After a couple of frenetic weeks of tracking CWS play-in games, we’re through the pedestrian-paced group play in Omaha and have reached the final of the 2025 CWS tournament; here’s a recap of group play in Omaha.
Resources/links I use heavily during CWS time:
- Top 25 rankings d1baseball, baseballamerica, and usatoday Coaches poll.
- WarrenNolan’s RPI rankings
- Here’s D1Baseball.com’s Tournament Central, my favorite place to track the tourney.
- Here’s the NCAA.com field of 64 Bracket with some great data points at NCAA.com and an easier-to-read bracket.
In the Top Bracket ( Louisville, Coastal Carolina, Arizona, #8 Oregon State )
- In the opening games, Coastal continued on its current 24-game winning streak, scoring 3 in the 8th to break open a tie-game to top Arizona. They havn’t lost since April 22nd. Meanwhile, Lousville tied it in the top of the 9th only to have Oregon State walk-it off in the bottom, with 1-1 candidate Arquette scoring the winning run, to cap an exciting day for the top bracket.
- In the first elimination game, Louisville blew open a close game with 6 in the eight to make Arizona the first team eliminated.
- In the winner’s bracket game, Coastal’s saturday starter Jacob Morrison spun a gem, shutting down OSU for nearly 8 innings to put CCU in the driver’s seat.
- In the play-in game, OSU’s Arquette did his best to help his team, but Louisville walked it off in a 7-6 back and forth affair to eliminate Oregon State and move into the group final.
- In the group final, Coastal Carolina kept its win streak alive with a beat down of OSU 11-3 to win the group unblemished and return to the National title game.
Final Group standings: Coastal Carolina, Louisville, #8 Oregon State, Arizona
In the Bottom Bracket (#15 UCLA, #3 Arkansas, #6 LSU, Murray State)
- In the opening games, UCLA got to Murray State’s starter in the 5th for enough runs to make it stick to move on. In the night cap, probably the best game we’ll see in CWS featured the two SEC teams and two best ranked teams battle, with LSU’s Kade Anderson putting up the best possible line you could expect in a CWS game: 7ip 3 hits, 1r (on an inside FB that Arkansas’ light-hitting 1B turned on), 7/2 K/BB. Just 100 pitches to get through 7.
- In the first elimination game, Arkansas’ Gage Woods threw probably the greatest game in the history of the CWS, a 9ip no-hitter with 19 Ks (!!) to send Murray State home. He had a perfect game into the top of the 8th and only let five balls even get into fair territory. 119 pitches. Amazing.
- In the winner’s bracket game, LSU bashed their way to a rain-delayed 9-5 win over UCLA to take control of the group.
- In the play-in game, Arkansas scored early and often and were in control throughout, downing UCLA 7-3 to setup an all-SEC group final.
- In the group final, Arkansas certainly made it interesting, with 2 in the 8th and 2 in the ninth to take the lead, but then LSU’s middle of the order came through, with 3 in the 9th to walk it off for a shot at the title. What a game.
Final Group standings: #6 LSU, #3 Arkansas, UCLA, Murray State
Analysis/commentary
I suppose its fitting that this year of regional upsets gives us a national powerhouse back in the title game in LSU, along side a team from a mid-major that probably should have been a National seed had the committee sniffed their noses at Coastal Carolina’s pedigree, and now they ride a massive 26 win game winning streak heading into the final series that they have no doubt they can win.
Projected 1st Rounder Performance:
We’ll throw this into the next 1-1 conversation, since there’s only a couple 1-1 candidates left in CWS play.
CWS Preview and Prediction:
One big plus here for neutrals: neither of the groups went the “extra game,” so none of the star pitchers got burned. This is in contrast to two years ago, when LSU threw its stud Skenes just to get into the final, and then the national spotlight never got to see him (except for an inning at the end).
Here’s the best i can make out for pitching matchups in the final, based on how the pitchers were used in the playoffs to get here so far. Everyone below is basically on full rest, so no usage concerns here.
