: 5–3
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NCAA GAME RECAPS from 2015 CWS (UVa games)
vs. Vanderbilt: 1–5 (plus notes)  |  3–0 (plus notes)  |  4–2 (plus notes)
vs. Florida: 1–0 (plus notes)  |  5–10 (plus notes)  |  5–4 (plus notes)
vs. Arkansas: 5–3 (plus notes)
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UVa 2015 CWS POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPTS
(quotes from both teams … all press conf. video embedded below)
vs. Vanderbilt: 1–5 (UVa | VAN) … 3–0 (UVa | VAN) … 4–2 (UVa | VAN)
vs. Florida: 1–0 (Cavs | Gators) …  5–10 (Cavs | Gators) … 5–4 (Cavs | Gators)
vs. Arkansas: 5–3 (Cavs | Hogs)
… also pre–CWS (4 coaches) and pre-CWS Finals (both teams)
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NCAA.com Short Video Recaps for UVa games
(click on links, no embeds … scroll down for UVa embedded video recaps)
vs. Vanderbilt: 1–5  |  3–0  |  4–2
vs. Florida: 1–0  |  5–10  |  5–4
vs. Arkansas: 5–3
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Note, in addition to the assortment of bonus videos embedded below, a similar archive from the 2014 CWS can be found via these links, for Vanderbilt HERE  and Virginia HERE  (several familiar faces that returned to Omaha in 2015) … also see the CB360 YouTube home page for assortment of 2015 Vanderbilt bonus videos from CB360 (some more still to be added)

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(below) On-Field Celebration, formal trophy presentations and speech to crowd from Virginia coach Brian O’Connor, after 4–2 win over Vanderbilt that delivered 2015 College World Series title (CB360 video; 6–24–15):

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(below) Kenny Towns, Virginia sr. 3B comments after both wins over Vanderbilt (CB360 video; 6–23 and 6–24–15):

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(below) Joe McCarthy, Virginia jr. RF on the field after winning CWS (CB360 video; 6–24–15):

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(below) Karl Kuhn, the 12th-year UVa pitching coach provides some classic comments on the field, following the CWS win (CB360 video; 6–24–15):

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(below) Pavin Smith, Virginia fr. 1B on the field after winning CWS (CB360 video; 6–24–15):

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(below) Brandon Waddell, the Virginia jr. LHP following postgame press conference, after winning CWS (CB360 video; 6–24–15):

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(below) Brian O’Connor, some poignant final comments from the 12th-year UVa head coach, as he departs TD Ameritrade Park after winning the CWS (CB360 video; 6–24–15):

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(below) Virginia 4, Vanderbilt 2 Postgame Press Conference, includes UVa head coach Brian O’Connor, jr. LHPs Brandon Waddell and Nathan Kirby, sr. 3B Kenny Towns and fr. 1B Pavin Smith … Vandy coach Tim Corbin, jr. SS Dansby Swanson and jr. RF Rhett Wiseman (video courtesy NCAA raw feed: note that speakers begin at 21:06 mark; 6–24–15):

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(below) Finals Game–3 Highlights: UVa 4, Vandy 2 (video courtesy Virginia Sports TV; 6–24–15):

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(below) Virginia Welcome Home Event, with comments from athletics director Craig Littlepage, (video courtesy Virginia Sports TV; 6–25–15):

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(below) Brandon Waddell, Virginia jr. LHP following his team’s 3–0 win over Vanderbilt in gm–2 and in advance of his gm–3 start the next night (CB360 video; 6–23–15):

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(below) Adam Haseley, Virginia fr. RHP/leadoff batter/CF following his clutch gm–2 start on the mound in 3–0 win over Vanderbilt. (CB360 video; 6–23–15):

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(below) Ernie Clement and Brian O’Connor, bonus postgame comments from the Virginia fr. 2B and 12th-year head coach following 3–0 win over Vanderbilt that tied the CWS title series. (CB360 video; 6–23–15):

