Here’s a look at our CWS coverage so far in 2014:<\/p>\n
Now lets review the group play in Omaha. \u00a0Compared to the blitz of games during regionals (100+ games in four days) and super-regionals (where there were nearly 40 games in a long weekend), covering the CWS is pedestrian; there’s just a couple of games a day for nearly two weeks.<\/p>\n
My pre-CWS predictions are with Vanderbilt from the top and UVA from the bottom, but UVA’s path through to the CWS finals is a lot tougher. \u00a0Lets see how things played out.<\/p>\n
In the Top Bracket<\/strong><\/span> (UC Irvine, Vanderbilt, Louisville, and Texas):<\/p>\n UC Irvine continued their surprising run this post-season by getting 3 runs late on Texas’ starter Nathan Thornhill<\/strong> and taking the first game 3-1.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Vanderbilt got to wild Louisville starter Kyle Funkhowser<\/strong> behind their flame-throwing converted closer\u00a0Carson Fulmer<\/strong> and took their first game 5-3<\/a>.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n In the first elimination game, Texas handed Louisville’s Anthony Kidston<\/strong> his first loss of the year and put the Cardinals 2-and-out 4-1<\/a>.\u00a0 In the winner’s bracket game, UC Irvine tagged Vanderbilt’s stud Tyler Beede<\/strong> for four runs early and knocked him out in the 4th, but Walker Buehler<\/strong> relieved and threw 5+ innings of no-hit ball as\u00a0Vanderbilt’s offense stormed back to take the winner’s bracket game 6-4<\/a>. \u00a0This sets up Vanderbilt nicely for the rest of the tournament and confirms them as the early favorite to advance to the final. \u00a0In an elimination game, Texas got a solo homer from\u00a0C.J. Hinojosa<\/strong> and 8+ shutout innings from middle-reliever\u00a0Chad Hollingsworth<\/strong> to eliminate UC Irvine 1-0<\/a>\u00a0in a matchup of two of the games most tenured and respected coaches Augie Garido<\/strong> and\u00a0Mike Gillespie<\/strong>, with nearly 3,000 combined wins between them. \u00a0Texas must now beat Vanderbilt twice over the 6\/20\/14 weekend to advance to the CWS final.\u00a0 Texas did their part in the first game, knocking Vanderbilt’s starter out before the first inning was complete and winning 4-0<\/a> to force a doe-or-die 6\/21\/14 game.\u00a0 In that do-or-die game, Vanderbilt outlasted Texas with a walk-off infield single in the bottom of the 10th to advance 4-3<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the Bottom Bracket<\/strong><\/span> (Texas Tech,Virginia, Ole Miss and TCU):<\/p>\n TCU saved their #1 starter and got by Texas Tech 3-2 in the opener<\/a>, scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th after not being able to touch TTU starter\u00a0Chris Sadberry<\/strong>. \u00a0Texas Tech’s coach is probably kicking himself right now; Sadberry had given up just 3 hits through 7 innings and sat on 101 pitches; his reliever immediately coughed up the game. \u00a0Meanwhile, UVA’s\u00a0Nathan Kirby<\/strong> pitched a gem in their opener, holding Ole Miss to just one hit over 7 innings and supp-1st rounder\u00a0Mike Papi<\/strong> drove in the walk-off run as UVA won 2-1<\/a>. \u00a0UVA’s work is cut out for them though, having to face first rounder\u00a0Brandon Finnegan<\/strong> in the winner’s bracket game. \u00a0In that marquee TCU-UVA matchup, UVA couldn’t do much against Finnegan (8ip, 1 ER) but their own co-ace\u00a0Brandon Waddell<\/strong> also held the Horned Frogs in check (7ip, 1ER). \u00a0The game went into extras .. many extra innings, finally won by UVA<\/a> in the 15th 3-2<\/a> (tying the longest CWS game ever). \u00a0UVA’s closer\u00a0Nick Howard<\/strong> threw 4 innings and 60 pitches, which makes me wonder if we’ll be hearing complaints about his usage (perhaps not; he was a starter his first two years at UVA). \u00a0Then, In the loser’s bracket, Ole Miss put Texas Tech out in a close 2-1 game, then similarly eliminated TCU 6-4. \u00a0Ole Miss must now beat UVA twice over the 6\/20\/14 weekend to advance to the CWS final.\u00a0 And they couldn’t do it: behind 8 innings from their #3 and #4 starters (Josh Sborz<\/strong> and Artie Lewicki<\/strong>\u00a0UVA topped Ole Miss 4-1<\/a> to advance to the CWS finals.<\/p>\n CWS finals<\/strong><\/span>: #13 Vanderbilt versus #3 UVA.<\/p>\n Game 1 on June 23rd, Game 2 on June 24th and (if necessary) Game 3 on June 25th.<\/p>\n Kirby versus Beede in game 1; Kirby sits on 8 days of rest after throwing just 85 pitches on June 15th.\u00a0 Vanderbilt burned their ace Fulmer in the bracket final, leaving Vanderbilt at a definite disadvantage in the pitching matchup.\u00a0 In game 2, UVA has Waddell set to go with 6 days rest while Vanderbilt has to go with their #3.\u00a0 Sborz\/Lewicki could tandem pitch a deciding game 3 for UVA with four full days rest if neither guy is used in the first two games, while Vanderbilt could bring back Fulmer on 3 days rest (to the likely ire of pitch count scouts, despite the fact that he only threw 90 pitches on 6\/21).\u00a0 UVA’s pitching is setup just about as good as you could hope for and have the bats to match; you have to think they’re the favorites.<\/p>\n
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