College World Series 2011: Cardiac 'Cocks Miraculously Take Game One from Gators; One Win Away from Repeat National Title
by Gamecock Man on Jun 28, 2011 1:25 AM EDT
in South Carolina Gamecocks Baseball
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PrintTell me you haven't been one step away from a catatonic state while watching the last two baseball games our Gamecocks have played. I'll tell you you're lying. I, and I'm guessing I speak for many of us here, have never felt more keyed up and exhausted after watching a Carolina sporting event than I have these past two games.
Carolina has played Virginia and now Florida into extra innings in both games, and in both our backs have been against the wall numerous times, yet we've always managed to prevail. The latest profile in what has been literally unbelievable clutch play? In the ninth, Carolina managed to get out of a no-outs, bases-loaded situation, when giving up a single run would have cost it the game. Then in the tenth, Jake Williams threw out a Florida baserunner at home, when, again, the run would have cost Carolina the game. To top it all off, Christian Walker scored the winning run from first base after Florida committed two errors on Walker's attempt to steal second.
Some of the things that Carolina has done in these past two games have to stand as records of some sort. Has any team ever gotten out of two no-outs, bases-loaded situations in consecutive CWS matches? I'm guessing not. The odds certainly seem against it. Has any team ever won two such games on errors? Again, hard to believe it's happened before.
A lot of people, both Carolina fans and not, will call what we're doing crazy. They'll say it's miraculous. And they're right to a certain degree; there's undoubtedly been more than a little luck in our success. However, it's not all craziness and miracles. What makes this Carolina team what it is is that it's so cool and collected in the most trying of moments. That quality has been on display more than ever these past two games. Surely, the pundits are right to say that Virginia and Florida have more raw talent than Carolina. Although we certainly have quite a bit of talent ourselves, it's the Cavaliers and Gators who are loaded to the brim with players the pro scouts are drooling over. Yet in both games Carolina has found ways to win by gutting out key plays, while the opponent has wilted under pressure. The contrast couldn't be more striking. Carolina, simply put, is a team that been there before and is not fazed when the other team gives us it its best shot.
And make no mistake, we took Florida's best shot tonight. Hudson Randall dominated this game early on, and my guess is that Florida wins with this performance against any other team in the country. It wasn't enough tonight, though, and tomorrow is our turn. Florida pitched its ace tonight; we pitch ours tomorrow. I expect to see Carolina come out and play at its very best in Game Two.
Indeed, I expect us to win. This team seems destined for a national title. We win that title tomorrow night.
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Lest I forget to mention...
Koumas won’t be one of the remembered names from this victory, but he deserves serious props for his pitching today. He really killed it.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
There was another pitcher out there?
I just saw Hudson Randall. In my book, Randall’s right up there with Danny Hultzen and Gerrit Cole among the best pitchers in recent CWS history. /ESPN’ed
"Lattimore, as the kids can say, can ball, and sometimes does it to the extent one might say [he] is out of control in his balling." - Spencer Hall
by GwinnettGamecock on Jun 28, 2011 2:17 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think he is beyond them
he did what he did to us without the help of shade/sun spots infront of pitchers mound.
by Gamecockrock on Jun 28, 2011 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Hey now,
Y’all don’t forget Trevor Bauer. Have you seen his pre-game warm up routine, by the way?
Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
State motto of South Carolina
by The Feathered Warrior on Jun 28, 2011 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yea no doubt
Koumas showed what we will have for the next 2 years… he could challenge Roth for Friday night Ace next year.
by Gamecockrock on Jun 28, 2011 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions
congrats on the win y'all
I loathe UF more and more every year (but not with the disdain I have for UT or AU….yet).
Sick defense. One of the best baseball games I can recall in a while in any league.