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(below) Virginia 3, Vanderbilt 0 Postgame Press Conference, includes UVa head coach Brian O’Connor, fr. RHP Adam Haseley, sr. CF Thomas Woodruff and jr. RHP Josh Sborz … Vandy coach Tim Corbin, sr. LHP Philip Pfeifer and sr. 1B Zander Wiel (video courtesy NCAA raw feed: note that speakers begin at 6:00 mark; 6–23–15):

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(below) Finals Game–2 Highlights: UVa 3, Vandy 0 (video courtesy Virginia Sports TV; 6–23–15):

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(below) Vanderbilt 5, Virginia 1 Postgame Press Conference, includes UVa head coach Brian O’Connor, so. RHP Connor Jones and jr. LF Kevin Doherty … Vandy coach Tim Corbin, jr. RHP Carson Fulmer, jr. SS Dansby Swanson and fr. 3B Will Toffey (video courtesy NCAA raw feed: note delayed start to comments, at 11:10; 6–22–15):

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(below) Finals Game–1 Highlights: Vandy 5, UVa 1 (video courtesy Virginia Sports TV; 6–22–15):

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(below) Brian O’Connor, bonus comments from the 12th-year Virginia head coach following the Pre-CWS Finals/Off-Day Press Conference (CB360 video; 6–21–15):

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(below) Pre-CWS Finals Press Conference, includes UVa head coach Brian O’Connor, sr. 3B Kenny Towns and so. SS Daniel Pinero … Vandy coach Tim Corbin, jr. RHP Carson Fulmer and jr. SS Dansby Swanson (video courtesy NCAA raw feed, footage begins at 3:46 mark; 6–21–15):

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(below) Five Virginia players, following 5–4 win over Florida in CWS Bracket Final. Includes bonus non-press conference comments from fr. 1B Pavin Smith, so. SS Daniel Pinero, jr. RHP Josh Sborz, jr. LHP Brandon Waddell and sr. 3B Kenny Towns (CB360 video; 6–20–15):

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(below) Ernie Clement, Virginia fr. 2B after 5–4 win over Florida in CWS Bracket Final (CB360 video; 6–20–15):

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(below) Matt Thaiss, Virginia so. catcher after 5–4 win over Florida in CWS Bracket Final and also during CWS Media Day (CB360 video; 6–20–15 and 6–12–15):

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(below) Virginia 5, Florida 4 Postgame Press Conference, includes UVa head coach Brian O’Connor, jr. LHP Brandon Waddell, jr. RHP Josh Sborz and sr. 3B Kenny Towns … Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan, jr. CF Harrison Bader and so. 1B Peter Alonso (video courtesy NCAA raw feed: note delayed start to comments at 9:30; 6–20–15):

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(below) Game Highlights: UVa 5, Florida 4 in CWS Bracket Final (video courtesy Virginia Sports TV; 6–20–15):

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(below) Florida 10, Virginia 5 Postgame Press Conference, includes UVa head coach Brian O’Connor, jr. LHP Nathan Kirby and sr. 3B Kenny Towns … Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan, so. RHP Logan Shore, jr. SS Richie Martin and fr. C Mike Rivera (video courtesy NCAA raw feed: note delayed start to comments, at 5:40; 6–19–15):

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(below) Time Lapse Sequence, from Florida 10–5 win over Virginia (video courtesy NCAA; 6–19–15):

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(below) Game Highlights: Florida 10, Virginia 5 (video courtesy Virginia Sports TV; 6–19–15):

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(below) Virginia 1, Florida 0 Postgame Press Conference (winners bracket matchup), includes UVa head coach Brian O’Connor, jr. LHP Brandon Waddell, jr. RHP Josh Sborz and so. C Matt Thaiss … Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan, so. LHP AJ Puk and fr. 2B Dalton Guthrie (video courtesy NCAA raw feed; 6–15–15):

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(below) Game Highlights: Virginia 1, Florida 0 in CWS winners bracket matchup (video courtesy Virginia Sports TV; 6–15–15):

