Wednesday, June 30, 2010

South Carolina: National Champions!

Finals Game 1 - South Carolina Flag-1604

Finals, Game 2: South Carolina Wins!

South Carolina's Whit Merrifield hits a one-out, champoinship-winning single in the bottom of the eleventh inning of the last game of the 2010 College World Series, scoring Scott Wingo from third.

CWS Finals - South Carolina Wins-2428
CWS Finals - South Carolina Wins-2432
CWS Finals - South Carolina Wins-2435

South Carolina celebrates its first national championship.

CWS Finals - South Carolina Wins-2443
CWS Finals - South Carolina Wins-2446

Monday, June 28, 2010

Favorite photos from the first ten games ...

(Click on the title to go see the entire series of related photos.)

With TCU down 7-5 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Matt Curry hits a two-out, full-count grand slam over the center field wall to give TCU the lead 9-7.
CWS Game 9 - Curry Grand Slam-9666

2. Game 2: The Catch
Florida's Matt den Dekker makes an amazing over-the-shoulder catch off a blast by UCLA's Brett Krill to deep centerfield.
Matt den Dekker Catch-5132

South Carolina's Brady Thomas knocks the first pitch he sees through the middle and into centerfield, scoring Jackie Bradley, Jr. to win the game in twelve innings.
CWS Game 10 - Thomas GWRBI-0665

Clemson's Wilson Boyd is thrown out at home while attempting to execute a two out double steal in the bottom of the fourth inning.
CWS Game 8 - Caught Stealing Home-8663

TCU's Jerome Pena tags UCLA's Beau Amaral out as he attempts to steal second for the final out of the final out of the bottom of the fourth inning.
CWS Game 6 - Amaral Caught Stealing-7419

Lightning near Rosenblatt Stadium causes play to be suspended suspended for the night. There was also lightning in the distance during game 2 and weather interrupted game 3 for nearly six hours.
CWS Game 8 - Lighning at Rosenblatt-9137

Game 12: Erin Andrews Fist Bump

South Carolina's Bobby Haney gives ESPN's Erin Andrews a fist bump following their 5-1 win over Clemson.

CWS Game 12 - Erin Andrews-1348
CWS Game 12 - Erin Andrews-1350

Game 12: Complete Game

Michael Roth on the mound during his complete game, three-hit win over Clemson.


CWS Game 12 - Roth on the Mound-1236
CWS Game 12 - Roth on the Mound-1304

Game 12: Double Play

Christian Walker grounds into a double play for the first two outs of the top of the eighth inning.

CWS Game 12 - Double Play-1209

Game 12: Rally Caps

Clemson tries to use a tower of rally caps to changes its luck during game 12.

CWS Game 12 - Clemson Rally Caps-1256


Game 11: Featherston Home Run

Taylor Featherston hits a two run home run to left in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring Matt Curry and giving TCU a 5-2 lead.


CWS Game 11 - Featherston HR-0966
CWS Game 11 - Featherston HR-0967
CWS Game 11 - Featherston HR-0968
CWS Game 11 - Featherston HR-0973

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Camera Issues: Redux

Re-posted from July 23, 2008 (for reasons that I will explain later).
An online op-ed in the New York Times sheds some light on how the N.C.A.A. treated some fans with cameras at this year's College World Series.

Takedown at the Ballgame
By BUZZ BISSINGER
Published: July 19, 2008
The search for the Pure Sports Experience is spoiled at the N.C.A.A. College World Series in Omaha ... all because of a dispute that started when the N.C.A.A. refused to permit the author to bring a camera into one of [the 2008] College World Series games. Here's an excerpt:

I asked why had I already been allowed to enter the stadium three previous
occasions with my camera. The answer back was that the enforcement of the
N.C.A.A. rule had been lax. What rule? I didn’t see it posted anywhere.

An argument ensued, and I openly admit it got heated. An N.C.A.A. official
in an orange shirt was called over. He had one of those little faces born in
contempt, and he wasn’t happy.
* * *
Back inside, I ran into a man with a lens on his camera as long as Pinocchio’s nose. I asked him if he had had any trouble getting inside. He had no idea what I was talking about. So much for fair and evenhanded enforcement.
* * *
No matter how ill-advised or expensive or illogical, don’t even think of messing with the N.C.A.A. Just put up. And shut up.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Game 10: South Carolina Wins in the 12th

South Carolina's Brady Thomas knocks the first pitch he sees through the middle and into centerfield, scoring Jackie Bradley, Jr. to win the game in twelve innings.

CWS Game 10 - Thomas GWRBI-0651
CWS Game 10 - Thomas GWRBI-0653
CWS Game 10 - Thomas GWRBI-0655
CWS Game 10 - Thomas GWRBI-0657
CWS Game 10 - Thomas GWRBI-0659
CWS Game 10 - Thomas GWRBI-0665
CWS Game 10 - Thomas GWRBI-0666
CWS Game 10 - Thomas GWRBI-0667
CWS Game 10 - Thomas GWRBI-0668

South Carolina celebrates after their extra-inning win.
CWS Game 10 - Thomas GWRBI-0676

ESPN's Erin Andrews interviews Brady Thomas and Jackie Bradley, Jr. after South Carolina's extra-inning win.
CWS Game 10 - Post Game-0710
CWS Game 10 - Post Game-0714
CWS Game 10 - Post Game-0719

Final: South Carolina 3, Oklahoma 2 (12 innings)

Game 10: Walker Evens the Game in the 8th Inning

Christian Walker hits a grounder through the left side of the infield, scoring Evan Marzilli and evening the game up 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning.


CWS Game 10 -Walker RBI-0136
CWS Game 10 -Walker RBI-0138
CWS Game 10 -Walker RBI-0139
CWS Game 10 -Walker RBI-0142
CWS Game 10 -Walker RBI-0150
CWS Game 10 -Walker RBI-0158
CWS Game 10 -Walker RBI-0165

Final: South Carolina 3, Oklahoma 2 (12 innings)

Game 10: Ogle Homers, Oklahoma Takes the Lead

Oklahoma's Tyler Ogle hits a solo shot to right-center field -- just out of the reach of right fielder Robert Beary -- to lead off the 12th inning and give Oklahoma a 2-1 lead.

CWS Game 10 - Ogle Home Run-0455
CWS Game 10 - Ogle Home Run-0458
CWS Game 10 - Ogle Home Run-0463
CWS Game 10 - Ogle Home Run-0464
CWS Game 10 - Ogle Home Run-0478
CWS Game 10 - Ogle Home Run-0484

Final: South Carolina 3, Oklahoma 2 (12 innings)

Game 10: Someone Call It!

First baseman Christian Walker and third baseman Whit Merrifield collide in the middle of the infield, allowing Tyler Ogle to reach first on an error.

CWS Game 10 - I Got It-0201
CWS Game 10 - I Got It-0202
CWS Game 10 - I Got It-0203
CWS Game 10 - I Got It-0204
CWS Game 10 - I Got It-0209
CWS Game 10 - I Got It-0217

Final: South Carolina 3, Oklahoma 2 (12 innings)