Getting excited for Omaha, and reliving this past weekend's games
Seeing as how I have been working and drinking a lot this weekend and the beginning of this week, I have been unable to give you the details I promised about the Super Regional tournament. So today I'm going to abuse the fact that the Alligator got to write stories on the games before I did and I'm going to use some of my favorite quotes from their articles.
For starters, a quote from Matt LaPorta: "We've proven a point: don't ever underrate us."
I'd like to say for the record, LaPorta I apologize for underrating the Baseball team. I have grown accustomed to attempting to not get too excited about our Gators teams. I have failed at this attempt many times throughout the last four years, and gotten excited and full of hope and dreams for my Gators, only to have my little orange and blue heart be crushed by the weight of disappointment. So, it is clear to see why I try to remain bitter and doubtful going into the post-season of any Gators sport. You'd think after being a Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates fan for so long, that I would learn to get over this pain, but alas, it haunts me in my sleep (or lack thereof as the case may be). Sorry for the tangent, now back to reality. I will now believe in you Matt LaPorta and the other amazing Gators Baseball players, but I will continue to refrain from putting too high expectations on this All-star, but still very young team.
Next up, Coach Pat McMahon: "I'm firmly convinced that every one of those guys on the field wanted that ball hit to them. When you can say that when the tying run is at the plate, the largest crowd ever in stadium history is cheering you on, that comes from practice and all the things you do to be successful. You see yourself in that position, so when it happens, you can do it."
Damn, I love baseball so much that it hurts. That quote sums up why McMahon is teaching these kids some amazing baseball. From watching this team with an infield of mostly sophomores, I get the feeling turning double plays is what these guys thrive on. They play with such vigor and strength and love for the game. It reminds me of my brother's little league all-star team the way the Gators love playing the game. And they play with such incredible accuracy that it borders on perfection. Which brings me to my next quote.
In the article, Gators get CWS berth, Tim Casey writes, "The Seminoles committed four errors in Saturday's game [In the Super Regional] and one on Friday while the Gators played error-free baseball all weekend."
Without a doubt Coach Pat McMahon is coaching the players to a path of baseball glory. Watching them play Notre Dame in a game that can only be described as batting practice for the Gators, woop FSU on Friday night and hold them down Saturday night, you can tell this team is in it for the love of the game and the desire to win.
What Coach McMahon is talking about when he said every player wanted the ball hit to them, is the bottom of the 9th inning of Saturday's game against FSU.
The Gators had held the Seminoles to only 3 runs off of 7 hits after the 4th inning. So the Gators entered the bottom of the 9th with the Seminoles up to bat and Alan Horne going into his 9th straight inning and with what could have only been a really tired arm.
Despite the cheers from the Seminoles who were 5 runs down and dying to come back in the bottom of the ninth, and a tired Horne, the stadium and I at work standing at the bar watching the TV diligently, thought we had the game in the bag and expected a couple ground balls or pop-ups to be caught and a strike out or so to end the game.
The Seminole player, Jernigan was first up and grounded out for the first out of the inning. At this point I really thought the game was over, I was just waiting for that fly ball to be caught or that third strike to be thrown. But Horne was tired and Seminole, Thomas hit a homerun on two strikes. So the score was now 8-4 and I was losing my patience while I at work.
Just to let you know: I had to cover for someone at work Saturday night at 9pm and while I tried to go to the game at 7 to watch the first hour or so, I was late and the student section was full. So I was at work during the end of the game and it was Karoake night so the only TV playing the game was at the bar and I couldn't really sit there the whole time, so I stood in a corner watching the game as much as possible.
But when the first batter grounded out and we only had TWO outs left until we could cheer our way to Omaha, I took a cigarette break and went out back and called my dad for a play-by-play of the last two outs. It was then that I heard my dad say, "they hit a homerun, they need to take out Horne." Stupid Seminoles.