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(below) Four from Virginia, following 5–3 win over Arkansas to open the CWS. Includes bonus post-press conference comments from head coach Brian O’Connor, so. RHP Connor Jones, sr. 3B Kenny Towns and so. SS Daniel Pinero (CB360 video; 6–13–15):

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(below) Virginia 5, Arkansas 3 Postgame Press Conference (CWS opening game), includes UVa head coach Brian O’Connor, so. RHP Connor Jones, sr. 3B Kenny Towns and so. SS Daniel Pinero … Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn, so. CF Andrew Benintendi and jr. RHP Trey Killian (video courtesy NCAA raw feed; 6–15–15):

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(below) Game Highlights: Virginia 5, Arkansas 3 in CWS opener (video courtesy Virginia Sports TV; 6–15–15):

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(below) Assorted CWS Media Day Comments, includes Virginia 12th-year hitting coach (assoc. head coach) Kevin McMullan, jr. LHP Nathan Kirby and jr. RHP Josh Sborz, also see above for so. C Matt Thaiss and below for head coach Brian O’Connor (CB360 video; 6–12–15):

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(below) Brian O’Connor, bonus CWS Media Daw comments post-press conference and on the field from the 12th-year Virginia head coach (CB360 video; 6–12–15):

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(below) Pre-CWS/Media Day Press Conference (day–1 teams), includes UVa head coach Brian O’Connor, plus fellow head coaches Dave Van Horn (Arkansas), Kevin O’Sullivan (Florida) and Jim Morris (Miami) … (video courtesy NCAA raw feed; 6–12–15):

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(below) Super Regional Postgame Press Conference, Virginia 12th-year head coach Brian O’Connor following 5–4 win over Maryland (video courtesy Virginia Sports TV; 6–6–15):

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(below) Super Regional Postgame Press Conference (players), following 5–4 win over Maryland, comments from Virginia jr. LHP Brandon Waddell, fr. 2B Ernie Clement, so. C Matt Thaiss (video courtesy Virginia Sports TV; 6–6–15):

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(below) Super Regional Game Highlights: Virginia 5, Maryland 4 (video courtesy Virginia Sports TV; 6–6–15):

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(below) Regional Final Game Highlights: UVa 14, USC 10, from Lake Elsinore, CA, hosted by UCSB, 11-inning game that decided the regional (video courtesy Virginia Sports TV; 5–31–15):

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(below) Brian O’Connor, Virginia head coach, following midseason sweep at Notre Dame (CB360 video; 3–29–15):

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(below) Nathan Kirby, Virginia jr. LHP prior to gm–3 of sweep at Notre Dame (CB360 video; 3–29–15):

Here are the pairings for the 2015 NCAA Baseball Tournament. Each Regional is played in double-elimination format. Each Regional that features one of the eight national seeds is paired with another Regional. The winners of each four-team Regional advances to Super Regional play against another Regional winner. Super Regionals are played in a best-two-of-three format, with the eight winners advancing to the College World Series.

This page will serve as College Baseball 360’s collection area for all things Vanderbilt over the next few days, as the Commodores prepare to take on Virginia in the 2014 CWS Championship Series (best-of-3; June 23=25; 7 CT, on ESPN).

• CLICK HERE for story on Tim Corbin & Brian O’Connor’s paths to the CWS finals (by CB360’s Sean Stires)

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• CARSON FULMER CWS video – Vanderbilt so. RHP Carson Fulmer visits with College Baseball 360’s Pete LaFleur and other media members after the 3-2 win over Virginia delivered the national championship. (6–25–14)

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• CWS Championship Series Game-3 (June 25, 2014) – press conf. comments start at 17:06
– Vanderbilt 3, Virginia 2

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• CWS Championship Series Game-2 (June 24, 2014) – press conf. comments start at 6:51
– Virginia 7, Vanderbilt 2

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• TYLER CAMPBELL CWS video – Vanderbilt so. 3B Tyler Campbell visits with CB360’s Pete LaFleur and other members of the media at the 2014 College World Series — first after 4-3 win over Texas (June 21) and then two days later following 9-8 win over Virginia to open the CWS Championship Series. (merged onto one video clip)

