Here is the College World Series article I teamed up with Pop-We this year for. It is the second year of joining together for the College World Series. Plenty of good baseball being played in Omaha this week!
edit 7/15/12 Here is the post that was on Pop-We
The 2012 College World Series will be played in Omaha, NE at Ameritrade Park from June 15 thru June 25 or 26 if necessary. There are several story lines to follow. Can top seed Florida live up to its seeding? Can Stony Brook or Kent State continue their Cinderella runs? Will South Carolina be able to three-peat?
The first game Friday has 52-13 Stony Brook against second seed 47-14 UCLA. Stony Brook advanced to Omaha by upsetting seventh seed LSU. After losing game one 5-4 they won the next two 3-1 and 7-2 to claim the super regional. UCLA swept TCU 4-1 and 6-2 to earn their trip to the CWS.
The Stony Brook Seawolves are led by Head Coach Matt Senk. Their top seven hitters are Travis Jankowski (.422), William Carmona (.399), Maxx Tissenbaum (.389), Steven Goldstein (.344), Kevin Krause (.335), Cole Peragine (.314) and Tanner Nivins (.304) with Carmona leading the team with 12 home runs followed by Jankowski with five. Their top four starting pitchers are Tyler Johnson (12-1, 1.94), Brandon McNitt (8-3, 2.50), Evan Stecko-Haley (7-3, 3.47) and James Campbell (5-0, 3.09) with Frankie Vanderka bing their main closer with five saves. In the 2012 MLB draft they had seven players selected: Jankowski (Padres, 1st round supp.), Cantwell (Rangers, 3rd), Tissenbaum (Padres, 11th), Carmona (Phillies, 11th), Campbell (Dodgers, 12th), Jasvir Rakkar (Cubs, 26th) and Johnson (A's, 33rd).
The UCLA Bruins are led by Head Coach John Savage. Their top seven hitters are Jeff Gelalich (.365), Tyler Heineman (.343), Cody Keefer (.339), Trevor Brown (.328), Beau Amaral (.313), Kevin Williams (.305) and Kevin Kramer (.274) with Galalich leading the team in home runs with 11 followed by Amaral with four. Their top four starting pitchers are Adam Plutko (11-3, 2.56), Nick Vander Tuig (10-3, 4.35), Zack Weiss (3-2, 4.04) and Grant Watson (9-2, 4.41) with Scott Griggs being their closer with 15 saves. In the 2012 MLB draft they had seven players selected: Gelalich (Reds, 1st round supp.), Amaral (Reds, 7th), Heineman (Astros, 8th), Griggs (Dodgers, 8th), Brown (Giants, 10th) Eric Jaffe (White Sox, 11th) and Keefer (Marlins, 15th).
The second game Friday has 43-17 Arizona facing third seed 48-15 Florida State. Arizona swept St John's 7-6 and 7-4 to earn their ticket to Omaha. Florida State also swept as they dominated Stanford 17-1 and 18-7.
The Arizona Wildcats are led by Head Coach Andy Lopez. Their top seven hitters are Johnny Field (.383), Seth Mejias-Brean (.366), Alex Mejia (.361), Bobby Brown (.356), Robert Refsnyder (.354), Joseph Maggi (.333) and Joey Rickard (.326) with Refsnyder leading the team in home runs with six followed by Brown with four. Their four top starting pitchers are Kurt Heyer (12-2, 2.28), James Farris (7-3, 4.18), Wade Konner (9-3, 4.49) and Tyler Hale (2-0, 4.05) with Matthew Troupe being their main closer with six saves. In the 2012 MLB draft they had five players selected: Mejia (Cardinals, 4th), Refsnyder (Yankees, 5th), Heyer (Cardinals, 6th), Mejias-Brean (Reds, 8th) and Rickard (Rays, 9th).
The Florida State Seminoles are lead by Head Coach Mike Martin. Their top seven hitters are Jayce Boyd (.389), James Ramsey (.382), Devon Travis (.310), Josh Delph (.282), Sherman Johnson (.274), John Nogowski (.246) and Stephen McGee (.243) with Ramsey leading the team in home runs with 13 followed by Justin Gonzalez with eight. Their top four starting pitchers are Brandon Leibrandt (8-2, 2.58), Mike Compton (11-2, 2.86), Scott Sitz (3-3, 3.99) and Peter Miller (5-2, 3.98) with Robert Benincasa being their closer with 15 saves. In the 2012 MLB draft they had seven players selected: Ramsey (Cardinals, 1st round), Boyd (Mets, 6th), Benincasa (Nationals, 7th), Travis (Tigers, 13th), Johnson (Angels, 14th), Hunter Scantling (Tigers, 14th) and Gonzalez (Dodgers, 27th).