So I sat in the back alley of the Pub chain smoking and listening to my dad tell me Alan walked the next batter. Now it was 8-5 and the next batter was a lefty so off the mound came Horne with what I hear was a standing ovation and his hands held high pumping his index finger in the air. Man, I love that guy. He pitched 148 pitches in 8 and 1/3 innings against the loathsome Seminoles.
Back to the game: So Mike Pete, a lefty pitcher, was now on the mound and to face the lefty batter. The lefty Seminole popped out to Corsaletti in center field, and we only had one out left until Omaha. But then the next lefty got a a single and there were two runners on base, and the batter on deck was the tying run, things were suddenly getting intense. With the next batter not being a lefty, the lefty pitcher Pete was replaced by Falkenbach, a very good closing pitcher in my opinion.
The first batter Falkenbach faced hit a single to left field and brought Robinson into score for the ugly Noles. 8-5, two men on base, tying run up to bat.
And now we are where the Coach's quote comes from:
"I'm firmly convinced that every one of those guys on the field wanted that ball hit to them. When you can say that when the tying run is at the plate, the largest crowd ever in stadium history is cheering you on, that comes from practice and all the things you do to be successful."
I was sucking the nicotine out of my cigarette like it was oxygen, my adrenaline was going crazy and I could just imagine my Gators team breaking my heart yet again. My dad reminded me that if we lose, I could actually get to see the game the next day and that it wasn't over for us yet. He also told me that the Seminoles players were now all wearing their stupid baseball hats backwards and inside out and cheering for a rally. I hate those damn Seminoles.
But, thanks to the awesome coaching from McMahon and the amazing talent and drive of the Gators, they were all thinking, I want this one hit to me. They were all dying to get that ball and make that last and final Seminole out that would take them to Omaha. As fate would have it, Matt LaPorta got that ball and made the out at first to end the game and to send the whole Gators team to the mound in a pile up of what could have only been a moment of glorious jubilation and overwhelming confidence in this baseball-loving Gators team.
I would also like to give a shout out to the other bloggers in Gainesville and afar who have "linked me" to their blogs. Be sure to check out the blogs I have linked on my page as well. 2nd floor has some awesome posts about the Gators baseball team that you all should read about it as the Gators prepare for the College World Series in Omaha!
peace and love and go gators!
For starters, a quote from Matt LaPorta: "We've proven a point: don't ever underrate us."
I'd like to say for the record, LaPorta I apologize for underrating the Baseball team. I have grown accustomed to attempting to not get too excited about our Gators teams. I have failed at this attempt many times throughout the last four years, and gotten excited and full of hope and dreams for my Gators, only to have my little orange and blue heart be crushed by the weight of disappointment. So, it is clear to see why I try to remain bitter and doubtful going into the post-season of any Gators sport. You'd think after being a Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates fan for so long, that I would learn to get over this pain, but alas, it haunts me in my sleep (or lack thereof as the case may be). Sorry for the tangent, now back to reality. I will now believe in you Matt LaPorta and the other amazing Gators Baseball players, but I will continue to refrain from putting too high expectations on this All-star, but still very young team.
Next up, Coach Pat McMahon: "I'm firmly convinced that every one of those guys on the field wanted that ball hit to them. When you can say that when the tying run is at the plate, the largest crowd ever in stadium history is cheering you on, that comes from practice and all the things you do to be successful. You see yourself in that position, so when it happens, you can do it."
Damn, I love baseball so much that it hurts. That quote sums up why McMahon is teaching these kids some amazing baseball. From watching this team with an infield of mostly sophomores, I get the feeling turning double plays is what these guys thrive on. They play with such vigor and strength and love for the game. It reminds me of my brother's little league all-star team the way the Gators love playing the game. And they play with such incredible accuracy that it borders on perfection. Which brings me to my next quote.
In the article, Gators get CWS berth, Tim Casey writes, "The Seminoles committed four errors in Saturday's game [In the Super Regional] and one on Friday while the Gators played error-free baseball all weekend."
Without a doubt Coach Pat McMahon is coaching the players to a path of baseball glory. Watching them play Notre Dame in a game that can only be described as batting practice for the Gators, woop FSU on Friday night and hold them down Saturday night, you can tell this team is in it for the love of the game and the desire to win.
