ACC baseball: Early drama
I realize college baseball doesn't excite the masses, not in these parts anyway, but conference tournaments are always good fun this time of year if you allow yourself to indulge.
Unfortunately, the ACC tournament is a long haul down I-95, in Jacksonville, Fla., this year. It will most likely come to Greensboro's new downtown ballpark in the not-too-distant future. But, for now, you pretty much have to follow the action on "gametracker" on your computer, not that you would let that distract you from real work.
A game to follow this morning: Clemson vs. Miami. Two high-ranked teams; one could be headed home by noon. It's a double-elimination tournament and each was upset Wednesday, the Hurricanes by Andrew Brackman and N.C. State, the Tigers by Virginia.
Much like the ACC basketball tournament, you've got teams fighting for NCAA at-large bids. State and UVa, who meet today in a winner's-bracket game, helped their respective causes.
North Carolina, meanwhile, very well could be hosting an NCAA regional. But the Heels will have to come back through the loser's bracket to win the ACC tourney after Wednesday's heartbreaking, 3-2, 12-inning loss to Florida State. The winning run scored on an errant throw to third by pitcher Matt Danford. The Heels got to extra innings when FSU catcher Aaron Cheesman mishandled strike three with two outs and fired into the runner going to first to allow the tying run to score. D'oh!
The Noles play either Wake Forest or Georgia Tech today. The Deacs and top-seeded Jackets are tied 7-7 in the seventh as I write.
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As a reminder that there is life outside the ACC, the Southern Conference (SoCon) tournament is also being played right now. Elon beat UNCG 12 to 6 in game 1 of the tournament yesterday. UNCG is playing College of Charleston this morning, as both teams hope to stay alive in the double elimination tournament. The livestats are available on Gametracker. Elon will play Furman at 4 tonight (if the tournament stays on schedule). Live stats should be available on Gametracker for that game as well.
Posted on May 26, 2005 11:22 AM
Hey, thanks for giving the SoCon tournament a mention. The ACC certainly isn't the only one going on. Of course, the MEAC's was eons ago, as NC A&T sits idly by waiting for the NCAA's to start. UNCG fell to Charleston 8-2 earlier today, ending the Spartans' season; Elon should be getting underway right now.
In the ACC, Clemson bounced Miami 9-1. And in another shocker, UNC is out, as Wake's unlikely ride from the 8th seed continues. UVa and NC State just starting.
Posted on May 26, 2005 4:14 PM
And so UNC and State each get snubbed on hosting regionals. They obviously hurt themselves in the ACC tournament, the Heels going 2-and-out and the Wolfpack getting one well-pitched game from Andrew Brackman but not much more.
Top-seeded Ga Tech beat 7th-seeded Virginia -- a team that entered the week on the NCAA fence -- earlier today, 4-3. The Cavs certainly secured their place in the field by going 3-0 to make the ACC final for the first time since '96 in Durham.
Closest regional to GReensboro appears to be Clemson. Could that be where A&T ends up? Find out for sure Monday.
Posted on May 29, 2005 7:06 PM