Game 1: Yale v Nebraska

Yale started their ace.  Nebraska is resting theirs.  From looking at statistics, Oregon State matches up better offensively with Yale than Nebraska.  Yale, statistically, is the best hitting team.  Oregon State is the fastest.  If Nebraska loses, Oregon State does not want to lose the opener tonight to Holy Cross.  A 1 p.m. start against Nebraska with their ace on the mound tomorrow does not sound appealing.

Some of the Yale player bios are just nuts.   Really impressive group of kids.

Their starter today - RHP Scott Politz:

Political Science Major.  Hobbies and interests include scuba diving (certified search and rescue and advanced diver), water skiing, surfing and piano... Served as a water sports instructor and boat driver for Ride Lake Austin... Intern at Eagle Mineral Company... Manager at Sprout School Supply Company.

3rd baseman Richard Slenker: 
Co-Founder of a private company, President of Safe Rides during high school, a program that offers rides home to teens in need on weekend nights.   Won the 2012 Marine Corps Award for Leadership, Academics and Athletics and the 2013 Diamond 9 Award for outstanding performance in the classroom.

1st baseman Alec Hoeschel:  
Major in Economics, President and co-founder of Yale Undergraduate Diversified Investment club.
Chair of community service on the YSACC board. Won the Stephen McGowan Magnanimity Award for outstanding character and leadership.

C/OF Alex Boos:  
Major in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry.  Enjoys beach volleyball, Broadway, and Shakespeare.  Founder and co-President of the Environmental Club at Cathedral High School.  Peer-mentor for freshmen as a senior in high school; member of Mentoring Magic, a program founded to give tutoring and instruction to inner-city kids.  Every year, raises money and shaves his head in support of the St. Baldrick's foundation to raise money to battle childhood cancer

IF/OF Derek Brown:  
Major in Environmental Engineering.  Recipient of the Richard U. Light Fellowship, which offers students a fully-funded opportunity to pursue intensive language study in East Asia. Certified in first aid, CPR, and AED training; certified lifeguard.  Member of the Operations Committee for Camp Kesem at Yale, a non-profit, student-run organization that provides a week-long, free summer camp for children with a parent who has (or has had) cancer

5-1 Final, Yale moves to the 7pm game.

Their starter went the whole game, 124 pitches, 6 k's.

Big deal. I took Rocks and Stars and Great Americans in the same quarter!

Nebraska moves to the 1 P.M. game.  I understand that Nebraska's Jake Meyers is the Cornhuskers' starting center fielder on days that he is not pitching.  Oregon State wants to avoid that 1 P.M. game with Nebraska like the plague.  The Cornhuskers are a much better team, when Meyers is not pitching.

I think Yale with its ace is a threat.  I think, if Yale takes a lead, they could be trouble, because they have some decent relievers (at least statistically).  And Yale did not use any relievers, so they are all going to be fresh tomorrow at 7 p.m.  Yale also has the best hitting statistics of any team in the tournament.  

Does Yale have enough pitching and power to hand their relievers a lead in the eighth?  I hope not, but:

Oregon State 5 - Nebraska (Meyers) 2 at a neutral site.  Yale 5 - Nebraska (Meyers) 1 at a neutral site.  

Oregon State should win, but I think that Yale could cause Oregon State some problems, especially if Oregon State lets Yale hang around.

Winning against Holy Cross is a must with Nebraska saving its ace for the 1 p.m. game tomorrow.

Holy Cross and Oregon State have one common opponent, USC.

Oregon State played USC in Corvallis and won two-of-three: 3-1, 5-7, and 10-1. Holy Cross traveled to Los Angeles to play USC as part of an eight-game road trip to Southern California, losing two of three to the Trojans: 3-6, 6-4, and 2-5.  The USC games were at the end of the road trip for Holy Cross and was with one day of rest after finishing off a five-game set with UC Riverside and Cal State Northridge.  In total, Holy Cross went 2-6 on the trip.

I should note that Holy Cross played Yale twice at home in the last week, losing both games to Yale: 2-8 and 6-13.

I'm sorry... comparative scores from an early season tourney where we basically had one player hitting consistently mean zilch. Also... not quite sure how stats from their level of play to ours are even comparable... cuz they are not. It's why stats in baseball are great for fan discussion, but mean little when it comes to actually playing the game.

Again... I watched Nebraska practice... I watched and listened to their assistant coaches... I watched Nebraska play games other than OSU... they won a very weak league... they have nary a player that is considered highly draftable in terms of upper rounds... AND they sat their ace in Game 1 of a regional versus a team that is on par with them. It showed an arrogance and disrespect that happily bit them in the arse. It's a trait you'd never see from PC... you respect all... you treat every opponent like champions that will take your best game to beat.

But... if you want to depend on stats then go look at their respective RPIs, SOSs, Conference RPI... not individual stats based on facing inferior opponents. Again... my opinion, there is not a team that can hold a candle to OSU in this regional. Could a team beat OSU? Of course, it's baseball. That is not what I'm saying. I'm simply saying OSU is not going to lose in this Regional unless OSU plays a very very poor semblance of what OSU ball has been this season. It will not be the opponent as much as OSU. And, that is not me disrespecting the other three teams. It is me respecting what this team has done in a very good league (although down you can't control the level of your opponents, the league is a great baseball league). 

We've been NUMBER 1 for umpteen weeks... two of the teams could never sniff the polls, and I'm wondering how in the he11 Nebraska can be ranked at all in the top 25... reward for winning that conference???!