Hope y’all pull off the repeat.
searchin' the scrapyard for my dirty crown...
by JunctionCrimson on Jun 28, 2011 6:51 AM EDT reply actions
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the game.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jun 28, 2011 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Like GM said, let's give Koumas (and our whole staff) props
No extra-base hits. Only run for Florida resulted from a WP and a sac fly. Of course, there were only two 1-2-3 innings…that’s where all our stress comes from. But only one inning did UF manage more than one hit—that would be the 10th, when Jake’s arm came through in left field.
Hopefully tonight we’ll get a lower stress game. As great as the walk-off win was last year, I’d be fine with a six run win or something a little more traditional!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Jun 28, 2011 7:44 AM EDT reply actions
It was a passed ball
Though if you missed last night’s open thread, I guess the joke is lost.
"Lattimore, as the kids can say, can ball, and sometimes does it to the extent one might say [he] is out of control in his balling." - Spencer Hall
by GwinnettGamecock on Jun 28, 2011 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Now
I’m blaming any gray hairs I have on gamecocks baseball. Still, its super exciting to see it happen like that. Like GM said, we’ve take the best shots from two top teams in a row. It seems we’re destined for this one.
Not to be 'that guy'...
…but you should go read the game thread on the UF blog. It’s highly entertaining, now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Jun 28, 2011 8:25 AM EDT reply actions
oh man.
The comments are up there. “Ask UVA”. haha.
- FOW
by skandrewj62j on Jun 28, 2011 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions
I also like:
…the deviation into football recruiting, and the “if you haven’t read Great Gatsby I’d recommend it” comment.
Never change, Florida!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Jun 28, 2011 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions
One of the better comments was something like "so this is what it feels like to lose to a team of destiny."
I read this comment as, “so this is how Carolina felt when Jarvis Moss blocked that kick.”
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jun 28, 2011 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
UF showed how terrible of a team they are in terms of attitude
Hudson Randall said in the post gamer that “we beat ourselves”…. what a loser, I hope he knows that comment will light a huge fire under USC if they hear about it.
They can try to say they are a team that is out there to have fun and stay loose like we are… but there is NO comparions between their players and ours… our guys are top tier class acts.
To be fair, I think I know what he means.
It’s just an expression in this case…UF blew two or three walk-off opportunities, and they gave up the go-ahead run on a play with 2 throwing errors, so I don’t read it as a shot at us so much as a reaction to their own inability to capitalize. If he said “we beat ourselves” in a 12-1 lambasting, I’d call BS with a quickness. But he pitched a gem, gave up one run. I actually really liked Hudson Randall, seemed like a competitor, wasn’t showy.
That said, they never seemed particularly poised or comfortable. This is the benefit of most of our guys having been there before: they just went about their business. Even Koumas, the freshman, fed off Wingo and Morales and the other hardened vets. It seemed like the UF players wore their nerves/concern on their faces all night. Of course I’m biased, but it seemed palpable.
As I said earlier, what’s being overlooked is how well we managed situations, and didn’t allow anything big. You wonder how much of that came down the whole attitude/comfort thing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Jun 28, 2011 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I thought it was BS when the UVa blog said UVa beat themselves after we won 7-1.
But in this case, I know how Randall feels. It’s a bit classless to actually say it, but there’s some truth to it. And as I tried to say in my post, I think there’s something to be said for winning like we did. When you play a game deep into extra innings, sometimes the best team is the one that manages to step up to the pressure instead of wilting. That’s been us in the last two games.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jun 28, 2011 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
doesnt matter
you dont say that BS… errors are part of the game, great teams take advantage of them, and great teams are suppose to be able to overcome errors (or not even commit them). You would never see our players saying that.
by Gamecockrock on Jun 28, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Hence why I said it's still a bit classless to say it, regardless of whether it's true or not.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jun 28, 2011 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
It was also a college SO speaking right after the game
In the case of both Florida and UVa, their coaches were quick to give credit. I was more put out by the UVa blog. That guy had time to reflect before writing, and is several years out of college. And also, it was 7 to 1.
