Cavaliers’ Record Season Comes to End in CWS Epic
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 06/18/2009
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com

OMAHA, Neb. – Virginia’s record-setting season came to an end Wednesday night as Arkansas scored a run in the 12th inning to eliminate the Cavaliers, 4-3, in the College World Series in front of 21,383 spectators at Rosenblatt Stadium. UVa finished its season with a 49-15-1 record, setting a school record for wins while making the program’s first ever trip to the CWS.

The epic contest lasted four hours, 47 minutes – the fourth-longest game by time in College World Series history. The two pitching staffs combined for 28 strikeouts (Arkansas 17, Virginia 11), which ranks third in MCWS history and the most since Texas and Southern California combined for 29 strikeouts in a 14-inning game on June 16, 1970.

The Cavaliers had plenty of opportunities throughout the contest, and particularly in the last four innings. Overall, UVa tied a season high with 14 runners left on base, but the Cavaliers stranded eight runners over the final four innings.

John Hicks (Fr., Sandy Hook, Va.) and Steven Proscia (Fr., Suffern, N.Y.) each had three hits as Virginia finished with 16 hits. Proscia finished with a Virginia freshman-record 86 hits this year.

UVa starting pitcher Danny Hultzen (Fr., Bethesda, Md.) wrapped up his outstanding freshman campaign with one of his best starts. He tossed 6.1 innings, allowing one unearned run and five hits while striking out seven. He did not walk a batter – a first for him as a starter since his first collegiate start on Feb. 21 vs. Bucknell.

Andrew Carraway (Sr., Marietta, Ga.) took the loss in his final Virginia appearance. Carraway (9-2) pitched the final 3.1 innings out of the bullpen and allowed a run and three hits while striking out three. Carraway and Robert Poutier (Yorktown, Va.) were the lone seniors on the 25-man postseason roster. Carraway finished his career by pitching some of his best baseball, posting a 1.10 ERA over 16.1 innings (four games) in the NCAA tournament.

Dallas Kuechel (9-3) pitched out of four jams to earn the win for Arkansas (41-23). He tossed the final four innings and gave up three hits and three walks while fanning five. Arkansas starter Drew Smyly worked 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs and eight hits while striking out seven. He did not walk a batter.

The starting pitchers matched zeroes for the first four innings before Virginia broke the stalemate with a two-run fifth inning. Hicks led off with a solo home run into the first row of bleachers in left field, just over the glove of outstretched left fielder Chase Leavitt. The play was originally ruled a double, but the umpires conferred and changed it to a double.

One out later, John Barr (So., Ivyland, Pa.) lined a single to right field. Tyler Cannon (Jr., Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) followed with a single to move Barr to third, although Cannon was thrown out at second while attempting to stretch his hit to a double. Hultzen then came up with a clutch RBI single to left field to plate Barr and push the lead to two.

In the seventh, Arkansas cracked the scoreboard with its first run. With one out, Bo Bigham reached on an error. He moved to third when Zack Cox doubled to left field, which spelled the end of the night for Hultzen on the mound. Wilson entered and induced Brett Eibner to hit a sacrifice fly to center field before getting James McCann to ground to third base to end the inning.

Virginia tacked on a run in the eighth inning when Dan Grovatt (So., Tabernacle, N.J.) ripped a solo home run to left-center field for his eighth home run of the year.

Down to their final strike in the ninth inning, the Razorbacks staged a dramatic rally, as Cox singled up the middle on a 1-2 pitch and Eibner followed with a long two-run home run to left field to tie the game.

Virginia loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning, but Hultzen hit a rocket to shortstop Tim Carver, who initially bobbled the ball but still was able to turn the 6-4-3 double play and beat Hultzen by a split second at first base.

The Cavaliers again had an opportunity to score in the 10th inning, putting runners at second and third with one out, but Keuchel struck out the final two batters to escape. In the 11th, Virginia loaded the bases with two out before Grovatt grounded out to second to finish the frame.

The Hogs broke the tie in the 12th inning. With one out, Jarrod McKinney singled and then stole second. He scored when Andrew Darr doubled down the left-field line.