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• DANSBY SWANSON CWS video – Vanderbilt sophomore second baseman Dansby Swanson visits postgame with College Baseball 360’s Pete LaFleur and other members of the media, following 9-8 win over Virginia in gm-1 of 2014 CWS Championship Series. (6–23–14)

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• CWS Championship Series Game-1 (June 23, 2014) – press conf. comments start at 8:22
– Vanderbilt 9, Virginia 8

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• CWS PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP PRESS CONFERENCE (June 22, 2014), comments begins at 0:01
Virginia:  Brian O’Connor, Nathan Kirby & Mike Papi
Vanderbilt: Mike Corbin, Vince Conde & Dansby Swanson

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• TYLER BEEDE CWS video – Vanderbilt first-round draft pick Tyler Beede visits with CB360’s Pete LaFleur at both the start (June 13) and near the end (June 22) of the 2014 College World Series (video clip includes both visits).

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• GAME-13 (June 21, 2014) – press conf. comments start at 17:55
– Vanderbilt 4, Texas 3 (10 inn.)

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• GAME-11 (June 20, 2014) – press conf. comments start at 4:07
– Texas 4, Vanderbilt 0

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• GAME-6 (June 16, 2014) – press conf. comments start at 9:14
– Vanderbilt 6, UC Irvine 4

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• GAME-2 (June 14, 2014) – press conf. comments start at 9:02
– Vanderbilt 5, Louisville 3

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• BRACKET 1 COACHES (June 13, 2014)
– Texas (Augie Garrido), UC Irvine (Mike Gillespie)
Vanderbilt (Tim Corbin) and Louisville (Dan McDonnell)

This page will serve as College Baseball 360’s collection area for all things Virginia over the next few days, as the Cavaliers prepare to take on Vanderbilt in the 2014 CWS Championship Series (best-of-3; June 23=25; 7 CT, on ESPN).

• CLICK HERE for story on Tim Corbin & Brian O’Connor’s paths to the CWS finals (by CB360’s Sean Stires)

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• CWS Championship Series Game-3 (June 25, 2014) – press conf. comments start at 17:06
– Vanderbilt 3, Virginia 2

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• CWS Championship Series Game-2 (June 24, 2014) – press conf. comments start at 6:51
– Virginia 7, Vanderbilt 2

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• BRANDON WADDELL CWS video – Virginia so. LHP Brandon Waddell visits with College Baseball 360’s Pete LaFleur and other media members following his complete-game win (7-2) over Vanderbilt  to square the best-of-3 CWS Championship Series. (6–24–14)

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• CWS Championship Series Game-1 (June 23, 2014) – press conf. comments start at 8:22
– Vanderbilt 9, Virginia 8

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• CWS PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP PRESS CONFERENCE, comments begins at 0:01
Virginia:  Brian O’Connor, Nathan Kirby & Mike Papi
Vanderbilt: Mike Corbin, Vince Conde & Dansby Swanson

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• MIKE PAPI one-on-one with CB360’s Pete LaFleur, after his hit in bottom of the 9th beat Ole Miss, 2-1, in Virginia’s first game at the 2014 College World Series (6–15–14), below:

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• Virginia associate head coach Kevin McMullan (now in his 11th season with the Cavs) one-on-one with CB360’s Pete LaFleur, in final CWS practice day before his team takes on Vanderbilt in Championship Series … topics include the UVa offense and coaching staff, plus former East Carolina coach Keith LeClair’s impact on coach McMullan.

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• ROBBIE COMAN – Virginia sophomore catcher Robbie Coman visits with CB360’s Pete LaFleur and other media members, after 4-1 victory over Ole Miss won bracket-2 at the 2014 College World Series (6–21–14).

