College Baseball 2025

[HighHard1]

Some D-2 teams I follow started playing Jan. 31-mostly traveling to California and Arizona to play; my alma mater played in Caldwell, ID (Brrrrrr) last weekend. D-1 teams started this weekend, I follow WSU just because and Utah-a kid I coached played for the Utes and a few of his teammates are still on the team. Even the small schools stream some of their games, not high quality broadcasts but fun to watch young guys playing hard and the game being played the right way.

[HighHard1]

Good weekend for the Utes-4-0 in a series vs Pepperdine, be interesting to see how the transition to the Big 12(?) goes. On the local front, my school got the holy shit beat out out them by one of the many Cal name the town schools, giving up 62 run in 3 games. Looks like they can score some, but clearly they suck on the hill. Coach there is my former roommate-good guy and he's coached there 25 plus years, has never won a league title in what has been a 5-6 team league over that time-hate to say it, but it's time for him to go.

[Roux]

This weekend I might go to my first LSU game of the season. Couldn't make opening day because I had not recovered from surgery enough

Tigers looking good so far, really happy about their pitching staff. And they seem more aggressive running the bases this year as well.

The SEC is a meatgrinder again. Five of the top six in the rankings are SEC, as are 10 of the top 25. This weekend LSU plays Nebraska-Omaha, and LSU looks to return to Omaha at the end of this season for the College World Series.

[HighHard1]

SEC is tough as hell-always keep on them and might do so more this year with the demise of the Pac-12. College ball is great-players hustle, games move quickly and doing the little things still matter. Getting to watch Paul Skenes pitch must have been a blast.

[HighHard1]

Brutal weekend for the teams I follow except for the Utes who are off to a 7-1 start. Washington State is floundering at 0-7 and it's a bad 0-7-lost two games in the last inning-can't hit-I think they're in the WCC this year-they need to get into league in a hurry to have a chance to win. Local directional school that I played at gone rained/snowed out at home (who the fuck plays in WA in med-Feb-though I've got a story in a minute) so they couldn't give up 30 in a doubleheader. Fortunately, they start league play against another school that's 0-11 this weekend and it looks like weather will be good enough to get the games in. A colleague of mine has a son playing for College of Idaho and he's off to a good start his freshman year-hitting around .400. The story is that is that Whitworth and Eastern Oregon-the Mounties-where my brother played saw the incoming weather weekend before last and played a triple-header, 3 7 inning games, on Gonzaga's field-snow had been pushed off so they played, Mounties went 1-2, then went to University of British Columbia last weekend and dropped 4.

Roux, I saw the LSU scores over the weekend-saw they dropped one to Omaha, fucking funny game isn't it, and envied you being able to get out the yard and watch some college ball. Thought I might go watch a game or two this year at my school, start getting used to it since my daughter's going to school there. Congrats on your daughter's engagement-it'll be a great day for you and your family.

[HighHard1]

LSU is ranked #1 in 12 SEC teams are in the top 25-talk about the SEC 'meat-grinder,' holy shit-that would be some fun ball to watch. On the HH1 front, my teams had a good week-Cougs took 3 out of 4 from Iowa and have a 3 game set with a team they should take three from this weekend-then unwisely have a mid week DH with Oregon State before they move into MWC play. The Utes went 3-1 against some weak California competition, Cal Riverside kicked their ass before the Utes came back for a W, they're 10-2 and have four more games out west before starting league play the following week with Kansas State who played LSU tough I saw. My alma mater managed to beat the fighting 0-11's 3 out of 4, all of them were battles except the one they lost and should have lost another one Sunday but there's a reason you go 0-13 before winning a game. Down 2-1 in the 5th,my guys get the first two guys on, 3 hitter coming up who's hit 7 bombs already and I'm thinking we're about to put up a crooked number. But no, my old roomie has this guy bunt, pops it up the pitcher who makes an off-balance throw to...nobody at first. Hits the runner in the foot somehow so he has to hold, but the R at 2nd goes to third. One pitch later, sac fly score him, ties the game and they go on from there.

