By the time I probably write another blog, the best out of 3 College World Series Championship will have the two teams set for Monday. As much as I am a huge fan of the underdog and love surprising teams making it all the way, which adds drama to the series. I find myself very disappointed with the fact that Miami and Rice (and maybe UNC tonight) are not around for the weekend. Rice was out in two games which was very surprising especially after the heartbreaker to LSU. Miami on the other hand, in my opinion, was a totally different team during Omaha play. Their offense just wasn't there(the same with their defense), which is something that helped them get to 53 victories this season. I was really questioning the coach, Jim Morris, who looked to be over analyzing everything and made his best hitter in the CWS, Jemile Weeks, bunt three straight times. But oh well! In baseball, you gotta play when it counts and like I said in my CWS Tournament Preview, Miami season will be a huge disappointment if they don't get to the championship series. And that is exactly what happened!
This weekend, which will finally lead us to the winners of brackets 1 and 2 by Sunday night, has lots of excitement in store starting tonight with an elimination game that is continued from last night's rain out in North Carolina and LSU. Carolina, which is up 2-0 already in the 1st inning from last night, is the last hope for the ACC who had 3 teams enter the field of 8 in Omaha. Tonight favors Carolina because their excellent pitching staff could use an extra day of rest which gives them an advantage. But, the way that LSU comes from behind you better not change the station in the 9th inning like I did to them in the Supers verses UC Irvine.
Saturday we have a rematch set in bracket 1 for the 2 o'clock game with Stanford (2-1) again faces Georgia (2-0). Obviously Stanford is going to have to beat Georgia twice I don't see being a problem for this team that has been the hottest of the tournament besides Fresno State. Stanford's catcher Jason Castro has been red hot on both the defensive and especially the offensive side of the field. This kid has a charisma that brings you in and you can't help but routing for him. Stanford will be bringing in their lefty ace to the mound in Jeremy Bleich while Georgia sends 10th round pick in senior Trevor Holder to the hill. Another great story for the Cardinals, if you haven't heard already, has a pitcher in Erik Davis you consistently gets his team out of jams after getting hit in the face with a ball years ago damaging his sight so bad that he couldn't see out of his right eye for a full day. So it is safe to say that I am routing hard for the Cardinals this weekend since I still don't know how in the world Georgia has gotten this far in the first place.
Cinderella streaking Fresno State Bulldogs will be waiting for their opponent in tonight's game have the 7 o'clock start on Saturday. You already know all about this team coming out of their Long Beach State Regional bracket as a 4 seed but let me give you some of the things to look for out of this team this weekend as they are one win away from advancing to the Championship Series on Monday. 8 different players thus far in two games have hit homers for the Cinderella Bulldogs. Their pitching has been great thus far with the bullpen pitching 5 scoreless innings verses UNC Sunday night. The big guy in their line up in the CWS play has been freshman sensation shortstop Danny Muno. He is 5 for 9 with a homerun, 5 RBI, with 3 runs scored. The winner of tonight's game should be facing the Bulldogs ace this weekend in Justin Wilson who looked impressive verses Rice with 7 strong innings giving up 2 runs and striking out 5.
I couldn't leave without coming out with some picks before my Championship Preview on Monday. But, my picks are coming from the heart now no more thinking after falling in love with some of these programs.
Stanford and Fresno State will come out victorious this weekend! Enjoy the Weekend!!!
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