OMAHA, Neb. -- The players are a big part of what makes the College World Series the special event that it is, but this year's championship round features two of the games great teachers and motivators.
The Tigers are being led by Paul Maineri, who came into a very challenging situation after the retirement of legendary coach Skip Bertman, who led the Tigers to five College World Series championships. Maineri was best known for his ability to turn Notre Dame's program into a perennial national contender, and he rebuilt an LSU program that had slipped a notch or two, bringing them to Rosenblatt Stadium last year.
This year, the Tigers have been at or near the top of all the major rankings, in no small part to the efforts of their head coach and the job he's done leading an experienced team in 2009. Mainieri has got the Tigers playing their traditional "Gorilla Ball" at this year's College World Series, as they come into the series averaging more than 10 runs per game.
Texas' standards for college baseball are rather simple -- national champions or bust. And thanks to the efforts of Augie Garrido, they've been right there as far as the who's who of college baseball is concerned. The Longhorns have won a pair of national championships under Garrido's guidance winning College World Series crowns in 2002 and 2005.
Texas came into the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the 64-team field, and they've certainly given fans their money's worth. After going the distance with TCU in the super regionals, the Longhorns have had to come from behind to win all three of their games, with two of the wins coming in the bottom of the ninth over Southern Miss and Arizona State, the second sealing their 12th trip to the championship round.
The action gets underway Monday at 6 p.m., with Texas' ace Chance Ruffin (10-2, 3.27 ERA) going up against the Tigers' Louis Coleman (14-2, 2.68). The two teams will battle again on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at Rosenblatt Stadium, and if a third game is required, it is scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Don't miss out on what should be a classic College World Series championship series. Get your tickets now at Ticket Express -- where no College World Series game is ever sold out.
Monday, June 22
Championship Game 1 -- LSU (54-16) vs. Texas (49-14-1), 6 p.m.
Tuesday, June 23
Championship Game 2 -- LSU vs. Texas, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 24
Championship Game 3 -- LSU vs. Texas, 6 p.m. (If necessary)
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