Bulldog CWS Final

Bulldog - a heavily built dog noted for its strong, stubborn grip.

Man, what a tournament for the Bulldogs! Omaha, Nebraska will be filled with them for the next couple of days as the best of 3 final for the CWS starts tonight featuring the number 8 overall national seed in Georgia and the Cinderella storied, number 4 regional seed Fresno State. The definition I wrote above definitely describes these two baseball programs who have gone through much adversity to get where they are and have showed signs of being "strong and stubborn". Having some time this weekend, I was curious to see what the tournament would look like if the brackets looked like the ever popular NCAA basketball bracket sheet, just because I wanted to know what seed Fresno State would be if they did the tournament this way. Come to find out they would have been a 13 seed! Unreal! Now you can understand how remarkable there run really is to the final tonight. Fresno has eliminated 3 of the national 8 seeds (Arizona State, Rice, and UNC), and also has won eight NCAA tournament games against teams in the AP top 20 to get to this point and must defeat one more for ultimate glory. Without an actual ace of the staff because of an injury to their stud pitcher Tanner Scheppers, they relied on a kid that hasn't thrown since June 8th because of tendinitis in his arm to get to the championship. Clayton Allison pitched remarkably last night against the Tarheels pitching 6 strong innings giving up a run on six hits. Fresno's bats have been pretty stunning as well striking 7 homers in just 4 games.

Georgia, who I have been down on since the start of the tournament (I didn't have them getting out of the Super Regional), have beaten some impressive teams and had gotten to the CWS facing elimination 4 times. Manager Dave Perno was a member of the Georgia baseball team that last one the CWS title back in 1990, who didn't get to play in the series so now it must feel pretty surreal to be back. A year ago his Bulldog team didn't even make it into the SEC tournament, but in 2008 he'd have five position starters back (four of whom played in Omaha in 2006) and 11 pitchers who had thrown most of the innings. Including 7th overall pick of the draft Gordan Beckham who was tied for the national lead in homers to start the CWS in 26. While Beckham has lived up to his first-round tag, closer Joshua Fields (18 for 18 in save opportunities) and senior third baseman Ryan Peisel (12 HRs and 56 RBI) have been huge difference makers for the Bulldogs in 2008. It should be interesting series filled with "strong and stubborn" dawgs. Tune in tonight at 7!