College World Series

[89rabbit]

Cal State Fullerton wins the CWS.

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default...BMN3324418.htm

Cal-State Fullerton wins CWS title
Omaha, NE (Sports Network) - Kurt Suzuki's RBI single in the seventh inning capped a three-run rally and lifted Cal-State Fullerton to the College World Series championship with a 3-2 win over Texas on Sunday.

Jason Windsor tossed his 11th complete game of the season for the Titans (47-22), who overcame a two-run deficit to sweep the best-of-three championship series and capture their fourth national title. Windsor (13-4), who struck out 10, allowed just two runs on five hits. . . .

[89rabbit]

Re: College World Series

The Big 10 pushing to make college baseball more fair for Northern schools.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/503/4840224.html

Big Ten chief seeks level playing field in college baseball

Dean Spiros,  Star Tribune

June 22, 2004  
 

The crowning of a College World Series champion is being played out in familiar fashion this week in Omaha, with eight Sun Belt schools taking part in the double-elimination tournament. But for the first time in the event's 58 year history a committee has gathered in Omaha to begin contemplating NCAA legislation that could dramatically change college baseball.

College baseball has been dominated for nearly 40 years by Sun Belt schools that have used their distinct weather advantage to reduce the national championship to a tournament for the privileged few. The committee is debating possible changes being pushed by Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany that would help level the competitive playing field.

Delany and his supporters are calling for a Feb. 1 starting date for practice, a March 1 starting date for games and the pushing back by at least two weeks the College World Series to allow Northern schools the opportunity to play more games at home.

Northern schools also are seeking a change in the criteria used for selecting the 64-team NCAA field and where those regionals are held.  .  .  .

"We do not believe we can't compete," Delany said. "We do believe we've proven we can't compete in this environment. If no change occurs our people will have decisions to make."

"Number one, we could accept it. Another one would be to ask for legislation that would allow us to explore an alternative type of championships for schools in different climates."

Gophers coach John Anderson said Big Ten coaches are unanimous in their support of Delany's push for change and -- if it comes to that -- the creation of a separate championship.

"The NCAA has in its bylaws that every student athlete should have a chance to compete for an NCAA championship," Anderson said. "That's not happening in baseball.  .  .  .

The Gophers are the prime example of the advantage Southern schools have. Minnesota won College World Series titles in 1956, '60 and '64, at a time when NCAA regionals were based on geography, meaning the Gophers competed against Midwest teams to reach the World Series.

The NCAA now bases regionals on national seeding. The Gophers haven't been to a World Series since 1977, and this year the Gophers were the only Big Ten team to get a postseason bid. Nine Southeastern Conference teams made the 65-team field, and four advanced to the College World Series.  .  .  .

College baseball never has had a uniform starting date for practices or games. As a result, most major Sun Belt programs are out on the diamond in January and play their first games in early February.

Anderson blames the college baseball coaches as a group for allowing the system to stay in place for so long.

"Our football coach would never allow Miami to start practicing before his team could," Anderson said. "He would never allow Miami to play more home games than he could play."

Northern schools interested in trying to compete on a national level traditionally make trips to warm weather states in late February and March. They often do not fare well.

Ohio State coach Bob Todd said the Buckeyes played 16 road games before they were able to practice on their home field. They were 7-9. Ohio State is the last Northern school to win the NCAA championship -- in 1966.  .  .  .

The battle lines have begun to be drawn.

"Twenty percent of the country controls the national championship," Todd said. "It's not fair. It's time we make a stand. I feel a heavy burden in that I represent 80 percent of the country. In my own clear conscience I have to make it clear that there is no compromise in this area: We have to have a March 1 starting date for games and we have to move Omaha back at least two weeks."

The committee's recommendations are expected to be sent to the NCAA's championships/competition cabinet late this summer. Any changes likely would not be put in place until the 2006 season.

"We need some competitive equity in a sport that has none," Delany concluded. "If it goes down after a fair argument in the body politic that's one thing. If [the committee] doesn't advance the issues that is another thing."

At which point the North is expected to rise up.

"We have the ability to bring together a television package, a model, that would be legitimate," Delany said. "Our study shows that baseball can be very successful in this part of the country. We have good weather; we just don't have it in February, March and April."



This will effect our program, I say good luck to the Big 10 on this issue.

Go State!  ;D