1. Arizona State Sun Devils (52-8) - The Sun Devils arrive in Omaha as the tournament's #1 overall seed, and as the only returning team from last year's field. ASU started the season off with a bang by winning their first 25 games before finally dropping one. ASU has yet to lose to a non-conference opponent all season, and look to continue that trend in Omaha.
- Key Players - 1B Riccio Torrez (.399, 10 HRs, 53 RBI, 20SBs, 25 game hitting streak), RF Kole Calhoun (.327, 17 HRs, 59 RBI), 2B Zack MacPhee (.394, 9 HRs, 64 RBI, 19 SBs, Pac-10 Player of the Year), SP Seth Blair (3.35 ERA, 12-0, 104 Ks), SP Merrill Kelly (3.57 10-2)
- Path to Omaha - def. Milwaukee 6-2, def. Hawaii 12-1, def. Hawaii 8-4 to win Regional, def. Arkansas 7-6 12 inn., def Arkansas 7-5 12 inn. to win Super Regional
2. TCU Horned Frogs (51-12) - TCU finally got over the hump and beat Texas in the Super Regionals. Oh yeah, and made it to Omaha for the first time. Some might think the Horned Frogs are playing with house money after knocking the nation's #2 overall seed, but they disagree. The Horny Toads are looking to make their first trip to the CWS a memorable one.
- Key Players - LF Jason Coats (.373, 13 HRs, 66 RBI), 1B Matt Curry (.346, 17 HRs, 60 RBI), SP Matt Purke (3.23, 14-0, 133 Ks), SP Kyle Winkler (2.84, 12-1), SP Steven Maxwell (2.41, 11-2)
- Road to Omaha - def. Lamar 16-3, def. Arizona 11-5, def. Baylor 9-0 to win Regional, def. Texas 3-1, lost Texas 1-14, def. Texas 4-1 to win Super Regional
3. Florida Gators (47-15) - For the 3rd straight year, the SEC regular season champ is in Omaha. The question is, will the Gators have the same success as '08 runner up Georgia and '09 National Champion LSU? Well Florida has yet to lose in the '10 NCAA Tournament and don't plan on losing in Omaha.
- Key Players - CF Matt den Dekker (.358, 13 HRs, 49 RBI, 23 SBs), 1B Preston Tucker (.339, 11 HRs, 46 RBI), Austin Maddox (.333, 17 HRs, 71 RBI), SP Alex Panteliodis (3.26, 11-2), SP Hudson Randall (2.95 8-3)
- Road to Omaha - def. Bethune-Cookman 7-3, def. Oregon St. 10-2, def. Florida Atlantic 15-0 to win Regional, def. Miami (FLA) 7-2, def. Miami (FLA) 4-3 in 10 inn. to win Super Regional
4. South Carolina Gamecocks (48-15) - After a promising regular season in Columbia, the Gamecocks began postseason play with high expectations in Hoover, AL at the SEC Tournament. Unfortunately for USC East fans, those high expectations translated to bowing out unceremoniously after not winning a game. After coasting through the Regionals and Super Regionals without a loss, will the CWS provide the same fate for the 'Cocks?
- Key Players - CF Jackie Bradley Jr. (.371, 11 HRs, 51 RBI), RF Whit Merrifeild (.327, 12 HRs, 38 RBI), SP Blake Cooper (2.81, 12-1, 105 Ks), CL Matt Price (2.54, 3-1, 10 SVs, 68 Ks)
- Road to Omaha - def. Bucknell 9-5, def. The Citadel 9-4, def. Virginia Tech 10-2 to win Regional, def. Coastal Carolina 4-3, def. Coastal Carolina 10-9 to win Super Regional
5. Oklahoma Sooners (48-16) - It's safe to say that the past week has been absolutely hectic week for the University of Oklahoma athletic department. First they were in the Big 12. Then they were joining the Pac-10. Then they were offered to join the SEC. Then they were still in the Pac-10. And now they're staying in the Big 12...which only has 10 teams. Honestly, I'm pretty sure the Sooners' baseball team isn't too worried about it at the moment. If they win a national title in 2 weeks they won't care what conference it's affiliated with.