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• JOE McCARTHY CWS Video – Virginia so. RF Joe McCarthy visits with College Baseball 360’s Pete LaFleur and other media members during the final practice day at the 2014 College World Series, in advance of the title showdown vs. Vanderbilt. (6–22–14)

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• NATHAN KIRBY CWS Video – the Virginia ace left-hander visits with College Baseball 360’s Pete LaFleur and other members of the media prior to the 2014 College World Series. (6–13–14)

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• GAME-12 (June 21, 2014) – press conf. comments start at 10:10
– Virginia 4, Ole Miss 1

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• GAME-8 (June 17, 2014) – press conf. comments start at 3:40
– Virginia 3, TCU 2  (15 inn.)

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• GAME-4 (June 15, 2014) – press conf. comments start at 4:43
– Virginia 2, Ole Miss 1

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• BRACKET 2 COACHES (June 13, 2014)
– Jim Schlossnagle (TCU), Tim Tadlock (Texas Tech)
Brian O’Connor (Virginia) and Mike Bianco (Ole Miss)

Tim Corbin’s Vanderbilt Commodores and Brian O’Connor’s Virginia Cavaliers are set to begin the College World Series Finals on Monday. It’s a meeting of two programs that now stand on unchartered ground after making meteoric strides into the ranks of college baseball elite since the arrival of their respective head coaches.

Virginia is playing in its third College World Series and 11th consecutive NCAA Tournament since O’Connor took the helm in 2004, while Vanderbilt is in its second CWS and is playing in its ninth straight and 10th NCAA Tournament in Corbin’s 12-year tenure.

“I think the programs have been built along the same lines to be honest with you,” Corbin said during Sunday’s pre-finals press conference. “There’s a very similar timeline to the timing that Brian became a head coach and that I became a head coach. We both had great mentors.”

Vanderbilt began playing baseball in 1889 (famed writer Grantland Rice coached the team for a year in 1908), with Virginia’s first year playing the sport in 1886 (famed writer John Grisham’s son once played for Virginia). Each school had exactly three NCAA Tournament appearances prior to the arrival of its current head coach.

Corbin and O’Connor have used similar blueprints to build their programs. Pitching, defense and strong attention to detail form the foundation of both programs, which have also both seen their schools invest substantially in facilities over the past decade. Both coaches also took similar paths early in their careers to get to where they are today.

“I would say the teams are very similar and the programs are a lot alike in a lot of different ways,” said Corbin. “We run into them sometimes in recruiting and I would say we go after very similar kids.”

O’Connor’s Omaha bloodline is possibly the most well known by now. O’Connor was a regular at Rosenblatt Stadium attending the College World Series with his dad while growing up just across the Missouri river from Omaha in Council Bluffs, IA.

He pitched for Omaha-based Creighton and helped the hometown Blue Jays, coached by future Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, reach the 1991 CWS. Eighteen years later, O’Connor would lead his Cavs to Omaha after taking the helm prior to the 2004 season.

“It doesn’t mean any more to me than it does coach Corbin or any of our players on either one of our teams,” O’Connor said Sunday when asked about coaching for a title in his childhood backyard. “A lot is to be made that I’m from here, but it’s about these kids’ experience. The only difference between me and those young men is my birth record.”

O’Connor cut his teeth as a college coach in his nine seasons at Notre Dame under current LSU head coach Paul Mainieri. Not so coincidentally, it was Hendry who gave Mainieri his first coaching job at Miami’s Christopher Columbus High School in 1980.

The Hendry-Mainieri connection led O’Connor to Notre Dame, where he was twice named National Assistant Coach of the Year (2001 and 2003) as ND’s pitching coach and associate head coach. The 2002 Fighting Irish team, which had no all-conference pitchers on its staff, knocked-off a No. 1 ranked Florida State team in Tallahassee to advance to ND’s first CWS appearance since 1957.

Just seven years later, Mainieri and O’Connor were going head-to-head in the first round of the 2009 CWS (a 9-5 LSU win over Virginia as Mainieri’s Tigers won the national championship). The Cavs were 1-2 in O’Connor’s CWS homecoming that season. They were 2-2 in their return to Omaha in the first TD Ameritrade CWS in 2011 (both losses to eventual champ South Carolina).

“I learned how to run a college baseball program from somebody who I believe is the best out there and does it the right way,” O’Connor said of his time with Mainieri under the golden dome.