UVa again had a chance in its half of the 12th, as Proscia hit the first pitch just inside the third-base line for a double. He stole third as Jarrett Parker (So., Stafford, Va.) struck out for the first out, but Hicks and Valdes struck out the end the game.

 

Virginia-Arkansas Postgame Notes
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 06/18/2009

Men’s College World Series Notes – Game 9 – June 17, 2009
Arkansas 4, Virginia 3 (12 inning)
Attendance: 21,383 (2009 SeriesTotal-203,208; 2009 Avg.-22,579)

Arkansas (2-1) advances to meet LSU (2-0) in Friday’s Bracket 1 Championship. Arkansas will need to defeat LSU twice to advance to the MCWS Championship Series. Virginia (1-1) is eliminated. (Arkansas will be the home team on Friday)

-The 2009 MCWS marks the eighth straight season with a MCWS attendance of over 200,000 and the 12th time in the last 13 seasons. Seven of the nine sessions have featured crowd of at least 21,000.
-It is the 81st extra-inning game in the MCWS and the second time in three seasons that two MCWS games have gone into extra innings (also ‘07) and the 28th game in the MCWS to last at least 12 innings.
-The game took four hours and 46 minutes, the fourth-longest game by time in MCWS history.
-The 28 strikeouts (Arkansas 17, Virginia 11) by the two pitching staffs ranks third in MCWS history and the most since Texas and Southern California combined for 29 strikeouts in a 14-inning game on June 16, 1970.

Virginia
-Virginia ends its season with a 49-15-1 record and went 1-2 in its first MCWS appearance.
-Virginia falls to 0-3 in extra-inning games, including an 0-2 mark in the NCAA Tournament. Both of Virginia’s NCAA extra-inning games in the NCAAs have been 12-inning contests (also at Mississippi on June 5).
-Virginia falls to 45-2 when taking a lead into the ninth inning. Both of the losses came during the NCAA Tournament, as Virginia lost 4-3 to Mississippi in the Super Regional on June 5 (UVa led 3-2 heading into the ninth).
-Virginia falls to 6-3 in the 2009 NCAA Tournament are 3-1 in elimination contests.
-Virginia, which entered today’s contest 3rd in the country in ERA at 3.25, falls to 41-4 on the season when holding opponents to four runs or less.
-The 14 runners left on base by Virginia matched a season high (also vs. LSU on June 13 and Norfolk State on April 1).
-In its two losses, Virginia left 28 runners on base, as UVa was 4-for-21 with runners on base against Arkansas.
-Virginia has been held to five runs or less in eight of its nine NCAA Tournament games, going 4-3 in the process.
-The 10th-inning at-bat by Shane Halley was his first plate appearance since April 22 and the first time he reached base since drawing a walk against Maryland on April 5.
-Tonight marks Virginia’s 65th game of the season, matching the school-record total originally set in 1996.
-Virginia is now 15-6 this season when hitting at least two homers in a game.
-Dean Grovatt’s eighth-inning homer was his first RBI in nine NCAA Tournament games, and his first RBIs in his last 10 games. Prior to tonight, his last RBI came against Duke in the ACC Tournament on May 23.
-Steven Proscia went 3-for-6 against Arkansas and finished the NCAA Tournament with a .375 average (15-for-40) with eight runs scored.
-John Hicks’ homer in the fifth was his first in the NCAA Tournament. Hicks went 3-for-6 on the night.
-Freshman starter Danny Hultzen finished the game with seven strikeouts, the most since April 24 when he tallied nine K’s vs. NC State.
-Hultzen’s 107 strikeouts this season rank sixth all-time in a single season.
-Sophomore Jarrett Parker recorded his first hit, a double, the first in his last 19 at-bats since going 2-for-6 in the first game of the Super Regional at Ole Miss. It was Parker’s 20th double of the season, which ties him for the third-most in a single season.
-Four Cavaliers made their first CWS appearances against Arkansas: Shane Halley, Jared King, David Coleman and Corey Hunt.

