freakingeek Posted June 20, 2014 Report Share Posted June 20, 2014 Today at 2:00 Nashville time, Vandy will play Texas in baseball. If Vandy wins, they secure a spot in the National Championship Game series which will be the best of three against the winner of the Virginia/Ole Miss game tonight. For you Vandy fans, no one has to tell you what a huge moment this is for the University and what a fantastic job Tim Corbin has done in his tenure as Vandy's head coach. Vandy has been to the college world series one other time and was eliminated. That team actually had more talent than this current team but this current team has mojo and that's what you need this time of year. I actually attended Vandy's first two games of the CWS this year in Omaha. I also saw Virginia/Ole Miss in the first matchup as well. Virginia who was ranked #1 in the country most of the season is really good. Several of their players were drafted in the MLB draft this year, as was Vandy and Ole Miss. These kids are uber-talented. Pitchers throwing 95-97 mph fastballs, I had never been to the CWS before but if you're a baseball fan, it's a great event. Omaha has a small town feel like Nashville and when the CWS is going on the whole town embraces it. I'd like to go back up for the National Championship if Vandy wins today. This is rare air for Vandy fans. Anchor down and go Dores! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opus74 Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Vandy 4 - 3 over Texas in 10 innings! We'll have a first time CWS champ this year. Neither team has ever been there before. Anchor Down! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkiller Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 It was a hell of a finish... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakingeek Posted June 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2014 Virginia is going to be tough. I saw them play Ole MIss in Omaha and they are deep and they are good. Good pitching, good fielding and good hitting. They have given up a total of 2 earned runs in the CWS in three games. Runs will be at a premium and both teams are known for their ability to play small ball. If you get an opportunity to score, better make it count. Mistakes will kill you. Good defense and good pitching should keep Vandy in the game. GO DORES! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkiller Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 1 down, 1 to go... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Virginia was by far the better team for all but one inning ... but oh what an inning. Reminded me of what had become a common theme for us: watching 1st round pitching talent self-destruct, led by Tyler "HBP" Beede. We had everything going against us to start this series - Turner suspended (still no word why from people I know who might know), our best starter and maybe best closer in Fulmer and Miller both not available vs them at full pitching strength, not to mention that UVA has simply been the best or just about the best team in the country all year with no real weakness, and throw in their lefty ace vs our mostly righties and our mostly power RHPs vs their mostly lefty batters. Just looked terrible on paper. And now, just 1 more. If we see Good Beede instead of Bad Beede we've got a decent chance, but they are such a better hitting team than we are they have a very legit shot to win the next 2 and spoil it for us. Still, had someone told me a couple months ago that Vandy would be playing in the championship series at the CWS I think I would have been happy had we ended up #2 (or 4, or 8). Anchor down! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OILERMAN Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Texas Tech got eliminated a few games back, their head coach got "coach of the year" and is my old neighbor, me and my wife are very good friends with them and it was pretty weird watching him on ESPN Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakingeek Posted June 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 You really have to hand it to Virginia for not wilting after the 9 run 3rd. They showed why they were the consensus #1 in the NCAA most of the season. THAT SAID, it was partly Vandy's approach to Kirby and their amazing patience at the plate to recognize the strike zone that was being called and laying off close pitches to get all those walks. Kirby was not nearly as bad as Beede was in his meltdown game. And how about Tyler Campbell's impact on the inning. It was his double off the left field fence that shook Kirby up enough to walk 5 men in a row. Then after the Dores batted around the order he hits a second double of the inning with the bases loaded and drives in three runs. Give a nod to Corbin's small ball mentality. Vandy is leading the CWS teams in runs scored per game because they manufacture runs. If you make a mistake, Vandy will make you pay a number of ways. I think it was Dansby Swanson who stole second and took away the opportunity for a double play that would have ended the inning. Credit Vandy's defense for making big plays at crucial times. Zander Weil made a few plays at first base that potentially saved the game. It was really a total team victory over an opponent who is the better team on paper. It's been a "dream season" run and it's not over yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef Posted June 24, 2014 Report Share Posted June 24, 2014 Beede's screwed the pooch on more than one occasion. Last year's SEC tournament comes to mind. Rather amazing that a guy who goes 8-7 with a 3.52 ERA and a ton of walks and HBPs goes 14th overall. Maybe SF just thinks he needs glasses. As for Campbell, got to hand it to him. Really, you're just hoping he doesn't bobble more than 1-2 at 3rd, and maybe you get a sac bunt out of him. He's been awesome. With regards to him vs Embry, I've always wondered what that does to a pitcher's mindset when you're having a rough time of it and just need to get that out vs a 9 hole hitter (and a newbie like Campbell at that), and he smacks one off the wall. Some might be able to move on, but it's got to be a huge confidence shaker for most. . Kirby was not nearly as bad as Beede was in his meltdown gameS. And how about Tyler Campbell's impact on the inning. It was his double off the left field fence that shook Kirby up enough to walk 5 men in a row. Then after the Dores batted around the order he hits a second double of the inning with the bases loaded and drives in three runs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakingeek Posted June 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2014 Beede looked good for 5 innings and that's where Corbin should have made the pitching change, but the lead they had would have been enough anyway. We blew the chances we had to score. Norwood should have had a triple instead of pulling up at 2nd base which would have probably eliminated the eventual pickoff. Bottom line is with the exception of the 9 run 3rd inning, Virginia's offense has been far superior. Our defense also faltered last night. Vandy will need to be able to get on base and score for any chance to win. It's a fine line between winning and losing when you play small ball. You have to execute it to perfection. I like Fulmer's chances of throwing a good game although he may try and throw a bean ball or two at Papi after last night. Vandy's had their back to the wall and responded all year so they have one more chance tonight. Go Dores. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperFreak90 Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Man this is tough, tied game bottom of the 7th. Who wants it more ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctm Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 National Champs! Congratulations to the team and their long suffering fans. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMax Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Anchor Down Baby! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkiller Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 National Champs! Who'da thunk it? Too bad the students are gone for the year, it could have been a hell of a party tomorrow (I imagine they'll still manage a good one) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pamo9 Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 Awesome. What a clutch HR! Great win for Corbs and the guys! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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