June 17, 2006

College World Series -- After Game One

OMAHA, Neb.--I told the guy sitting next to me that when the Georgia Tech head coach took out his starter, and then his reliever, the idea was to give the next pitcher the loss for the game.

It was a rather cocky thing to say when Clemson was still trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning not having led, let alone scored, the entire game. The 43-minute half inning finally ended after Clemson scored eight runs, pushing the kitty cats over the top and demoralizing the Jackets enough that they were up and out 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth inning.

Clemson won 8-4.

Game one of the College World Series in Omaha wasn't much of a stunner. The only excitement was during the top of the first inning and the bottom of the eighth when 11 of the 12 runs in the game scored. The rest of it pretty much sucked.

But it was typical of the Tigers' post-season. It was their fifth come-from-behind win since their regional games back in Clemson three weeks ago. In this case, back a cat up against a wall and it'll fight its way out. In the two games they beat Oral Roberts at the super regional, the first was a walk-off grand slam and the second a ninth inning rally edging out the Golden Eagles by a run.

Overall, things have gone rather swimmingly in the midwest so far. Knocking on wood that it remains that way.

- Rich