What Coach McMahon is talking about when he said every player wanted the ball hit to them, is the bottom of the 9th inning of Saturday's game against FSU.
The Gators had held the Seminoles to only 3 runs off of 7 hits after the 4th inning. So the Gators entered the bottom of the 9th with the Seminoles up to bat and Alan Horne going into his 9th straight inning and with what could have only been a really tired arm.
Despite the cheers from the Seminoles who were 5 runs down and dying to come back in the bottom of the ninth, and a tired Horne, the stadium and I at work standing at the bar watching the TV diligently, thought we had the game in the bag and expected a couple ground balls or pop-ups to be caught and a strike out or so to end the game.
The Seminole player, Jernigan was first up and grounded out for the first out of the inning. At this point I really thought the game was over, I was just waiting for that fly ball to be caught or that third strike to be thrown. But Horne was tired and Seminole, Thomas hit a homerun on two strikes. So the score was now 8-4 and I was losing my patience while I at work.
Just to let you know: I had to cover for someone at work Saturday night at 9pm and while I tried to go to the game at 7 to watch the first hour or so, I was late and the student section was full. So I was at work during the end of the game and it was Karoake night so the only TV playing the game was at the bar and I couldn't really sit there the whole time, so I stood in a corner watching the game as much as possible.
But when the first batter grounded out and we only had TWO outs left until we could cheer our way to Omaha, I took a cigarette break and went out back and called my dad for a play-by-play of the last two outs. It was then that I heard my dad say, "they hit a homerun, they need to take out Horne." Stupid Seminoles.
So I sat in the back alley of the Pub chain smoking and listening to my dad tell me Alan walked the next batter. Now it was 8-5 and the next batter was a lefty so off the mound came Horne with what I hear was a standing ovation and his hands held high pumping his index finger in the air. Man, I love that guy. He pitched 148 pitches in 8 and 1/3 innings against the loathsome Seminoles.
Back to the game: So Mike Pete, a lefty pitcher, was now on the mound and to face the lefty batter. The lefty Seminole popped out to Corsaletti in center field, and we only had one out left until Omaha. But then the next lefty got a a single and there were two runners on base, and the batter on deck was the tying run, things were suddenly getting intense. With the next batter not being a lefty, the lefty pitcher Pete was replaced by Falkenbach, a very good closing pitcher in my opinion.
The first batter Falkenbach faced hit a single to left field and brought Robinson into score for the ugly Noles. 8-5, two men on base, tying run up to bat.
And now we are where the Coach's quote comes from:
"I'm firmly convinced that every one of those guys on the field wanted that ball hit to them. When you can say that when the tying run is at the plate, the largest crowd ever in stadium history is cheering you on, that comes from practice and all the things you do to be successful."
I was sucking the nicotine out of my cigarette like it was oxygen, my adrenaline was going crazy and I could just imagine my Gators team breaking my heart yet again. My dad reminded me that if we lose, I could actually get to see the game the next day and that it wasn't over for us yet. He also told me that the Seminoles players were now all wearing their stupid baseball hats backwards and inside out and cheering for a rally. I hate those damn Seminoles.
But, thanks to the awesome coaching from McMahon and the amazing talent and drive of the Gators, they were all thinking, I want this one hit to me. They were all dying to get that ball and make that last and final Seminole out that would take them to Omaha. As fate would have it, Matt LaPorta got that ball and made the out at first to end the game and to send the whole Gators team to the mound in a pile up of what could have only been a moment of glorious jubilation and overwhelming confidence in this baseball-loving Gators team.
I would also like to give a shout out to the other bloggers in Gainesville and afar who have "linked me" to their blogs. Be sure to check out the blogs I have linked on my page as well. 2nd floor has some awesome posts about the Gators baseball team that you all should read about it as the Gators prepare for the College World Series in Omaha!
peace and love and go gators!
posted by Violet #1 at 6/14/2005 03:16:00 PM
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