Georgia Bulldogs
Southeastern Conference |
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Georgia, Georgia... The whole night through.
Just an old sweet song,
Got Georgia, got Georgia baseball on my mind!
It wasn't enough for the Georgia Bulldogs
to have arguably the best college football team this past
season, but now they are a win away from having the best college
baseball team.  The
Bulldogs took care of business last week and have found themselves
right smack dab in the middle of the NCAA National Championship
Series.
Stanford and Miami didn't have what it took
to beat one of the hottest teams in the nation this week.
However it wasn't easy for the Diamond Dogs, especially the
final two games against Stanford. They had to come from behind
in the seventh inning on Wednesday to beat the Cardinal in
the first meeting. Then on Saturday, with a 10-4 lead in the
ninth, All-American closer Josh Fields was touched up for
four runs, including a pinch hit 3 run homerun. Nevertheless,
in the end Georgia advanced to their first CWS final since
1990.
It been no surprise for Georgia head coach
David Perno. Perno is used to winning. He has set a standard
of excellence in Athens and has the distinction of both playing
and now coaching in the CWS Championship - both with Georgia.
In his six years as head coach, the Bulldogs have made it
all the way to Omaha three times in four NCAA tournament appearances.
As a player, Perno not only made it to the championship in
1990, they won the championship.
Offensively the Bulldogs look to All-American
shortstop Gordon Beckham to lead the way. The junior out of
Atlanta has blistered opposing pitchers with a .403 average,
26 homeruns, and 72 runs batted in. In his first three games
in the CWS, Beckham is 5 for 11 with four runs scored. It
doesn't get any easier, however, if you are lucky enough to
get past Beckham. Lurking in the clean-up spot is the power
hitting first baseman Rich Poythress (.374, 15 HR, 71 RBI).
Poythress, who is only a sophomore, is also 5 for 11 in his
3 CWS games. Poythress was an absolute monster their championship
game clinching win against Stanford. After struggling in the
first two games, Poythress exploded for four hits in 5 at
bats with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored.
On the mound, Georgia features the most feared
closer in college baseball, the aforementioned Joshua Fields.
The senior righty has a modest 3-2 record with a 3.50 ERA,
but there is nothing modest about his 17 saves and 62 strikeouts
in only 36 innings. The starters for Georgia haven't been
brilliant, but one can't lose sight of the fact that they
are pitching in the toughest baseball conference in the country.
Trevor Holder (8-4, 4.45 ERA), Stephen Dodson (5-4, 4.09 ERA),
and Nathan Moreau (4-3, 5.22 ERA) have been the key starters
all year. The Bulldogs have relied heavily on their bullpen
all year for the middle innings. Five pitchers have made at
least 25 appearances this year for Georgia while three more
have made at least 13 appearances.
The Bulldogs have scratched and clawed all
year to get to the point where they are at. Expect nothing
different as Georgia continues the championship series tonight
at 6pm CST. They come into the game as heavy favorites, but
will have to contend with another Bulldog team that is just
as feisty and might be even hungrier to prove they belong.
Georgia will have to overcome a true underdog as Fresno State
has already set history by making the CWS as a regional 4
seed, but are also looking to be the lowest seed in any sport
to win a championship. Expect nothing but great baseball from
both teams!
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