O’Connor coached future MLB pitchers Brad Lidge and Aaron Heilman in his time at ND. His top Virginia pitcher was Danny Hultzen, who started game ones in Omaha in 2009 and 2011 and was the No. 2 overall pick (Seattle) in the 2011 MLB Draft.

Corbin didn’t grow up in the shadow of the College World Series. In fact, he grew up about as far outside the college baseball universe as could be. The New Hampshire native played his college ball at Ohio Wesleyan and began his coaching career as head coach at Presbyterian in Clinton, SC. He helped the previously defunct program transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II from 1988-1993 before joining Jack Leggett’s (another New Englander) staff at Clemson.

Corbin helped Leggett’s Tigers reach the College World Series four times in his nine seasons on staff, including the same 2002 CWS as Mainieri, O’Connor and Notre Dame. Known as one of the top recruiters in the country during his Clemson tenure and was named National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2000.

Corbin’s background has been working with hitters and outfielders, but pitching has been Vanderbilt’s calling card. David Price (2012 AL Cy Young winner) and Sonny Gray (Oakland A’s) preceded current ace Tyler Beede (No. 14 overall pick this year by San Francisco) as Commodore pitchers to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft.

True to Corbin’s roots, Vanderbilt has also featured several New England natives who have figured prominently in the program’s recent success. Curt Casali (New Canaan, Conn), Mike Yastrzemski (Andover, Mass) and Jason Esposito (Bethany, Conn) were all key cogs for the 2011 CWS squad, while Beede (Auburn, Mass) and Rhett Wiseman (Mansfield, Mass) have both been key to the current Vandy team’s Omaha run.

In a CWS that has been dominated by pitching, Virginia carries a miniscule 0.55 staff ERA through three games into the Championship Finals, while Vanderbilt (3.50) has the highest staff ERA of the Omaha Eight. With four games under their belts, the Commodores lead the Omaha field with a .259 team batting average and 15 runs scored. Virginia’s .239 team average in the second-best, but their stellar pitching has allowed them to win three games (including one in 15 innings) with a total of nine runs scored.

Here’s a handy archive of all the formal press conferences at the 2014 College World Series (to be updated throughout the CWS). Note that these versions are raw and unedited, courtesy of the NCAA – in most cases, the comments do not begin immediately but the comments start time is noted for each video clip below:

Virginia and Ole Miss – which opened their 2014 College World Series playing slate last Sunday with an epic game (won 2-1 by the Cavs) – are set to tangle again on Friday night in Omaha (7 CT; ESPN). The Rebels must beat the Cavaliers Friday and again on Sat., while UVa is one win away from playing in the best-of-3 Championship Series (June 23-25).

CLICK HERE for updated 2014 College World Series bracket (Friday’s other bracket final, at 2 CT on ESPNU, has Texas taking on unbeaten Vanderbilt).

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• MIKE PAPI one-on-one with CB360’s Pete LaFleur, after his hit in bottom of the 9th beat Ole Miss, 2-1, in Virginia’s first game at the 2014 College World Series (6–15–14), below:

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• CLIFF GODWIN (Ole Miss assistant coach),  part-1 of 2 … exclusive interview with CB360’s Pete LaFleur, from the 2014 College World Series (6–15–14) … in addition to discussing the Ole Miss team, coach Godwin discusses his coaching influences (father Lewis Godwin, Keith LeClair, Kevin McMullan, Tim Corbin, Paul Mainieri, Terry Rooney and Mike Bianco):

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• CLIFF GODWIN (Ole Miss assistant coach),  part-2 of 2 … exclusive interview with CB360’s Pete LaFleur, from the 2014 College World Series (6–15–14) … in addition to discussing the Ole Miss team, coach Godwin discusses his coaching influences (father Lewis Godwin, Keith LeClair, Kevin McMullan, Tim Corbin, Paul Mainieri, Terry Rooney and Mike Bianco):

UC Irvine and Texas are set for a College World Series rematch game on Wed. night (7 CT; ESPN), with the loser eliminated while the winner then will have to beat Vanderbilt twice to earn a spot in the CWS Championship Series … Irvine opened the 2014 CWS with a late rally to defeat Texas , 3-1 … Texas then stayed alive with a 4-1 win over Louisville while Irvine lost its winner-bracket game vs. Vanderbilt, 6-4.