Local CC team is a disaster, 0-8. I played on a state championship team there where my contribution was throwing thousands of live BP pitches to our guys-I pitched 4 innings in actual games. Learned a lesson there that I carried into my coaching career. Guy who coached that team was a legend and said to us, "my door is always open, but remember you may not like what you hear." This guy kept meticulous stats in fall ball, spring ball before the season started-we intrasquaded every day-sometimes a DH even and my stats were in the top 5 and I figured I was in the mix. But I wasn't. So I took him up on the "door is always open" part and got the "you may not like what you hear" part. "Son," he told me, (hell of a nice guy) "you don't throw hard enough to control the game with velocity, and your control isn't good enough to control the game." He could have added that we had 6 pitchers who had been drafted and ended up there, by far the most talented team I was ever a part of, but he didn't. Tucked my tail between my legs and limped on out of there.

Anyway, tune in for next week's installment of teams that HH1 follows that no one GAF about.

[HighHard1]

In the latest installation of HH1 rambles about a sport no one cares about-good weekend for my alma mater, took 4 from what is generally a power house team in the conference but has fallen on hard times. Transfer from WSU is threatening to break the single season record for homeruns, has 11 in 19 games, record is 17 in this conference's era going back about 25 years. Unfortunately he is also the Day 2 game 1 pitcher, (These guys play DH's, one 9, then a 7 which dramatically effects how you slot starters) came in with an ERA over 11 and it went up, but the homies won 18-15. That's the good news-Utes dropped 2 of 3 to San Jose State, play CalBears tomorrow and start conference play next weekend. WSU took 2 of 3 from a non-descript Seattle U. team and didn't look good in the 2 wins-they lost a shit ton of okay players to the portal when PAC-12 baseball went the way of the buffalo. I thought they might be competitive in Mountain West but I watched most of all 3 games; I doubt it.

One of the beauties and curses of baseball at this level (particularly if you're a coach) is how fast things change-literally from pitch to pitch. The other two big rivals for my old school, played a great DH on Friday, splitting two in extras. A reliever for one of these teams, comes in and just uses 3 hitters in the 9th, then does the same thing to the first 2 guys in the 10th. Kid has electric stuff, funny arm angle that comes at a RHH, movement on this fastball, nasty breaking stuff-dominates those five guys. Gets 2 guys out in the 10th, then walks a guy on 4 pitches, next guy hits a 14 hop groundball up the middle that gets through the infield on the first pitch he see sending the R to 3rd, next pitch is a wild pitch, R scores and his team can't score a run in the bottom of the 10th. Crazy fucking game.

Everyone's starting to get into conference play-I'm eager to see the SEC get going-the top 10 teams it seems have 0 or 1 loss through 15 non-league games or so.

[HighHard1]

Tough weekend for my 'follows.' It's crazy to think about, my daughter will be starting college at where I did, 48 years after I started; things have changed just a little. The past weekend, 'my' team dropped a 4 game set to what will probably be the winners of their 5 team conference, going from two games up, to two games back with their final four games the first time through the league with the other marginally good team in the conference in a couple weekends, they get this coming weekend off. Look headed to third place in the conference which, amazingly, is good enough to make the conference tournament-talk about participation trophies for everyone.

The Utes dropped three games to Kansas State in Big 12 play to open the league. Their third game starter has disappeared for some reason, I imagine injury, sore arm, etc., so it becomes a bullpen game which means an everyone else game which is turning what looked like a promising season into shit. Their 2nd game starter got hit hard, though, and they had they first game set up for a W, but their normally reliable late guy gakked. 0-3 to start the conference. The non-descript WSU Cougars played the equally non-descript Air Force Falcons to kick off Mountain West play. Cougs dropped two of three, their third game of the series looked like the Utes third games against K-State, everyone else pitching after their first two starters and one decent reliever got used up. As I feared, conference play against supposedly lesser teams was not the answer. The Cougs flat out suck.

Not living and dying with these teams, still fun to watch college ball and day dream a little about what I'd be doing if I coached any of these teams. After my erstwhile playing career ended, my goal was to coach college ball and I got to do that with a modicum of success at the CC level back in the late 80's and though I loved that level of play, if you want to have any other life it's damn tough and there's too many other things I like to do that cut into the 365/24/7 of coaching at the college level.

