World Series transforms Omaha with baseball glory

Omaha, Neb. is known from July to May of every year as a small town in the Midwest, on the border of Nebraska and Iowa and in the middle of nowhere. But during the month of June, the city transcends itself from a small town of less than a million people, to the center of attention of the baseball world.

Each year for the past 57 years, coaches, players, fans and media have turned out to experience the pinnacle of collegiate baseball, the Men's College World Series.

Each February, 293 teams, from 31 different conferences around the nation, take the field to compete for one of eight spots and earn the right to battle in a double elimination tournament for baseball glory. A coach's dream, a player's fantasy and a fan's greatest enjoyment; the College World Series in Omaha fulfills all desires.

In its 60th rendition in 2006, history was made on many fronts as the Atlantic Coast Conference tied a CWS record with four teams in the field, previously done by the Southeastern Conference twice (2004, 1997). In addition to Tech, North Carolina, Clemson and Miami all advanced to Omaha.

Driving into Omaha, you could just feel the excitement, the hype, the privilege of being able to be at the height of the NCAA championship. All of the frenzy, the craziness, the media hype and distractions were ever prevalent just by entering the city. The buzz that the College World Series creates every year is comparable to the Super Bowl.

The Jackets knew they had arrived when they took a chartered flight to Omaha, were greeted with a private buffet and to top it off, were welcomed by baseball legend and ESPN baseball analyst Jeff Brantley during their scheduled batting practice at famous Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium.

They were then featured and held an autograph session in the main concourse where fans lined up inside and outside the stadium to get a chance to meet the players. Finally, the team enjoyed a hearty barbecue meal with the seven other participants of the College World Series.

When the first pitch was ready to be thrown, the Jackets were prepared. Tech opened the CWS against the top seed in the field and ACC foe, the Clemson Tigers.

The Jackets got off to a sizzling start, as sophomore catcher Matt Wieters delivered an RBI single to right field and scored on a Kindel blast to centerfield to stake Tech to a 3-0 in the first inning. After maintaining a 4-0 through seven and a half innings, the Jackets were in the drivers seat, and poised to advance to the winners bracket until an eighth inning meltdown flushed away all hope.

Tech had not blown a save all season in 2006, but the bullpen was finally penetrated by the Tigers offense. Clemson scored eight runs in the eighth inning and went on to win 8-4.

Starter Lee Hyde went seven plus innings and allowed two runs, but the bullpen could not hold the Tigers in the eighth. Andy D'Alessio's three-run homer staked the Tigers to a 6-4 lead and they never looked back.

The players, 16,045 fans and media were stunned at the comeback as Clemson showed they could overcome a deficit, as they did so for the fourth consecutive game.

After a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Tigers, the Jackets went to a picnic at the local Kiwanis Club's lake house nearby and tried to put the loss out of their minds. In addition to the cookout, some of the players and coaches showed off their water skiing abilities on the lake. Soon enough, it was back to work as the team prepared for an elimination game against Cal State Fullerton.

Game two for Tech started off very similar to the first, as the Jackets scored three runs in the first inning again. A Kindel RBI single, a Whit Robbins sacrifice Fly and a Hodges RBI single spotted starter Wood to a 3-0 lead and later, a fielding error gave him a 4-0 lead. However, the Titans would not go quietly as they tied the game after six innings.

Part of a dramatic finish, Wieters led off the seventh inning with a controversial solo home run to left-center field and gave the Jackets a 5-4 lead. The sophomore sensation then came on to close out the game and got out of a jam in the eighth inning unscathed.

But then in the ninth, with two outs and two strikes against Brett Pill, the right-hander gave up a double to put runners at second and third with two outs.

After an intentional walk, pinch-hitter Cory Vanderhook, hit a slow chopper over the mound which took an odd bounce and went out of the reach of shortstop Michael Fisher and into shallow center to allowed two runs to score and gave Fullerton an eventual 7-5 victory over Tech, eliminating the Jackets from national title contention. Fullerton stayed alive in the CWS and advanced to face Clemson in an elimination game.

Although the season ended on a very sour note, all of the coaches, players and fans were proud of the team for all that they overcame throughout the course of the rough season. Injuries played a key factor in cutting the Jackets run short, but the veteran leadership got the team through the tough times for a great season.

As the 2007 school year comes upon us, many of the veterans from the squad will move on to bigger and better things.

Starting in the fall, the Jackets will rev it up again in hopes to advance to the College World Series for the fourth time in school history. Danny Hall has led all three CWS teams.

Omaha may be a small town in the Midwest but for a short time during the beginning weeks of summer it becomes a mecca for baseball fans, players and coaches across the nation.