The Blue Workhorse

Last night, the Fresno State Bulldogs completed an unprecedented run to a national championship, by defeating the Georgia Bulldogs 6-1 in the deciding Game 3 of the Championship Finals to win the College World Series.

Following the game, members of the media began comparing their title run to other great upsets in sports history, and saying it may top them all. While all the media attention is exciting, people that know baseball understand Fresno State had a damn good ball team.

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Leading the way for the walking wounded, better known as the Fresno State Bulldogs, has been third baseman Tommy Mendonca. Despite setting an NCAA record with 97 K and dislocating two fingers and severely bruising two others in regional play, Mendonca has dropped jaws in Omaha with his stellar defense and scorching hot bat.

He leads all College World Series participants in HR (a CWS record-tying 4), RBI (11), and Web Gems — seemingly making at least one highlight worthy defensive play per night. All of this even though after the game he has to awkwardly reach out his left hand in order to shake hands with fans and the media.

When Mendonca attempted to field an infield chopper in Fresno’s very first game of the NCAA tournament against Long Beach State, he came down awkwardly falling on his throwing hand when he tried to brace his fall. He had to leave the game and have x-rays taken. Doctors found no breaks, but he dislocated his middle and ring fingers and all of the sophomore’s fingers were severely bruised with their still being a good possibility there are sprained ligaments that could require offseason surgery.

Nonetheless, Mendonca came back to help lead the Bulldogs out of the Long Beach Regional, over Arizona State in the Tempe Super Regional, and through Bracket Two of the College World Series to face off with their Bulldog counterparts from across the country.

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Legendary Rice coach Wayne Graham was accustomed to facing Fresno State (Rice was in the Western Athletic Conference with FSU from 1996-2005), but he had never played the Bulldogs in such a big game.

While Graham’s Rice Owls are making their 14th consecutive appearance in the national tournament and their third straight trip to Omaha, Fresno State slipped into the national tournament by winning the WAC Tournament, and the Bulldogs are making their first trip to Rosenblatt Stadium since 1991.

Nonetheless, the Mike Batesole-led Bulldogs outplayed Rice pounding them 17-5 behind a 14 hit attack and solid pitching by lefty Justin Wilson (7 IP, 2 ER).

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We’ve previously previewed each of the NCAA college baseball Regionals and the Super Regionals, and with Bracket One of the College World Series set to begin Saturday, it’s time we preview the teams that will be playing at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha for the chance to be crowned national champions.

Today, we preview Bracket Two, which will begin Sunday, giving you each teams’ projected starting lineup and projected pitching rotation, “Road to Omaha,” and some keys to success:
North Carolina Tar Heels (51-12)

Projected Starting Lineup:
1. Dustin Ackley (1B)
2. Kyle Shelton (LF)
3. Tim Fedroff (RF)
4. Chad Flack (3B)
5. Kyle Seager (2B)
6. Tim Federowicz (C)
7. Garrett Gore (DH)
8. Seth Williams (CF)
9. Ryan Graepel (SS)

Projected Pitching Rotation:

We’ve previously previewed each of the NCAA college baseball Regionals and the Super Regionals, and with the College World Series set to begin Saturday, it’s time we preview the teams that will be playing at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha for the chance to be crowned national champions.

Today, we preview Bracket One giving you each teams’ projected starting lineup and projected pitching rotation, “Road to Omaha,” and some keys to success:
Miami Hurricanes (52-9)

Projected Starting Lineup:
1. Blake Tekotte (CF)
2. Jemile Weeks (2B)
3. Yonder Alonso (1B)
4. Mark Sobolewski (3B)
5. Ryan Jackson (SS)
6. Denis Raben (RF)
7. Dave DiNatale (DH)
8. Adan Severino (LF)
9. Yasmani Grandal (C)

Projected Pitching Rotation:

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College baseball’s super regionals start today at noon when North Carolina State takes on Georgia on ESPN. We give you the info you need to know, including how each team got to the super regionals, some keys to success, and our predictions, in our Super Regionals Preview (part 2 of 2: We’ve divided our preview into 2 parts with part 2 being the Saturday/Sunday/Monday series, which make up the right half of the official NCAA tournament bracket):
Baton Rouge Super Regional

UC Irvine (41-16) vs LSU (46-16)

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College baseball’s super regionals start today at noon when North Carolina State takes on Georgia on ESPN. We give you the info you need to know, including how each team got to the super regionals, some keys to success, and our predictions, in our Super Regionals Preview (part 2 of 2: We’ve divided our preview into 2 parts with part 1 being the Friday/Saturday/Sunday series, which make up the left half of the official NCAA tournament bracket):

Coral Gables Super Regional

Arizona (41-17) vs Miami (50-8)

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Starting at 4 o’clock today, 12 college baseball teams will attempt to stave off elimination and extend their seasons for at least one more week.

While Miami, Arizona, North Carolina State, Wichita State, North Carolina, Coastal Carolina, UC-Irvine, LSU, Rice, and Arizona State have already solidified their spot in next weekend’s Super Regionals, today there will be 12 other squads fighting to join them.

Coaches will have to make tough decisions as almost every team is running low of quality arms at this point in a regional tournament. One of the biggest decisions is whether or not to bring back the ace of the staff on only two days rest, especially if you are a team such as the San Diego Toreros or the Tulane Green Wave, who have two of the top starters in college baseball (and two first round draft picks) in Brian Matusz and Shooter Hunt.

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