College World Series Tickets

College Baseball Hall of Fame class announced

Twelve people were named Wednesday as the 2008 class of inductees to the National College Baseball Hall Of Fame.

Nine recent players and coaches, along with three vintage-era nominees, were named to this year's class. To be honored, players must have completed one year at a four-year institution and achieved All-American (post-1947) or All-League (pre-1947) or earned other national honors. Coaches must have won at least 300 games on won 65 percent of games they coached.

This year's honorees include a number of players and coaches who reached the College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium. They include:

Steve Arlin (Ohio State pitcher), Eddie Bane (Arizona State pitcher), Floyd Bannister (Arizona State pitcher), Neal Heaton (Miami Fla., pitcher), Burt Hooton (Texas pitcher), Dick Howser (Florida State shortstop and coach), Ben McDonald (LSu pitcher), Greg Swindell (Texas pitcher) and Gary Ward (Oklahoma State and New Mexico State coach). Vintage-era inductees are Owen Carroll (Holy Cross and Seton Hall coach), Billy Disch (Texas, St. Edward's and Sacred Heart coach) and Jackie Robinson (UCLA and Pasadena Junior College infielder).

Nominees are selected by a group of more than 90 coaches, media and previous inductees. Honorees will be recognized at the College Baseball Foundation's annual celebration July 2-4 in Lubbock, Texas.

Road To Rosenblatt feature: San Diego Toreros

When you mention the words "baseball" and "San Diego" -- the first thing that usually pops to mind is Tony Gwynn.

Gwynn, of course, made his name as one of the best hitters of his generation and played his entire career for his hometown San Diego Padres. And he's now the head coach at San Diego State University.

But when it comes to San Diego baseball in college, the team on everybody's radar right now is the University of San Diego Toreros, who have leaped into the upper echelon of the college baseball world and enter the 2008 season as one of the teams to watch for this summer's College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Coach Rich Hill is in his 10th year with the Toreros and has taken them from a middle-of-the-road program to a team that posted its first 40-win season, became the first West Coast Conference team to earn a national seed in the NCAA tournament, and is ranked in the top 10 in every major preseason poll heading into the 2008 season.

Not bad for a school that plays in a 1,200-seat facility and lacks a revenue-generating football program.

The team scrapped its way through the West Coast Conference, but really didn't gain national attention until early in the 2006 season. It was then that a little-known Toreros squad took defending national champion Texas out behind the woodshed for a three-game sweep. When that happened, experts began to take notice that this little program was starting to make some big noise.

Last year, the Toreros ripped through the WCC and had the No. 8 national seed going into the NCAA tournament. Unfortunately, they stumbled in the opening round and were unable to recover, losing to eventual College World Series participant Cal State Fullerton.

Things are looking good for this year, though. Pitcher Brian Matusz was named a first-team Preseason All-American by Baseball America, and pitcher-outfielder Josh Romanski was a second-team honoree. They are among a group of talented players returning for Coach Hill as he works to get San Diego University its first-ever trip to Rosenblatt Stadium for the 2008 College World Series.

Two Standouts Put Cincinnati on the Map in 2008

Senior centerfielder Tony Campana and Junior pitcher Dan Osterbrock lead the Bearcat baseball team from the University of Cincinnati that could make it to the College World Series in 2008.  The two CWS hopefuls were just featured on CSTV about the amount of awards that they have racked up.

Campana is considered one of the top outfielders entering the 2008 season.  He was named to the Brooks Wallace award watch list and has received pre-season All-American honors already.  Campana is a consistent hitter and is known for his speed.  He stole 60 bases in the 2007 season, and reminds me a little of a young Barry Bonds.

Osterbrock is still a Junior but has made a big impact for the Bearcats.  He received first team All-Big East honors and is considered one of the best pitchers on the whole east coast.

To have both of these men make it through their college careers is amazing to me.  In the world of college baseball anymore, if you are good enough to go play pro ball, then you go at any age.  Kudos two these two gentlemen for making college baseball that much more exciting and fun by staying during their Junior and Senior years.

Preseason All-American List Filled With CWS Stars

The NCBWA preseason All-America team for 2008 has been announced, and it includes many players who shined in the 2007 College World Series.  According to CSTV, this season's National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-America list has one of the deepest rosters since when the Preseason team list started in '01.

The team is led by a great pitching staff that includes Scott Gorgen of UC Irvine, and Ryan Berry of Rice.  Berry returns to the roster after receiving the honor in '07 as well.  Scott Gorgen is one of the most talented pitchers on the mound and continues to garner attention, most notably by leading his UC Irvine team to the College World Series last year.

The hitters are just as stellar as the pitchers on this preseason list.  Brett Wallace from Arizona State leads the bunch in my book, and will likely be the biggest home run hitter this year.

Irvine Players Named to Wallace Award Watch List

UC Irvine pitcher Scott Gorgen and outfielder Ollie Linton were named to the Brooks Wallace Award watch list the season after they took their once unknown Anteaters to the College World Series in Omaha last year.  According to CSTV, 148 baseball players were listed on the Brooks Wallace list, including players from every team that made it to the College World Series last year.

Gorgen, who is considered to be one of the best pitchers this year, will be no stranger to award watch lists by the time the season is over.  Gorgen is very accurate and will anchor the experienced pitching staff at UC Irvine.

Ollie Linton is one of the most exciting and energetic players I have ever watched at the College World Series.  He captured the hearts of the locals in Omaha last year who would frequently chant "Ollie! Ollie!"  I don't remember that he ever did to well at the plate, but somehow you just find yourself rooting for the guy unconsciously.

