Owning the Diamond

When the Atlantic Coast Conference expanded to 12 schools a few years ago it was done so to upgrade football in the league. The first year of expansion everything worked out great but the last few years, the ACC has been at the bottom of the BCS leagues. The jury is still out for Men’s Basketball judging that only 4 ACC teams got in the NCAA Tournament last spring. One sport that has truly benefitted with the league expansion has been baseball.

This year, the ACC has the top conference in college baseball with Miami, North Carolina and Florida State consistently ranked in the Top 5 in the various national polls. Not surprisingly it’s that ACC trio that has made the trip to Omaha, Nebraska to play in the College World Series.

UnACCeptable Results

While Omaha is a nice, friendly Mid-American city but it’s not been a pleasant destination for ACC teams over the years. North Carolina advanced to the Championship Series the last 2 years only to lose to Oregon State each year. Miami does have 4 College World Series championships, one as recently as 2001 however, that was before the Hurricanes stormed into the Atlantic Coast Conference.

It’s been 53 years since an ACC team won the College World Series and that was Wake Forest back in 1955. That year the Omaha World Herald referred to the Demon Deacons as “the small Baptist school in North Carolina.” Lefty Davis was the Deacs ace on the mound but he didn’t make the trip so Head Coach Taylor Sanford used 3 pitchers in the Championship Game, not common practice back then. It took an RBI single in the 8th by Linwood Holt to put Deacs over the top. Wake Forest defeated Western Michigan 7-6 to claim the ACC’s first and to this point, only College World Series title.

You have to think the odds are in the ACC’s favor to break that streak.

3 Of A Kind

Florida State, North Carolina & Miami give the ACC a great shot to win the league’s 1st national championship in 53 years. Florida State has Collegiate Baseball’s National Player of the Year Buster Posey, who played all 9 positions in a 7 inning game a month ago. Posey is the real deal leading the nation in batting and slugging percentage. North Carolina has the best pitching staff in college baseball leading the nation in Strikeouts per 9 innings and Earned Run Average. It was pitching that carried the Tar Heels to the championship series the last 2 years. Miami appears to be the strongest. There are no easy outs in the Hurricanes line up 1 through 9. Junior 1st Baseman Yonder Alonso has been swinging some heavy metal during the post season. Alonso launched bombs out of Mark Light Field last weekend to power the ‘Canes past Arizona in the Super Regionals. Miami’s pitching has been fantastic as well. Freshman left hander Chris Hernandez has yet to lose a game in college, 11-0 and earned National Freshman of the Year honors. The ‘Canes could do it but it’s time for the ACC to end 53 years of frustration in Omaha and bring home a College World Series title.

--John Wilkerson