TEXAS BOXSCORE IN 3-1 CWS LOSS vs. UC IRVINE
2b Brooks Marlow 1–4 (BB–K–E)
lf Ben Johnson 1–4 (BB–2K)
cf Mark Payton 0–4 (SAC–K)
c Tres Barrera 0–4 (2K–HBP)
ss C.J. Hinojosa 1–4 (K)
rf Collin Shaw 2–3 (R–BB–2B–K)
DH Madison Carter 1–3 (SAC)
1B Kacy Clemens 0-4 (K)
3B Zane Gurwitz 1–4 (RBI) (end) #cws

Nathan Thornhill loss (8-3) 7.1–2R–6–BB–4K–94p (65 strikes)
John Curtiss (did not convert save) 1.2–R–4H–3K–23p (19 strikes)

UC IRVINE BOXSCORE IN 3-1 CWS WIN OVER TEXAS
3b Taylor Sparks 3–4 (RBI–R–3B–2B–E)
ss Chris Rabago 1–3 (RBI–R–SAC)
1b Connor Spencer 1–4
c Taylor McClanahan 0–3 (BB–2K)
dh Jonathan Munoz 1–3 (RBI–2B–2K)
2b Grant Palmer 2–4 (2B–K)
rf Kris Paulino 0–3 (SAC)
lf Adam Alcantara 2–4 (R–K)
cf Justin Castro 0–3 (K–SAC)

Andrew Morales 6IP–R–6H–3BB–5K–WP–108p (69 strikes)
Evan Manarino 0.2–H–HB–K–16p (9 strikes)
Evan Brock win (9-6) 2.1–3K–7BF–36p (23 strikes)

AVOIDING 0-and-2: The Texas win over Louisville ensured that the Longhorns would not go 0-and-2 at the 2014 CWS … in its 35 all-time CWS appearances, Texas has gone 0-and-2 only four times:

Texas at the CWS (36):
 6 title teams
6 runner-up
other seasons listed below:
4 times 3-2
8 times 2-2
one 1-1 (’47)
5 times 1-2
4 times 0-2
(1-1 so far in ’14)

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• 2014 CWS Game-1 – Recap Info. … 
UC IRVINE 3–10–1 def. TEXAS 1–7–1 … UCI 41-23, ‘Horns 43-20
Tournament Central Pages: NCAA  |  UCI  |  TX
… Final Stats: HTML & PDF  |  UCI Recap  |  TX Recap
AP Recap  |  NCAA Recap (w/ video)
Photos: UCI & NCAA  |  Video Recap: Texas (also embedded below)

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An assortment of video interviews are included below, in advance of the 2014 College World Series opener between Texas and UC Irvine.

CB360’s Pete LaFleur caught up with Irivine ace Andrew Morales for a brief visit on June 13, after sitting down with veteran Irvine radio announcer Mark Roberts the previous week in advance of the Super Regional at Oklahoma State. Also included below: excerpted comments from UCI coach Mike Gillespie from Friday’s formal press conference (courtesy UCI) and the Longhorn Network’s recent sit-down interview with Texas seniors Mark Payton and Nathan Thornhill (courtesy Texas).

Note that plenty more video interviews (on-field and from formal press conferences) is forthcoming to CB360 …

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• UC Irvine ace Andrew Morales visits with CB360 (6–13–14), below:

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• UC Irvine veteran radio announcer Mark Roberts sits down with CB360 (6–5–14), below:

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• Excerpted press conference comments from Irvine’s Mike Gillespie (6–13–14; courtesy UCI), below:

• The Longhorn Network’s in-studio interview with Texas seniors Mark Payton & Nathan Thornhill (6–12–14; courtesy Texas), below: 

By Sean Stires

After spending good chunks of the month of June in Omaha for five straight years, I’ve spent the better part of the past two years on a personal and professional odyssey.  Pete LaFleur and I founded CB360 with college baseball in our blood and I’ll be jumping back into the game again with this post.