"Lattimore, as the kids can say, can ball, and sometimes does it to the extent one might say [he] is out of control in his balling." - Spencer Hall
by GwinnettGamecock on Jun 28, 2011 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
The Florida players had a fine attitude
Or as fine a one as you can have after not putting the game away with that many chances and allowing the winning run off a comedy of errors. Technically, they ‘did’ beat themselves, as that’s what the Error stat is for.
To echo an above comment: Wow, what a freaking incredible game. Hats off to the Gamecocks for ….. that …… just absolutely incredible game.
______________________________________________
That's (333333jorkland)^2 and $$$$$$$$immons to you, chump.
By the way, HUGE props to Robert Beary.
I’m not seeing his name anywhere, but the dude was the quiet hero of the night. Florida wins it if Big Bear (can I call him Big Bear?) doesn’t make a tremendous backhanded stab on a ball in the dirt, after Wingo’s throw that followed the diving 9th inning stop was a bit sloppy in his haste. Turning that 4-2-3 double play is no simple feat either. Finally, his positioning and tag on the Jake Williams throw was instrumental in keeping that run from scoring. He also made a fine block on a Matt Price breaking ball in the dirt.
The catcher’s job is to protect the plate. Beary did that in a big way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Jun 28, 2011 10:06 AM EDT reply actions
Yes, Beary was another unsung hero in this game. Great game.
And yes, you can say “Big Bear.” A new nickname is born!
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jun 28, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions
"Big Bear...he loves the honey!"
Any Arrested Development fans here?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Jun 28, 2011 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Was it "Big Bear" or "Old Bear"?
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jun 28, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Was Big Bear...
Because then Buster says “I didn’t even know we were calling him Big Bear!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Jun 28, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, you're right. Anyways, I like the show. Apparently not very good at remembering the references exactly right, though.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jun 28, 2011 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
No problem.
My girlfriend and I converse almost exclusively in AD quotes, so I get a lot of reps in…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Jun 28, 2011 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
That's what happens when you
blue yourself.
by Charlestowne on Jun 28, 2011 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Allow me to take off my acting skirt and pull my analrapist stocking down over my head...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Jun 28, 2011 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Let's Not Forget
that beautiful throw in the 1st inning. Of course Smith should have been out on the dropped foul ball anyways.
But what a throw.
- FOW
by skandrewj62j on Jun 28, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh yeah! Good call. Just proves the point.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Jun 28, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Great win last night.
Hopefully tonight’s game is a little less nail-biting, perhaps a 7-1 victory so I don’t have another heart-attack or wake up my kids three or four times from screaming WINGO!!!
Side note: If we were to win tonight’s game 7-1, this series would be the direct opposite of last year’s series, which we won Game 1 7-1 as the visiting team and Game 2 2-1 (in 11 innings) as the home team. That would be cool, in a weird sorta way.
By the way, love what you guys do with the blog here. I’m an occasional lurker who found you guys due to my association with Cat Scratch Reader (Carolina Panthers SBN Blog), and this is my first comment. I’ll try not to make it my last.
Go Gamecocks!
One cries because one is sad. For example: I cry because others are stupid, and it makes me sad.
Welcome. We're glad you made it.
I’m with you on the easy win tonight. I don’t know if I can take another extra-innings nailbiter.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jun 28, 2011 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks.
I’ve been meaning to comment here for quite some time, but have just never done it until now.
I’ll take the nail-biter as long as it means we win, but I’d much rather be starting my celebration by the bottom of the 8th inning because we’re up by 8 runs.
One cries because one is sad. For example: I cry because others are stupid, and it makes me sad.
Good to have you, BW.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Jun 28, 2011 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks. I appreciate the welcome.
One cries because one is sad. For example: I cry because others are stupid, and it makes me sad.
Ill take another extra-innings nailbiter
over a decisive game 3 any day haha
by Gamecockrock on Jun 28, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Given that choice...I'll take Option A as well, lol.
One cries because one is sad. For example: I cry because others are stupid, and it makes me sad.
Now that--a game three--would really give me a heart attack.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jun 28, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Go Eric Norwood!