[Roux]

Went to game 2 of the LSU vs Missouri series, here's a 2 run home run





Tennessee is the rightful #1 in the country, defending national champs, only undefeated team in the country, and swept a good Florida team over the weekend. Until someone beats them, they belong at #1.

#2 LSU headed to Texas this weekend, should be an interesting series. Geaux Tigers!

[HighHard1]

Beautiful setting, beautiful field.

I need to get back to attending D-1 games-watched Pac-12 games when my son attended WSU and really enjoyed the atmosphere and quality of play.

[Roux]

Sitting in one of the best seats in the stadium, front row just to the 1st base side of home. Tigers just hit a 2 run HR

[Sudden Sam]

Sitting in one of the best seats in the stadium, front row just to the 1st base side of home. Tigers just hit a 2 run HR

Nice!

Bama swept A&M out there this weekend. Tide is 21-1. Same as the Tigers.

See your guys April 17.

[Roux]

#2 LSU @ #5 Texas this weekend.

And I have to go to an event tonight, I can't even listen to it on the radio.

[HighHard1]

Follow the live stats on your phone. Watching the live stream of the WSU-San Diego State game in Pullman, two shitty teams but even shittier for SDSU playing in mixed rain and snow. A real plus of the modern field is that you can play in damn near any weather condition which is a real minus. I had fair success with my little shit fastball back in the day in those sorts of conditions boring in on hitter's hands-not many guys want to hit too bad in those conditions.

[HighHard1]

To the delight of the ones or two of you who anxiously follow my weekend baseball adventures-this is the only sports I actually watch anymore-here it is. My college team, those fighting Mildcats, had the weekend off but took a Tuesday game from my brother's college team. Kid from our HS broke his maiden, pitched 2/3 of an inning giving up 3 runs, both his outs were K's. 18th guy on a 17 man staff-I can relate. The Cougs found someone worse than them, by a lot, in San Diego State and boat raced them three times and are 4-2 in the Mountain West. Day 1 and Day 2 starters were solid, Day 1 guy should have had a shutout but Coug D gave up 3 unearned in the 7th which turned out to be the last inning of a 13-3 shellacking. Travel to Reno to Nevada this weekend after a Tuesday game with Gonzaga who also sucks-Nevada does not. Utah solved their game 3 pitching problem by starting their best relief guy and took 2 of 3 from a middling at best Oklahoma State, losing 5-4 in the second game with they gave up 4 in an inning, more than the gave up in the other two games combined. They get Arizona State this week who is pretty damn good but at least they play them at home at Smith's Ballpark, one of the most beautiful settings I've ever seen with the Wasatch Range in the background.

[HighHard1]

For those of you breathlessly waiting for the HH1 weekend college baseball report, simply said, a tough weekend for 'my' teams. How tough? 0-10 tough. My college had a 1-0 shutout going into the 8th inning against one of the two good teams in their conference-chance for a season momentum changing win, but as bad teams and bad programs do, they find a way to lose. First three guys reach base, loading the bases, starter still on the mound, gets a ground ball to 3B to home AND THE CATCHER DOESN'T THROW TO FIRST FOR THE DOUBLE PLAY, hitter was halfway down the line. Now my boy, former roommate, changes pitchers, does not go with a guy who has had a couple W's, 2 saves in relief, least shitty guy out of a shitty bullpen, and the guy he brings in gives us three straight hits, go down 3-1, then brings in the semi good guy who gets out of the inning with a couple strikeouts. Pretty competitive Game 2, Game 2 Starter one the first day is really you're number 1 because you're hoping to get a CG out of him in a 7 inning game, and they did, but he gave up 10 hits, had his requisite number of walks and HBP's and battle their way to a 6-4 loss. Second day, two non-competitive losses. The good news is that they play a 1-30 team next week-but guess who that one win was against-yep, my boys. Might catch a little of that one on Saturday when I'm taking my daughter up for an orientation.