The first game Saturday has 46-18 Kent State against 44-20 in the battle of the seed busters. Kent State knocked off fifth seed Oregon by winning 7-6, losing 3-2 and then won 3-2 to clinch the trip to Omaha. Arkansas did one better after losing 8-1 to fourth seed Baylor they won the next two 5-4 and 1-0 to advance.
The Kent State Golden Flashes are led by Head Coach Scott Stricklin. Their top seven hitters are George Roberts (.368), Jimmy Rider (.364), Nick Hamilton (.347), Evan Campbell (.327), T J Sutton (.305), David Lyon (.279) and Sawyer Polen (.271) with Lyon leading the team with 10 home runs followed by Roberts with eight. Their top four starting pitchers are David Starn (11-3, 2.21), Tyler Skulina (11-2, 3.63), Ryan Bores (9-3, 3.35) and Ryan Mace (2-3, 3.27) with Casey Wilson being the main closer with seven saves. In the 2012 MLB draft they had six players selected: Starn (Braves, 7th round), Michael Clark (Astros, 20th), Rider (Pirates, 26th), Bores (Rangers, 27th), Lyon (Rangers, 34th) and Hamilton (Indians, 34th).
The Arkansas Razorbacks are led by Head Coach Dave Van Horn. Their top seven hitters are Matt Reynolds (.338), Tim Carver (.304), Domonic Ficociell (.301), Brian Anderson (.287), Jacob Mahan (.266), Jimmy Bosco (.264) and Bo Bigham (.261) with Reynolds leading the team with seven home runs followed by Ficociell, Derrick Bleeker and Sam Bates with six each. Their top four starting pitchers are Ryne Stanek (7-4, 2.91), D J Baxendale (7-5, 3.18), Randall Fant (2-2, 3.00) and Nolan Sanburn (4-1, 2.52) with Barrett Austin being their closer with 10 saves. In the 2012 MLB draft they had eight players selected: Reynolds (Mets, 2nd round), Sanburn (A's, 2nd), Baxendale (Twins, 10th), Culver (Phillies, 19th), Bates (Royals, 28th), Fant (Indians, 29th), Bleeker (Orioles, 37th) and Jacob Morris (Indians, 37th).
The second game Saturday is a rematch of last year's national championship as defending champ and eight seed 45-17 South Carolina plays number one seed 47-18 Florida. South Carolina swept their super regional beting Oklahoma 5-0 and 5-1. Florida also swept beating North Carolina State 7-1 and 9-8 to earn a return trip to Omaha.
The South Carolina Gamecocks are led by Head Coach Ray Tanner. Their top seven hitters are Christian Walker (.315), Tanner English (.306), Evan Marzilli (.288), Joey Pankake (.286), L B Dantzler (.264), Chase Vergason (.262) and Adam Matthews (.240) with Walker leading the team with 11 home runs followed by Dantzler with nine. Their top four starting pitchers are Michael Roth (7-1, 2.50), Colby Holmes (7-1, 2.80), Jordan Montgomery (5-1, 4.05) and Matt Price (4-4, 3.47) with Price also being their main closer with 11 saves. In the 2012 MLB draft they had five players selected: Walker (Orioles, 4th round), Price (Orioles, 7th), Marzilli (Diamondbacks, 9th), Roth (Angels, 9th) and Matthews (Reds, 29th).
The Florida Gators are led by Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan. Their top seven hitters are Daniel Pigott (.323), Mike Zunino (.322), Preston Tucker (.319), Brian Johnson (.314), Casey Turgeon (.288), Nolan Fontana (.287) and Justin Shafer (.275) with Zunino leading the team with 19 home runs followed by Tucker with 16. Thier top four starting pitchers are Hudson Randall (9-2, 2.61), Jonathon Crawford (6-2, 3.13), Brian Johnson (8-4, 3.56) and Karsten Whitson (4-0, 3.51) with Austin Maddox being their closer with 12 saves. In the 2012 MLB draft they had nine players selected: Zunino (Mariners, 1st round), Johnson (Red Sox, 1st), Fontana (Astros, 2nd), Steven Rodriguez (Dodgers, 2nd), Maddox (Red Sox, 3rd), Tucker (Astros, 7th), Randall (Tigers, 7th), Pigott (Reds, 9th) and Greg Larson (Red Sox, 20th).
Kent State and Stony Brook are in the College World Series for the first time and face several programs familiar with the trip. Florida State is in its 21st appearance but has yet to win the championship. Arizona has been in Omaha 16 times before and has three championships. South Carolina has 11 tournaments and the last two titles to their credit. Florida on its 8th, Arkansas on its 7th and UCLA on its 4th andall have yet to claim the crown. There seem to be several fairly even match ups and the nation should see several good games.
Play ball!!
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