No Leaving The Yard – It has been a fantastically competitive College World Series so far. Heading into Tuesday’s elimination game between Texas Tech and Ole Miss, three runs have been the biggest margin of victory through the first six games in Omaha.

Pitching has been stellar to date, but the fourth playing of the CWS at TD Ameritrade Park has also made something else more than obvious – it’s time to move the fences in.TD Ameritrade is the place where anything in the air goes to die. Nary has a home run been hit in Omaha this year, and overall extra base hits have been virtually non-existent since the series moved to TDA

Wind helped push balls out on top of the hill at Rosenblatt Stadium, but those same big currents don’t carry in downtown Omaha. It’s 408 to dead center and 335 down the lines. The dimensions are meant to be an equalizer of sorts for college baseball’s top eight teams, but it has also made for some tediously boring games at times for casual fans trying to follow along.

Bottom line – move the fences in 10 feet and add some excitement to an exciting event.

Playing Small – Just because long balls have been lacking doesn’t mean small ball isn’t any fun. The first inning of Monday’s 6-4 win by Vanderbilt over UC Irvine was small ball and college ball at its best. The Commodores used a pair of sacrifice bunts, including a squeeze, to take an early 2-0 lead over the Anteaters.

Not to be outdone, Irvine used a squeeze of its own by Adam Alcantara in the bottom of the second en route to a four-run inning of its own.

It’s not a coincidence that Irvine (No. 2), Texas (No. 1) and Virginia (No. 9) are among the nation’s leaders in Sac bunts this season and are also among the final eight teams still playing college baseball. They know how to manufacture runs when they need to.

Last year’s national champion, UCLA, finished seventh in the nation with 76 sacrifices. They used the formula of dominant pitching and just enough runs to claim the title.

Team Game – The grind it out formula is maddening to some, but it’s a college baseball trademark that increased even more since the implementation of BBCOR bats. It’s really what good college baseball is all about though – doing what it takes to win.

Texas Tech alum and former MLB pitcher Dallas Braden had a great line on Baseball Tonight last week when he said current athletes are playing in an era that hands out 12th-place participation ribbons. Little League games where no score is kept have bred high school players whose main goal is to say they were on the team rather than compete to win.

There is no question what a college baseball player is on the field to do though. Major League players jog or walk down the line after drawing a walk, but you won’t see many college players jogging anywhere.

Pro guys, by definition, play for their pay checks. Winning isn’t really important until September, October and early November.  However, college guys, especially the ones in Omaha, play for those Ws and for their teammates. It’s no more apparent than watching a UC Irvine celebration or a Vanderbilt stretch routine.

Anyone watching the World Cup instead of the CWS (ok, except for maybe when the USA plays) should get in line for their participation ribbon.

Pro Jaw – The decision ESPN made a couple years ago to move Kyle Peterson from the field to the booth could be the best decision the network has made for its coverage of the College World Series. Peterson did a nice job when he was working as a sideline reporter, but his knowledge was completely wasted in that capacity.

Orel Hershiser and Nomar Garciaparra are among the former college baseball/MLB players ESPN used in the booth prior to Peterson’s promotion. Both did a good job offering their analysis in Omaha and both know the game extremely well, but Peterson knows the college game and the players who play it.

The Stanford alum doesn’t have the same household name recognition as Hershiser or Garciaparra or even Aaron “Bleeping” Boone, but he follows the college game throughout the year and his expertise is on display now that he is finally providing game color analysis. It was on display immediately when he mentioned Vanderbilt reliever Walker Buehler was the midweek starter for the Commodore’s for a good chunk of the season. Even the term “midweek” is foreign to most casual fans.

Peterson is always clear, concise and fairly no-nonsense (the polar opposite of Eric Byrnes, whom ESPN once paired with Peterson) and he just knows the college game. He’s hands down the best color analyst to work a CWS game.