The Cougs are the Cougs, bad, and not unlike my old college team, figure out ways to lose. 0-0 in the third against a good Nevada team, Nevada gets the leadoff guy on, next guy rolls one the Coug 2B is going to field, step on the second base bag and turn a double play except he does neither, plays jacks with the damn ball and gets no one. Next guy hits a bomb, and that's the last time the series was close. The Utes are even worse, I thought they were going to be good, but they're 2-7 in the Big 12 after dropping a series to Arizona State at home. If I'm going to follow someone in the Northwest that has a chance of winning, I might have to follow Gonzaga, after an 2-12 start, they've gone 10-1, and are 5-1 in the WCC following a sweep of Pacific. They'll kick the shit out of the Cougs in a mid week game then have a decent USF team at home which might be telling as to how good they are.

Off to next weekend-can't be worse than last weekend.

[Roux]

8 of the top 10 this week are in the SEC.

[HighHard1]

8 of the top 10 this week are in the SEC.

I'll be shocked if the National Champion does not come out of the SEC. Good series for LSU coming up with Oklahoma this weekend. Oregon State is pretty good-only team out West that can hang-maybe-with SEC teams.

[HighHard1]

Good weekend for my teams with the exception of Utah who got swept by West Virginia and is sitting 14th in the Big 12-not a very auspicious debut season. Enough said, season over. My home boys swept a team that is now 1-35 and I watched a few innings as I was up there with my daughter for preview day on campus. I give the 1-35 guys credit, they played hard, are decent defensively and swing it just enough that you can't just throw your glove on the field and expect to beat them as my team did the last time they played and are responsible for their one dub. But the pitching is just awful, and still my guys had to get a walk off bomb to win game 4 in the bottom of the 7th. The kid who hit it has 16 on the season, one short of the school record since they joined their current league with 16 games to play. I imagine 17 is the all time record but there are some guys who could H I T back in the day.

Cougs took 2 out of 3 from San Jose State to get to 6-6 in the conference. Number one guy was good again, has an ERA a little south of 4 now and gets after it with a lotof strikes, movement on the ball and confidence. Game 2 was a walkoff win, down a run in going into the the bottom of the 9th and 3 young guys came through off the bench. I really got into looking at their roster and was shocked by how young they are-they have only two holdover seniors, and those two guys have been tough, and the younger guys are coming along. Still, their game 3 pitching sucked out loud, had to relieve the starter in the first, then after a K, reliever gave up a grand slam and went down 6-0 and it was pretty much game over. Gonzaga, my 'new' team swept San Francisco over the weekend and is 8-1 in conference play with Santa Clara next up in league. Pretty impressive, they were 2-12 at one time and have gone 13-2 since then. I'm going to have to delve into them a little more. Might also have to start paying attention to the UW who swept Purdue this weekend in Big 452 play and are 8-4 in the conference.

So my PFP (Pitcher Fielding Plays) rant. This must be a thing with me because I always figured those were MY outs and I wanted the ball in my hands rather than my fucking teammates-I'm obsessive about it as a coach and had minimally 1 full speed PFP session a week and things HAD TO BE DONE RIGHT. In small school ball, your pitchers are going to handle the ball a lot and is generally your best athlete so those got to turn into outs or you're fucked. We ran one bunt play (and a variation off it with runners on 1st and 2nd) and the mission was simple-throw the ball to first, get an out, get the ball back from the first baseman and shove it up the next hitter(s) ass and get out of the inning. We NEVER fucked this up. Small school baseball and we NEVER fucked this up along with PFP's as a whole. So anyway I'm watching the best team in my old college team's league and their starting pitcher-who I mentioned in a previous post as a reliever, but he's now their game 1, day 1 starter is just using hitters in this game, but up 2-0 in the fifth, the other team gets the first two guys on. So the next guy bunts it to the third base side, decent bunt, and instead of planting his back leg and throwing a missile to first, he does a jump in the air throw across his body and airmails it into the RF corner-both runners score and the guy who bunted ended up at third. Next guy hits a sac fly and the bunter scores. Note when a pitcher fucks the dog like that, they never get the next guy, something bad always happens. He's out of the game early in the next inning, and his team comes back to win. So when I'm watching the Cougs game today, they start a big LHP who they're trying real hard to make into a starter and trying so hard he's 0-5. He's down 2-0 in the first, and San Jose safety squeezes and he plays in perfectly, checks the R at 3rd and stops him, then spikes it to first so far off the bag the first bagger can't even get a glove on it. Run scores, those guys go to 2nd and 3rd, and he walks the next guy of course. He's out of the game and his reliever gives up the slam-I might mention the guy who hit was hitting .218 at the time. Bad PFP's cause me some pain this weekend.

