There were a few firsts in Morgantown this past weekend with the best definitely being saved for last. West Virginia University’s baseball team hosted a Super regional for the first time in school history.
Mountaineer fans are known to travel well to big games and when it comes to making the short trip to Touchdown City to support their teams, they undoubtedly show up and show out. A record-breaking crowd of 4,675 fans was in attendance to see the series clinching game two, a victory over Cal Poly.
WVU received a gift when top seeded UCLA took a tumble in the first round. The Bruins had the most wins (51) and the lowest amount of losses (six) of any team to make the NCAA Tournament. So when Cal Poly put on the cape and flew to Morgantown, it provided a big break for Mountaineer Head Coach Steve Sabins and his troops. The next obstacle for Sabins to overcome was the “projection problem.” Many times when a team is facing a lesser talented opponent, they will tend to overlook them and focus on future endeavors.
If you are not from the Mountain State, this West Virginia team may not be on your radar. It isn’t a baseball blueblood and as a matter of fact there has never been a trip to Nebraska until now, which meant that the match-up with the Mustangs was a battle of underdogs in the national eye.
A great deal of credit must be given to Sabins, a coach that is wise beyond his years. The 39-year old in his second year at the helm of the program realized the opportunity that was in front of him and his team and he would not allow his players to take Cal Poly for granted.
Sabins went with sophomore Chanson Cole on the mound in the opening game of the three game series instead of Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Max Yehl. Yehl was coming off a dominating performance against Kentucky that propelled West Virginia into the Super Regional. The move by Sabins paid off as Cole struck out a season-high 11 batters and his team provided plenty of run support. Twelve runs on 14 hits led to the 12 to two lopsided win.
The 10 run beatdown made Sabins’ job even more difficult. How do you motivate your squad after such a walk in the park?
Yehl benefited from the extra day of rest while the WVU hitters treated Mustang pitchers like pinatas. Yehl went five innings, allowing just one run and striking out four batters. Bridgeport native Ben McDougal closed out the game, getting the final three outs of the inning to continue his impressive postseason play. Meanwhile, the offensive attack saved its best for last, setting season highs in home runs (five) and hits 919) in the 17 to one drubbing.
West Virginia outscored Cal Poly 29 to three in the two games, scoring runs in 12 of the 17 innings that were played. The total domination should give this team all the motivation it needs heading into its first ever College World Series.
Even the celebration that immediately followed the final out was calculated. The players were smart enough not to pile on McDougal or any other teammates, which would have been risking injury for the games ahead.
It looks like Sabins and his players have thought about just about everything. Now all that is left is to head to Omaha and finish the job.
That will do it for now! Until next week . . . take care and God Bless!!!!