The CWS national series starts on Saturday 6/21:
- 6/21: CCU’s Cameron Flukey (7-1, 3.29 ERA, 109/22 in 95ip) versus LSU’s Kade Anderson (11-1, 3.44 ERA, 170/30 K/BB in 110 IP)
- 6/22: CCU’s Jacob Morrison (12-0, 2.08 ERA, 102/22 in 104 ip) versus LSU’s Anthony Eyanson (11-2, 2.92 ERA, 143/35 in 101 ip).
- 6/23 CCU’s Riley Eikhoff (7-2, 3.10 ERA, 71/11 K/BB in 90 ip) versus LSU’s Zac Cowan (3-3, 2.94 ERA, 60/12 in 52 ip).
If you recognize the Eikhoff name, its because he is from NoVa, went to Patriot HS, and is the brother of Nate Eikhoff, who starred for UVA just before Covid.
LSU doesn’t really have a reliable 3rd starter; they’ve given starts to six different guys in that #3 spot this year. They have a super reliever Casan Evans (5-1, 2.05 ERA, 71/19 k/BB in 52ip) who could also slot in to that third start, if necessary.
That being said, I don’t think this series is going three. I think Anderson shuts down CCU in game one and wins a close one in game two to take the title. With all due respect to Coastal, they have not seen a starter like Anderson all year and has managed to make it all the way to the title game without facing a top prospect starter who can easily tame their bats.
LSU in two.
Arkansas’s self-inflicted disaster had a lot more to do with the LSU walk-off than LSU did. The ARK kids are going to be haunted forever by that one, particularly Aloy for not turning the double play and their LF who did his Jayson Werth impression.
Yes, one more look at Anderson, in a big situation. Since the Nats like ’em BIG, you have to think that Jacob Morrison of Coastal Carolina is on their later-in-the-draft board somewhere. He’s 6-8, 245, with a 12-0 record, 2.08 ERA, 0.91 WHIP.
KW
19 Jun 25 at 10:57 am
Something about Arkansas always felt “overrated” to me. I mean, yeah they were one of the best teams in SEC, but then this clearly seems like a down year for SEC (all those teams in tourney and only a couple won regionals).
the SS not turning the double play seems like a brain fart to me. Like, he forgot there was a runner on first/forgot it was a force play. You can’t excuse a guy turning a difficult-but-mostly routine fly ball into something off his forehead.
Todd Boss
19 Jun 25 at 3:04 pm
The college season has sort of reflected the draft boards — the talent level across the board is down, which has made the season more wide open and opened the door for a mid-major to get back to the final. No one would argue that this LSU squad is anywhere close to the Skenes/Crews/Tommy Tanks crew of two years ago. Yet somewhat surprisingly, the Tigers may have another pitcher go 1/1. And when you’ve got THAT guy, who almost guarantees you a win when he’s on the mound, it really does tip the odds in your favor.
It’s worth noting that the Nats should have some good contacts with LSU after drafting Crews and Dugas in 2023 and Cole Henry in 2020. They drafted Lipscomb and Cortland Lawson from TN so presumably have some contacts with Doyle’s team. They haven’t had nearly as much recent draft engagement with Florida State or Oregon State.
I wonder whether the front office would ask Crews to check in with some friends informally and find out the real scoop on Anderson, or Lipscomb to check out Doyle. One would hope they take the off-the-field due diligence more seriously since the Romero debacle.
KW
19 Jun 25 at 3:30 pm
A quick note about the big club: James Wood — wow. He’s on a 40 HR/40 double pace at age 22. He has a 166 OPS+, 161 wRC+.
Nats in general, though: oy vey. A long losing streak, including to two of the worst teams in baseball (one historically bad), and a manager with a career record 119 games under .500 saying that none of it is due to the coaching staff.
Look, 2019 was a magical year, and Davey pushed all the right buttons, but that was a long time ago now. The morass certainly isn’t all his fault, as ownership hasn’t spent on players, but at some point, it’s worth having fresh voices telling the guys new things. They seemed to be punching above their weight at 28-30 at the end of May, but that’s all gone out the window now.
KW
20 Jun 25 at 1:21 pm
And how ’bout that Soto trade in general? In addition to Wood, Abrams is #4 among shortstops in wRC+, and Gore leads the NL in Ks and the majors in K9. His FIP is #8 among starters. Wood is #7 in all of baseball in wRC+, #4 in the NL.