One to next week. My college team plays a team they swept last time next weekend, they're on the road this time and the two good teams ahead of them play each other-they split last time they played. Of course, my guys went 0-8 against the two good teams, but if they can sweep again and the good teams split, they're inching up on first place. Should be an interesting last month of the season.

[HighHard1]

Ah, spring... when hope springs eternal. Then you get buttfucked in the mouth.

"On to next week. My college team plays a team they swept last time next weekend, they're on the road this time and the two good teams ahead of them play each other-they split last time they played. Of course, my guys went 0-8 against the two good teams, but if they can sweep again and the good teams split, they're inching up on first place. Should be an interesting last month of the season."-famous baseball analyst HH1

So, of course, 'my' guys split on the road in Oregon which means they are two games behind the team they had a least a mathematical chance of catching if not a realistic chance and even now the mathematic chance remains but it's never happening. A sweep on the road is tough, but it would gave them the same number of wins as the team they have the best chance for catching for 2nd. More galling is being shutout in the two losses. Now they have a four game non-league set with a decent team-it's at least at home, then the next two weekends with teams they are 0-8 against the first go round, so you pretty much know how that will go. "We' host the conference tournament after that-3 of the 5 teams make it-and the winner gets the league's single berth into the NCAA Division II tournament.

Usually you wouldn't be happy to go 1-2 in a conference series, but the Cougs might be ecstatic given they gave up 45 runs and won one. The third game starter was at least decent, holding New Mexico State to 4 runs in 5 innings, then it was hang on time with the bullpen in a 16-11 win. Their one good bullpen guy pitched the 9th to cinch down the W. The two losses were by 10-9, 24-14. Hard to believe that you could score 39 runs in a 3 game series and win only 1 of those games. As terrible as their pitching is, if they can keep keep this core of young guys together, and come up with anything resembling pitching depth, they may not be bad in a year. Nevada-Reno is next weekend, Cougs dropped 3 and looked bad doing it about a month ago, but they'll be in the friendly confines of the Palouse.

My bandwagon team, Gonzaga, took 2 out of 3 at Santa Clara and lead the WCC by a game. 3 of their 4 remaining league series are against the teams immediately behind them in the standings. The next week and a half they have non-league games against USC, (3) and a Oregon State (2) which will give me an idea of how good they really are. The Utes took 2 out 3 from BYU so they can claim the Mormon Axe or some damn thing in their rivalry as they battle with BYU not be last in the Big 2,430.

[Roux]

Game 3 of the LSU vs Alabama series. Tigers going for the sweep.

[HighHard1]

Game 3 of the LSU vs Alabama series. Tigers going for the sweep.

Funny, or perhaps not, you say more with a picture than I do with an avalanche of words. Wish I were there.