- Key Players - 3B Garrett Buechelle (.371, 16 HRs, 64 RBI), 1B Cameron Seitzer (.311, 15 HRs, 52 RBI), CF Chris Ellison (.335, 23 SBs), SP Bobby Shore (3.86 10-4)
- Road to Omaha - def. Oral Roberts 7-6 in 10 inn., def. North Carolina 7-6 in 10 inn., def. North Carolina 3-2 to win Regional, lost to Virginia 2-3, def. Virginia 10-7, def. Virginia 11-0 to win Super Regional
6. UCLA Bruins (48-14) - Much like their conference foe Arizona State, UCLA began their 2010 season on a tremendous winning streak. But unlike Arizona State, UCLA has spent most of the season out of the spotlight. Their best season since '97, when they were last seen in Omaha, has been overshadowed by the Sun Devils. Nothing would put the Bruins in the national spotlight more than winning a national title.
- Key Players - 1B Dean Espy (.353, 8 HRs, 48 RBI), 2B Tyler Rahmatulla (.328, 7 HRs, 45 RBI), SP Rob Rasmussen (2.73, 11-2, 117 Ks), SP Gerrit Cole (3.25, 10-3, 138 Ks), SP Trevor Bauer (3.02, 10-3, 141 Ks)
- Road to Omaha - def. Kent St. 15-1, def. LSU 6-3. def. UC-Irvine 6-2 to win Regional, lost to Cal St. Fullerton 3-4, def. Cal St. Fullerton 11-7 in 10 inn., def. Cal St. Fullerton 8-1 to win Super Regional
7. Florida State Seminoles (47-18) - The Seminoles have a knack for employing coaches that go on to have legendary careers in Tallahassee. We all know about the Bobby Bowden saga that just ended on the gridiron, but Mike Martin has been coaching the baseball team on the Florida panhandle since 1980. Since then he's led FSU to 14 CWS appearances with a whopping 0 titles to show for it. Is it time Martin and the 'Noles finally breakthrough?
- Key Players - CF Tyler Holt (.352, 12 HRs, 46 RBI, 30 SBs), LF/CL Mike McGee (.328, 15 HRs, 68 RBI/1.37, 4-0, 12 SVs), SP Sean Gilmartin (4.89, 9-7, 107 Ks)
- Road to Omaha - def. Cen. Conn. St. 11-3, def. Oregon 6-4, def. Oregon 5-3 to win Regional, def. Vanderbilt 9-8, lost to Vanderbilt 2-6, def. Vanderbilt 7-6 to win Super Regional
8. Clemson Tigers (43-23) - This year marks the 4th time the Tigers have been to Omaha since 2000, and it's been their most improbable run to Omaha in that time. Every other of those teams won over 50 games during their regular season and had team ERAs lower than this year's 4.72. It will be hard for the other 7 teams in Omaha to cool off the Tiger bats though. Clemson outscored Alabama 27-11 with their backs against the wall in the Supers after losing Game 1. Can the Tigers slug their way to the program's first national title?
- Key Players - RF Kyle Parker (.353, 20 HRs, 64 RBI), 3B John Hinson (.345, 17 HRs, 72 RBI, 23 SBs), LF Jeff Schaus (.328, 15 HRs, 85 RBI), SP Casey Harman (3.73, 7-3, 95 Ks)
- Road to Omaha - def. Southern Miss 10-1, def. Auburn 5-2, lost to Auburn 10-11, def. Auburn 13-7 to win Regional, lost to Alabama 4-5, def. Alabama 19-5, def. Alabama 8-6 to win Super Regional
Games start Saturday and the CWS will be televised in its entirety on ESPN. For a complete bracket and schedule of games click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment