Sun Devil Player Lives the Dream

CJ Retherford has been red hot this post season, so hot in fact, that coach Pat Murphy moved him into the lead off slot for the CWS. Retherford has 4 HRs in the postseason and ASU is 6-0 as a team this postseason. Rehterford used to dream of hitting a HR in Omaha as a child, on Saturday, his dream came true as he homered over left center field in the fifth inning to tie the game at 5.

Pac Ten Starts 2-0 At The CWS

Arizona State and Oregon State both were victorious in their opening games in Omaha on Saturday, ASU scored 5 runs on three HR's and got some outstanding pitching to down UC Irvine 5-4 and Oregon State began it's quest to defend it's title by downing Cal State Fullerton 3-2. The Beavers got some great pitching as well. The two teams meet on Monday in a winner's bracket matchup.

Arizona State and Oregon State Team Capsules

Here is everything you need to know about the two Pac Ten participants in this years College World Series.

Back to Omaha

It's familiar faces back in Omaha this year, as the Arizona State Sun Devils make their 20th appearance in Omaha and the Oregon State Beavers return to defend their 2006 National Title. The Sun Devils enter the game having won 24 of their last 27 and boast the nations highest batting average and fielding percentage. ASU has won the College World Series 5 times and finished runner up 5 times.The Devils are led by the Pac Ten Player of the year Brett Wallace (.420ave 16HR 78RBI), Pac Ten defensive player of the year Eric Sogard and starting pitchers Mike Leake(13W) Josh Satow(12W) and Brian Flores(10W).
The Beavers got hot late in the season and have won 8 of 10. Oregon State is led on the mound by pitchers Joe Patterson (10W),and Mike Stutes and Daniel Turpin with 9 wins a piece. Mike Lissman (.323ave 8HR 56RBI) and Mitch Carnham (.319ave 9HR 54RBI) provide threats from the plate. Here are the teams in Omaha this season and my rankings.

1-Arizona State
2-Rice
3-Cal St Fullerton
4-North Carolina
5-Louisville
6-Mississippi State
7-Oregon State
8-UC Irvine

Of course the NCAA will pair the teams to avoid an all west final, but it seems the big dawgs this season , reside in the West.

Super Regionals

Arizona State will host Ole Miss this weekend in Tempe, beginning on Saturday. The Devils bats will be the difference in this one!

Oregon State hosts Michigan in Corvallis, the Beavers pitching should propel them back to Omaha as well.

UCLA heads down the 405 a few clicks to take on Cal State Fullerton with a trip to Omaha on the line. The Bruins must score many runs to get out of Fullerton, should be a good series, but Fullerton wins.