Tommy Milone Showing Off in Cape Cod League

Tommy Milone is making a splash in the famous Cape Cod summer league and just recently was awarded the Pitcher of the Year award for the League.  Milone is USC's top pitcher and is seen as the leading candidate to take the Trojans back to a College World Series in 2008.  USC has won 12 College World Series in the past but have not taken the trip to Omaha since 2001.

Milone, a Junior, is lucky enough to have a new pitching coach Tom House, who just recently was hired as USC's pitching coach.  Tom House is one of the most famous pitching coaches in the nation and even runs a mini pitching school in the Los Angeles area.  Learn more about Tom here.

Look for Milone to get even better with Tom House at the helm.  I think he is good enough to take his team all the way to the College World Series.

UC Irvine Pitcher Makes Explosive Start

UC Irvine's Scott Gorgen joined the Team USA last month after several pitchers left to pursue professional careers.  The pitching ace, who also lead his team to an unprecedented fourth place finish at this year's College World Series, started in his first Team USA match-up against Russia last night.

Although Russia is not known for being a tough team, the 6-0 victory was an accomplishment nonetheless.  Gorgen looked comfortable and focused on the mound and struck out eight Russian players.

Up next for Team USA is the World Port Tournament in the Netherlands.  USA will take on Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Japan and the Netherlands in two games apiece.  The two teams with the most wins will advance to a one game championship match.

Cape Cod All-Star Game Features College Stars

The Cape Cod summer league is a haven for college baseball's elite.  Summer leagues are commonplace in the college baseball realm.  Players all around the country will travel to the best teams, and most of those teams are located in Cape Cod.

The Cape Cod All-Star game will be played this Saturday.  The All-Star team features many predominant college players, but features no players from this years College World Series.  Most players hail from the South in the Cape Cod League with the exception of USC and UCLA who both sent a number of players to play.

Thousands will show up to the All-Star game on Saturday.  Because the league is made up of the best in college baseball, many people consider it at the same level as a 1-A league.

Team USA loses in Final

Team USA lost in the final baseball game against Cuba today in the Pan American games.  Cuba won the game 2-0 and only allowed the US team four hits.

The Cuban team was a much older and experienced team compared to Team USA.  The US team is made up of all college age players.  The youngest players on Team USA are going to be freshman in college but the majority of the players will be juniors.  The US team missed out on the talent pool that includes the players who participated in the College World Series.  They could not play due to scheduling conflicts.

It is no surprise the Cuban team won the gold.  Cuba has won every gold medal in the baseball event since 1967, today marked the 10th consecutive time the Cubans have won.

First Round Draft Picks Start Signing

Many of the first round draft picks from this years MLB draft have started to sign contracts with their respective teams.

The Phillies, who just recorded their 10,000 loss, signed left-handed pitcher Joe Savery.  Savery was a stand out pitcher from Rice University and made a trip to the College World Series this summer in Omaha.  Savery will play on a farm team to build up his speed and accuracy and then transfer up to the starting squad.

The number four pick overall in June's draft will be heading to the Pirates this next season.  Daniel Moskos was a left handed pitcher from Clemson.  Pirates fans were upset with the pick of Moskos early in the draft.  There were higher rated players the Pirates could have signed, but for financial reasons they signed Moskos instead.

Texas Slugger Likely to Return to Longhorns

Kyle Russell was selected in the fourth round of this years MLB draft to the St. Louis Cardinals.  But Russell will most likely to return to the Texas Longhorns after failed negotiations with the Cardinals' management.

Russell thought he was going to be a 1st or 2nd round pick and earn a seven figure salary, but he was insead taken in the fourth round and the Cardinals were not willing to offer him over a million for his services.

This is great news for the Longhorns who can use Russell's home run hitting skills.  Russell hit a record 27 home runs last season.  The junior to be will most likely wait until next year's draft to leave Texas.  He hopes to increase his draft stock to be picked in the first or second rounds. 

With Russell playing this year the Longhorns are an early favorite to reach the College World Series.  It probably wouldn't hurt Russell's chances in the draft next year either.

Texas, Nebraska Suffer Injuries at Catcher Position

Catchers Preston Clark of Texas and Mitch Abeita or Nebraska have both suffered injuries recently that will put them out of regional play and possibly the College World Series. 

Husker Senior Mitch Abeita hurt his leg during a collision at home plate against Kansas State at the Big 12 Conference Championship.  Abieta is out for the season and will be replaced by Sophomore Jeff Lanning.

Texas's starting catcher Preston Clark sprained his knee Tuesday while jogging.  Senior Brett Lewis will take Clark's place for the regional this weekend.  Lewis will have to be on point against UC Irvine who have stolen 129 bases in 176 attempts this season.

Clemson's Brad Chalk Returns to Tigers

The Clemson Tigers entered the College World Series last year ranked #1 nationally.  Although Clemson will be a solid bid for the College World Series this year the team has taken a turn for the worse.  The Tigers suffered some injuries to some star players on their roster this year making the trip to Omaha a little bit more difficult.

The Tigers center fielder Brad Chalk was out the last 15 games with severe back spasms.  Chalk will return today in the ACC division championship when the Tigers take on Miami.  Chalk is expected to bring a new spirit to the team and also an impressive .407 batting average.

Clemson hopes to fair well this week in the ACC championship in hopes of hosting a regional NCAA tournament.  Chalk could bring the momentum Clemson needs to make it to the College World Series.