Hold off on packing those bags and loading the baseball equipment truck for Omaha.
Tell the painter to wait for a call on changing the center field sign numbers for College World Series appearances.
Tell the Observer not to make jinx-prone predictions, should know better after a half century of watching baseball. Conjecturing in the most recent post about a trip to Omaha seemingly inevitable for the Cardinals.
Miami baseball still stands in the way after two games in the Super Regional. The Hurricanes overcoming an early three-run deficit for a come-from-behind 9-6 victory over Louisville Saturday in front of 6,066 fans at Jim Patterson Stadium. The Miami program is no stranger to the CWS, having made 22 appearances over several decades. UM has actually won the national championship four times, in 1982, 1985, 1999 and 2001.
Unfortunately, UofL still seems to be one starter short in the pitching rotation. Righthander Tucker Biven struggling for control early on, coughing up 4-1 lead in the fourth inning. Giving up four hits, including a three-run home run, and a walk. Nothing good happens when a starter leaves the game that early. Forcing Coach Dan McDonnell to lean on the bullpen, resorting to makeshift rotations.
McDonnell knows the ups and downs of baseball during his Louisville tenure. The coach elated about his team making its nine Super Regional appearance, giving credit to Miami for a competitive performance. Also expressing his appreciation to the Louisville community for its impressive show of support. “We are thrilled to be able to play one more game this season at Jim Patterson Stadium,” he said. “It has been a great season this year and we hope it continues into next week.”
Another individual not ready for the season to be over is Eddie King, Jr. Coming through with two home runs and a double, batting in three runs on the day. “I just try to help my team,” he said. “We still have one more game in this beautiful stadium with these beautiful fans in a packed out stadium. I have confidence we will bounce back. As coach says, we get knocked down but we get back up. I have 100% confidence we will win tomorrow.”
It is something seeing Jim Patterson Stadium so full after the frigid months of February and March, the rainy and sometimes miserable months of April and May. No one said it was going to be easy, no one promised anyone anything. This team has had more than its share of obstacles to overcome, learning from the bad times and good, to make it this far.
Their collective sight is still very much set on making it to Omaha. A fun team that has already made it mark on Louisville baseball.
