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):