Where I'm glad I wasn't was at the game watching my old college team gack away a winnable game against what will their league's champion in Game 2 on Friday. Northwest Nazarene is ranked #16 in NCAA Division 2 and 'we' had them by the balls...our game 2 guy is the #1-just wild enough to be effective, so he's done after 6 (7 inning game) with a 4-1 lead, after one of 'our' guys hit a grand slam in the first for the only runs off their best guy, and the least shitty relief guy (he's given up that illustrious mantle) is in-walks the leadoff guy, but then gets two outs, and on the verge of a season momentum changing victory. Then least shitty guy hits a guy-and you know what's coming next-Nazarene hits a three run bomb, game tied. Of course, my team doesn't score and we go into the top of the 8th 4-4, least shitty guy still in the game, hit, walk, runners on first and second then a bunt to the 3B side that least shitty guy fields with his foot and kicks it across the 3B line. PF motherfucking P's! New guy comes in, got to be playing up all around the infield right?, bases juiced, go ahead run at third, but noooooooo. New guy induces a groundball to 2B who is back in double play depth and he and the SS turn a double play, pretty cool-except the go ahead run has scored. Other silliness ensues and the boys end up getting beat 6-4. At almost the same moment, the team they're trying to catch for 2nd place gets walked off by the 1-35 teams, could have 2 games back in the W column. Of course, 'we' get swept on day 2, and cannot mathematically be better than third-in a five team league, but third gets you into the conference playoffs and the winner gets a berth in the D-2 playoffs. It is not impossible that my team will not make the playoffs, 5 games up on 4th place, but the 4th place team has 8 games left, 4 against the 2-37 team and my guys have only 4 left against a team that swept them last time they played.

The Cougs. The worst bullpen I've ever seen and maybe the worst in college baseball history-and manage to eek out a win in the third game of three game set against Nevada. Starters gave up 5 runs, bullpen gave up 25. After getting shut out in Game 1 19-0, they lead going into the 9th of Game 2, 5-4 and their least shitty reliever who had been good up to that point in the season, gives up 5. They figure out how to not fuck up a lead in game 3, by not going to the bullpen before the 7th and having a 13-0 lead and putting it away with a 10 run rule win. Cougs are hitting the shit out of the ball and they're missing their best hitter/leadoff guy. Okay-so talk about hope springing eternal-here it comes. Fresno State leads the conference at 12-6, but have a below .500 overall record, Cougs are 8 and 10, and assuming the Cougs don't get swept by Fresno State this weekend, hell maybe win 2 of 3, their last 9 games set up favorably-Cougs will end up making the six team playoff and have a shot to win the conference.

My bandwagon team, Gonzaga dropped 2 out of 3 to USC in non-conference play and have 2 games with Oregon State before getting back to conference play with San Diego who's in second and play Loyola Marymount (coached by WSU coach before this one-saw the demise of the Pac-12 coming and bailed) who's in third the following weekend. Getting down to nut cutting time for them in the WCC. Hard for me to get pumped for Gonzaga, I feel about them like most of the country feels about Notre Dame in any sport, but I'm trying a little.

[Roux]

You're welcome to jump on the Tigers bandwagon. Our tailgating is better at least.

[HighHard1]

You're welcome to jump on the Tigers bandwagon. Our tailgating is better at least.

In. Tough next three series with Tennessee, A & M, and Arkansas. Checked out stats to get a feel for the team, .318 BA vs. .217 BA Against stood out to me which means guys with good stuff-everyone has given up fewer hits than IP and some considerably fewer and that plays no matter who you're playing. Thought it was interesting that everyone makes it to the SEC tournament, but it kind of makes sense-A & M, sitting 12th in the conference after struggling early but has it going on now has got to be a top 25 team, has a chance to make it to Omaha; otherwise in a tourney that takes the top 8, for instance, would be done.

Tailgating would do me in, I'm sure a guy barfing in the parking lot would be the life of the party, but I'll start paying attention and watch some games.
Roll or Geaux Tigers of whatever you all say.

[Roux]

Check your PM.

Geaux Tigers

[Roux]

Friday night at Alex Box stadium, the 2024 national champion vs the 2023 national champion!

But we have a rain delay.

No matter. This is a wild crowd and they don't care. Music jamming, lots of drinking, fun rowdy atmosphere.

[HighHard1]

Hell of an LSU win. I tried to watch on YouTube, didn't think it was 'working,' should have realized it was in rain delay, then fell into the inky depths. Even a rain delay looks cool there.

[HighHard1]

Okay-so talk about hope springing eternal-here it comes. Fresno State leads the conference at 12-6, but have a below .500 overall record, Cougs are 8 and 10, and assuming the Cougs don't get swept by Fresno State this weekend, hell maybe win 2 of 3, their last 9 games set up favorably-Cougs will end up making the six team playoff and have a shot to win the conference. -famous college baseball analyst HH1.