"Lattimore, as the kids can say, can ball, and sometimes does it to the extent one might say [he] is out of control in his balling." - Spencer Hall
by GwinnettGamecock on Jun 28, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Heck yeah!
I was so stoked when we drafted him.
One cries because one is sad. For example: I cry because others are stupid, and it makes me sad.
By the way, now it's time for...
Great Moments In Mike Patrick:
“He makes a beautiful play!” — reacting to error by Florida’s 3B
“Did they just call that a balk?” — reacting to Koumas’ wild pitch
“And here’s Christian Walker.” — as JBJ is at the plate (in his defense, they look so similar…)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Jun 28, 2011 11:26 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
The accouncing really has been pretty incredible. With all the coverage the CWS gets these days, you'd think ESPN could find some guys who know what they're talking about.
Of course, Mike Patrick has made his presence felt in other college sports, as well, so perhaps I’m asking too much of ESPN.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jun 28, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
The only thing worse than the announcing has been the strike zones.
Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
State motto of South Carolina
by The Feathered Warrior on Jun 28, 2011 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Is it just me, or did it seem like the announcers only point out the strike zone inconsistencies when they benefitted us?
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jun 28, 2011 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
It did seem like that to me,
but it is probably just attribution bias on our part. One thing is for sure, the strike zone equally horrific for both teams.
Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
State motto of South Carolina
by The Feathered Warrior on Jun 28, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
My biggest problem is with Robin Ventura.
When will ESPN realize that pertinence to a sport/event does not equal quality announcing? “Hey, Robin Ventura is known as a college baseball legend. Let’s show how impressive we are by sticking him in the announcing booth so we can constantly ask him how he reacted in this situation.”
/cut to Ventura
“Uh….I, ah…was never just…ah…playing for….(10 second pause)…ah…”
/falls over, revealed to be cardboard cutout
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends." - Tom Waits
by Gamecock'n'Balls on Jun 28, 2011 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
ESPN would do well to remember that great sports analysis is not always done best by the athletes themselves.
This isn’t to say that they don’t have a very valuable perspective, but it’s oftentimes the case that the players can’t articulate what they do in a way that we find compelling.
Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.
by Gamecock Man on Jun 28, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I keep praying that Orel will look at him between pitches and go “Hey Robin, would you like to tell us about that time Nolan Ryan kicked your ass because you charged the mound back in the early 90’s?”
I will donate my life savings to have a statue built in Orel’s honor if he did it.
One cries because one is sad. For example: I cry because others are stupid, and it makes me sad.
by BW Smith on Jun 28, 2011 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'd like to see him work it in more indirectly
Tell some made up story about a crusty old guy, then end it with something about how you have to watch old guys due to their old man strength, then ask Robin if he knows anything about that.
"Lattimore, as the kids can say, can ball, and sometimes does it to the extent one might say [he] is out of control in his balling." - Spencer Hall
by GwinnettGamecock on Jun 28, 2011 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions
It's all about composure and continuing to do little things.
That’s really what sums up this South Carolina team. It isn’t a team of destiny. It isn’t voodoo or any kind of Black Magic. It’s just playing good baseball. While I feel for UVA fans and UF fans for last night. I really do. That sucks, and our football history is littered with those kind of mistakes and blemishes.
USC just continues to do the little things. The epitome was when Koumas field a grounder slowly rolling in the infield grass, looks to 2nd with intent to throw off-balance, pulls the ball back and then throws to 1st for the sure out.
It’s not to say that USC is the only team that does little things right, look back at the UF game and the UVA game and you see solid defense. with clean fielding of the ball and basically double play porn for baseball fanatics.
Like some of the guys have said here, UVA and UF have better talent, at least as the MLB scouts are concerned. What we have is a team with a winning attitude and the desire to do the little things right.
(edit: at least in the end of the game that is. Look out for sloppy fielding again in the first inning tonight. Especially with Roth pitching. I wouldn’t mind if we played error free tonight…. )
- FOW
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