The jury is still out on Hassell and Susana, but all in all, it’s hard to dispute the quality of the return for a generational player.
On the other hand, that trade of Trea and Max . . .
KW
20 Jun 25 at 1:39 pm
Although there was a lot of chatter at the time of the trade about including Jackson Merrill. If they had swapped him for Hassell (who was supposed to be the star prospect of them all), what a slam dunk that package would be.
KW
20 Jun 25 at 2:25 pm
Well, we’re through 7 innings as I write, and I’m praying that Johnson takes Anderson out at 102 pitches, as he’s my pick. He’s at 14 IP in the CWS, 6 hits, only 1 run.
We’ve been waiting all season for a collegiate player to stand up and scream that he’s the 1/1 guy. Well, one has.
KW
21 Jun 25 at 9:11 pm
Now through 8 IP, 115 pitches. PLEASE stop. Can we send Keith Law to the dugout? The dude had a TJ less than two years ago.
KW
21 Jun 25 at 9:29 pm
Nope. 130 pitches on a TJ arm. Lord help us all. I sure hope Law calls out Johnson.
KW
21 Jun 25 at 9:50 pm
Anderson looked better as the game progressed. he’s definitely a top pick but I’m not sure he’s 1/1. still I wouldn’t cringe if the Nats took him.
FredMD
22 Jun 25 at 7:16 am
130 pitches is awful. But, for what its worth, its his last game for 2025. Soooooo maybe its ok? I think the real damage comes when you broach that 120 pitch limit and then pitch again 4 days later without proper rest and recovery.
But yeah. I’m sure we’ll be seeing a Law article.
Of course, if you’re LSU coach, what are you gonna do? There’s absolutely no way you take out Anderson in the 8th or 9th of a one run game for the national title. No way. LSU’s got a horrible bullpen, no real 3rd starter this year even, and the most reliable relief arms he has are being saved in case the series goes to a 3rd game. His best reliever may be Cooper Williams, who has 13 walks in 20 innings. Imagine the uproar of he takes out Anderson and it takes one of his wild relievers 2 minutes to give up a tying run in the 8th or 9th inning? No way. I think you do what he did; he probably told Anderson in both the 8th and 9th that if a guy got into scoring position, he was out. Anderson walkd a guy in the 8th and 9th but worked around them … so he gets the 3 h it CG shutout. bravo.
Lets hope he didn’t do any lasting damage. If i’m the nats i’m demanding an MRI before i draft him 1-1, and yeah I could see this being a triggering decision point to go with Holliday.
Todd Boss
22 Jun 25 at 10:05 am
I’m just imagining Rizzo screaming at the screen last night. (Good things at first, very bad things for the last couple of innings.)
No high-school-drafted 20-year-old pitcher would EVER throw 130 pitches as a pro, TJ or not. (“Ever” meaning now; of course arms used to get abused.) Sykora went 93 pitches in his last start, his most as a pro. His previous high had been 81. They pulled him with two outs in an inning, no doubt knowing that they were red-lining him.
The college game is going to have to legislate pitch limits. The schools obviously aren’t going to do what’s best for the players. Or at least some schools aren’t. Kudos to the Coastal manager for pulling his starter after 101 pitches.
I don’t give a flip about LSU’s bullpen. That’s no excuse to seriously jeopardize a kid’s future. Recruit better. (I would suspect that part of LSU’s lack of pitching depth is due to them blowing out some key arms.)
Anderson would still be my pick for the Nats . . . after an MRI, and with the understanding that he’ll be completely shut down for the rest of the year. He’s got all the pitches, so much so that he was effective last night even when he couldn’t locate his fastball. He will be MLB-ready at least two years before Holliday is.
I don’t see Holliday as having a significant “best player available” advantage over Anderson. Holliday profiles a lot like House — won’t stay on SS, some swing-and-miss issues (but not debilitating), and significant power possibility, if it’s unlocked. He’s not going to move through the minors nearly as quickly as Jackson Holliday did, though, as Jackson didn’t have the swing/miss issues (until he got to the majors) and he had an established position.
KW
22 Jun 25 at 12:58 pm