Well that went about the way it should have, Cougs dropped 3 and weren't competitive doing it. The thing they had been doing well, swinging the bat, went by the wayside, scoring 4 runs in a three game series. Next nine conference games are against weaker teams in the conference, but the Cougs may be the weakest team in the conference.

So my college baseball team took 3 out of 4 this weekend in a non league set but the machinations of the rest of the conference may prevent from making the 3 team (out of 5) conference tourney. They failed to put away a team, Western Oregon, that has been power in the league two weeks ago, splitting a 4 game set after sweeping them in their previous meeting. Given new life, WOU split a 4 game series with one of the two good teams in the conference and they finish with the conference's 2-37 team. 'My' team' plays MSU Billings to finish, a team they dropped 4 games to earlier in the season. If WOU sweeps 2-37 team, and 'my' team drops all four, WOU is third and makes the playoffs which is being played on 'my' team's home field, a rather ignominious end to the season, doing all the field work while watching your opponents play for a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Gonzaga dropped 2 of 3 to San Diego, moving into a tie with them, but San Diego would have the tie breaker if they end up that way. I have a hard time rooting for Gonzaga as mentioned before. And I jumped on the LSU bandwagon and immediately provided the KOD to them, winning one of three in series against Tennessee, the one win was an exciting 6-3 walkoff win in game one after going into the ninth inning down 3-0. Three league series left and it's conference playoff time-that will be fun to watch.

***NOTE AND CORRECTION: I am not the KOD-don't know how I misread it, LSU beat Tennessee in the 3rd game of the series-kicked their asses 12-2 in a run rule game. Officially on the bandwagon.

[HighHard1]

So for a belated weekend report on 'my' team's doing. First, and rather surprisingly, my college team actually won their way into their conference's 3 team playoff. They won game 1 of a DH against the second best team in the league who had swept them at home earlier in the year and did it by playing and winning one of the best games I've seen all year and certainly the team's best all season. Down 4-2 with one out in the 9th, they hit back to back solo HR's off MSU-Billings' best reliever who had been in starting the 7th which I thought my be a victory in itself since they wouldn't be able to use him again in the series. Then this thing just goes on and on. My team's least shitty reliever was lights out, giving up nothing through 5 and 1/3 and featured a curve that I hadn't see before, like where did that come from, and just baffled the Yellowjackets. Meanwhile, their guy ran out of gas in the 14th, gave up a couple and 'my' guys won 6-4 and coupled with Western Oregon's stunning loss to the 2-38 team, meant they had sealed the playoffs. They split the second day as well, so even if WOU had won all four, my team was in. Guess who they play in Game 1 of the tournament, yep-MSU-B. Winner of the tournament is in whatever round of the NCAA Division 2 tournament. Hard to see it happening, but as always with this fucking game, hope springs eternal.

In a a quick wrap of all my other teams, WSU did what it had to do, winning 2 of 3 games at home against Air Force. Their remaining 6 games are against a meh UNLV team, who has played better as of late, and and San Diego State who the Cougs swept earlier in the season. Of course, no one can be more meh than the Cougs, but they managed to stay out of their terrible bullpen for the most part of the weekend. The top three teams in the MWC are 15-9, one team is 11-13, and the other four teams, including the Cougs are 10-14 so we're down to nut cutting time. Gonzaga won 2 out of 3 over the weekend and is one game behind San Diego. They finish with 3 game sets vs St. Mary's and Portland, the 3 and 4 teams in the conference. Nice recovery for Gonzaga after being like 2 and 15 or something like that, it appears there is no dominant team in the WCC. LSU, my bandwagon team, lost 2 of 3 to Texas A and M in three low scoring battles. A and M hit a three run homer in the bottom of the 8th to win 6 to 4 in the third game and the series. I read that LSU has problems hitting lefties, everyone does, and A and M started a lefty in all three games. LSU remains in good shape to take one of the top 4 spots in the conference which is huge advantage in the conference tournament; as many at 13 teams from the SEC are predicted to make the 64 team tournament-but it would be nice to host.