Our blogger James Kratch wrote last weekend the College World Series deserves some respect. It’s all about pitching and defense and not the clanking of the aluminum bats. After watching his University of South Carolina Gamecocks rattle off 16-straight wins to win their second national championship in a row, I’ve got nothing but respect.
The last two nights I ran through marathon texting sessions with my buddy Max Binstock, senior political science major at USC, who was without Internet. Giving him play by play for every pitch against their SEC rivals, the Florida Gators, I was hooked.
South Carolina didn’t disappoint with a spectacular defensive performance in game one. Bottom of the ninth, game tied and bases loaded, the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, second baseman Scott Wingo (OchoWingo, as he’s affectionately known) gunned down two potential game winning runs at the plate. OchoWingo and catcher Robert Beary saved the game, staying cool, calm and collected in one of the tightest spots of the season.
They’d break through and claim the winning run on a Gator defensive gaffe, hanging on for one more half inning to take game one.
Game two brought a studly outing from star pitcher Michael Roth. The Gamecock’s hero from last year’s championship threw 127 balls and only yielded two runs. He walked off the mound to a rousing applause.
Throughout the last few innings my buddy kept asking “Priceman cometh?” He was referring to their ruthless closer, Matt Price. On only a few days rest, again, the closer threw 95 pitches over 5.2 innings against UVA to clinch a spot in the final series. Price sealed the deal for Gamecocks last night. USC is the fifth team in 65 years whose pitching staff had an ERA under 1 (0.88) during their run to the title.
Pitching and defense, just like Kratch said. Obviously there’s more to the story than these two ingredients but I’ll leave the story telling to Kratch and his sports section at the Daily Gamecock, the USC student paper. Next year, don’t sleep on the College World Series. It’s money.
Two Cocky: Gamecocks Repeat As National Champions
As a side note: Gamecocks love baseball but in Columbia, SC, the city of dreams, football is king. Binstock was worried Stephen Garcia, embattled quarterback and key piece to this season's success, might get himself into more trouble in the post-game celebration. He sent out an all-points-bulletin to those in Cola to keep an eye out for him.
