THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

By: Eric Sorenson

I do this column every year once I finally get back from Omaha and it always seems to be a hit with you college baseball freaks out there. So while we are now just 14 or 15 games away from the CWS turning from the College World Series at Rosenblatt to the Corporate World Series at the new downtown stadium – we’ll cringe over that bridge when we get to it – let’s take a quick look back at the bests and worsts from the past two weeks somewhere in middle America.

- Best Aspect Of This Year’s CWS:
The traditional powers playing for the title.
I know stitch-heads, normally I am always the one to expound on the new blood in the field of eight, especially if they are mid-majors. But after a few years of the Fresno State’s, the Oregon State’s, the UC Irvine’s and the emergence of North Carolina as a perennial power, it was kinda cool to see two of the old guard – LSU and Texas – battle it out in the second week.

- Best Game:
The Bracket Two Finale.
Texas – 5
Arizona State – 4
Sure. this was a tough call because a couple other arguments could easily be made – LSU down to its last out in the game one of the finals, Arkansas’ unlikely comeback again Virginia – but this one was a the most stunning. All the momentum was with ASU and the Longhorns offense isn’t one that’s tailor made for gallant comebacks. But the biggest kicker to it was the stunning fact that it was two long balls, six pitches apart, that won this game.

- Best Players To Watch:
The LSU outfield.
These guys were all over the place. They didn’t always make the diving catch, but when they did – oh my! Close seconds go to ASU’s Kole Calhoun, who never seemed to get out at the plate all week and to Texas 3Bman Michael Torres, who was Brooks Robinson-like at times.

- Best Pitching Performance:
Taylor Jungmann, Texas.
Take away those six pitches he threw in the game one loss to LSU and his week was awesome. And to think, this dude, who apparently has the best “stuff” on the UT staff, is just a frosh.

- Best Overachieving Team:
Arkansas.
The Hogs weren’t super over-achievers, mind you they WERE No. 1 in mid-April, but they limped down the stretch in the regular season. In Omaha, they beat Fullerton and Virginia, which was pretty impressive, especially that comeback win over the Cavs. Talk about a myriad of near-misses and close shaves all in one game. What a win that was. Again, it was tough not to put that one down as the best game of the CWS.

- Worst Under-achieving Team:
North Carolina.
Not a huge disgrace or anything, it’s not like they went 0-fer or something. But I guess we’ve just gotten so used to seeing the Heels rack up three or four wins in Omaha each year and play for the national title, that a 1-2 week is a step down.

- Best Re-occuring Theme:
The uproar over ESPN not having good coverage.
It all started at the pre-series press conference where Pat Murphy made it clear what most of us in the college baseball community were thinking, that ESPN doesn’t do enough during the regular season. Then came the uproar over the booth announcers lack of knowledge of our sport – especially that Steve Phillips guy with his “the reason people watch the College World Series is because of all the future pro players on the field” comment. So hopefully there will be SOME uproar to all this and will help ESPN make some changes for next season.

- Worst Re-occuring Theme:
The length of the games.
Dammit! You tellin’ me the quickest game of the entire week in Omaha still went over the three-hour mark? Yep. The shortest game of the entire 15-game tournament was three hours and five minutes. All in all there were a total of nine games out of 15 that went 3:29 or longer (that’s the length of a football game and a crappy sit-com, in case you were wondering). Four games went over the four-hour mark, two of which weren’t even extra inning games.

- The Hardest Working Man at Rosenblatt:
The ESPN remote camera guy (again).
This dude has to cart around a 30-pound camera for five hours every day in the 90+ degree heat.

- Best Place To Hang Out Between Games:
Starsky’s Lounge on 13th Street.
I would say the beer tents were the best place to hang out, but with the heat that overcame Omaha in the last few days of the Series, indoor air conditioning was of utmost importance.

- Second Best Place To Hang Out Between Games:
The Stadium View Card Shop.
Not only can you check out the numerous vintage CWS programs, Sports Illustrateds and various memorabilia, but the owner is proud to point out that they’ve handed out “over 11,000 free beers” over the years that they’ve been in business. That’s a cool thing man.

- Best Stadium Concession:
Famous Dave’s Barbecue.
I didn’t have any myself, but Mark Etheridge raved about it after grueling down on some Famous Dave’s before one of the games. He claimed he didn’t need to eat again for three days. Oh, plus Pat Murphy admitted to having one of their pulled pork sandwiches in the second inning of the Devils’ win over UNC too.

- Best Non-baseball Related Activity:
Watching Erin Andrews’ every step.
Let’s face it, when the ESPN sideline reporter moves, she KNOWS everyone is watching.

- Best Way To Describe The Weather:
Satan’s Cauldron.
The weather kind of ran the gamut this year. Of course, there were also the numerous rain delays which kept us up at the stadium until well past 11:30pm each night. But the last few days left us with heat rashes all over our bodies. So that’s the lasting impression I’ll have.

- Best Uniforms:
Arizona State’s 80s Throwbacks.
I’m sure not a lot of you will agree with me here, but I really dig the thought that they brought back the ASU togs from the 80s that featured the old stretched-out stirrups, the Stanford-style pullover jerseys and the mighty lemon drops-colored hats and socks. It’s good for a ruse. Plus, you gotta love the lost art of the white cleats.

- Worst Uniforms:
Southern Mississippi’s.
I’ve already bagged on them enough, but just as a reminder, the baggy slacks look with hip-hugger belt-lines is just a bad look. I don’t pay much attention to pro ball, but my guess is they got that from some pro team or pro player, right?

- Best School Mascot.
Seymour the Southern Miss Eagle.
Actually, that was the ONLY school mascot to make the trip this year.

- Best Press Conference Quote:
A reserved Augie Garrido, fresh off a loss in the national championship game and withstanding a handful of questions from the media, got a Q from Omaha’s Lee Barfnecht asking him about a possible retirement, “Augie, how long are you going to keep doing this?” Augie snapped back with, “You mean this press conference?”

Even in gut-wrenching defeat the dude’s still got it.

- Most Over-used Expression In Omaha:
“I’ve gotta tip my hat to…”
Once again, this one is far and away the winning quote in the post-game press conference. Please make it stop!

- Best Food Other Than Steak In Omaha:
Sortino’s Pizza.
Even though Godfather’s Pizza originated in The O, Sortino’s was the best pizza when I lived here as a kid and it’s still the best pizza today. In case you ever want to check it out, Sortino’s is located on L Street, just East of 84th.

- Best Good Luck Charm:
“Carlos” the Killer Whale.
The Texas bullpen took hold of this Shamu inflatable that fell out of the left field bleachers and changed his name to “Carlos.” They kept him near the bullpen during games.

Best Job Of Rethinking A Column:
Me.
After watching Texas play this week and how spot-on Jungmann is and how valuable this youthful team will have this experience to bank on next season, I’m feeling like a double-take on my “Eight For Omaha in ‘09″ may be amended to include Texas after all. Now, the question is… who do I take out? Maybe Clemson? Hmmm.

I’ll get back with you on this in the pre-season preview next year.

- Best Storyline:
Brian O’Connor’s return to the Series as a coach.
The former Bluejay pitcher who grew up across the river in Council Bluffs was the belle of the ball with the locals in Omaha during the first week. Though his team went just 1-2, Brian pointed out that “95%” of his team returns next year, so watch for this to be a storyline again next year.