Arkansas
-Arkansas improves to 8-11 in its six all-time MCWS appearances, as the Razorbacks won their first elimination game of the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Arkansas had not lost in the Regional or Super Regional.
-With the win, Arkansas improves to 7-1 in extra-inning games this season. This is Arkansas’ longest game since a 12-inning contest against Vanderbilt on March 29, 2008.
-Arkansas improves to 2-1 all-time in MCWS extra-inning games. Both of Arkansas’ previous extra-inning games came in the 1985 MCWS.
-The 12-innning game is Arkansas’ longest NCAA game since 1985, when the Razorbacks won a 1-0 game against South Carolina at the MCWS.
-Arkansas scored three of its four runs with two outs tonight and have scored 11 of their 15 runs in the MCWS in two-out situations.
-Arkansas was just 3-17 when trailing entering the ninth inning this season.
-Andrew Darr, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the ninth, delivered the go-ahead hit with a 12th inning RBI double. Darr is now hitting .778 (7-for-9) in five NCAA Tournament games with a homer, three doubles, four RBIs and four runs scored.
-Brett Eibner’s three RBIs is his highest total since driving in three runs against LSU on May 2. Eibner had driven in only one run in his last 14 starts entering Wednesday’s game (at Florida State, June 5). The ninth-inning homer was Eibner’s first since belting two homers against Oklahoma on April 28.
-Tonight marked Dallas Keuchel’s first relief appearance of the season, as his first 17 appearances were all starts. He went the final four innings for the win, upping his record to 2-0 in this year’s MCWS.
-Catcher James McCann tied his career best with three hits against Virginia. Both of McCann’s three-hit games have coming in the NCAA Tournament, as he also had three hits in the against Oklahoma in the Norman Regional on May 30.
-Over his last two starts, Drew Smyly has allowed two runs over his last 13 innings, fanning 19 and walking two over that stretch. The homer allowed to John Hicks to open the fifth snapped a streak of 12.1 innings without allowing a run.
-The 17 strikeouts by Razorback pitching ranks fourth in MCWS history (list is on page 84 of MCWS guide) and is the most by one team in an MCWS game since Clemson fanned 19 against Miami (Fla.) on May 31, 1996.
-The 17 strikeouts by Arkansas pitching was its 2nd-highest strikeout total of the season. Arkansas fanned 18 in a win against Missouri State on March 25.



 

Virginia-Arkansas Postgame Quotes
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 06/18/2009

NCAA Men’s College World Series
Game 9: Arkansas vs. Virginia Post-Game Press Conference Quotes
Hall of Fame Room, Rosenblatt Stadium
Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor:
(opening statement): “This game took everything from Arkansas, it took everything from Virginia, unfortunately we came out on the short end of the stick. I couldn’t be more proud of the kids in our uniforms. No one picked us to get this far, we showed a lot of character and pride. This team will always be remembered as the first team to play in the College World Series from the University of Virginia.”

(about his team’s play): “I thought we pitched well, swung the bat well and had opportunities but didn’t capitalize. That is a credit to Arkansas. That is baseball, but I am so proud of this team.”

(about what he said to his team after the game): “I told them that I couldn’t take the hurt and the pain away because it means so much to them. We felt we had a legitimate chance to win the national title. I am proud of each one of our guys, we got to this point because no one has pointed fingers, they are teammates. And even though the season is over they are still teammates.

Virginia third baseman Steven Proscia:
(about his team’s run to the College World Series): “We’re a young team, and not many people thought we’d be in this situation. We were looking to prove something and I think we did that. We’ve got a lot of young guys that will be looking to get back next year.”

(about the at-bats in extra innings): “We knew if we strung some hits together [in extra innings] we could get some runs across, but unfortunately we couldn’t get that big hit with runners on base. Arkansas did, so we have to tip our caps to them.”

Virginia right fielder Dan Grovatt:
(about the season as a whole): “We had a very young team and a lot of people didn’t think we’d be in the position that we are. We stayed together as a team all year, and that’s why we’re here. Now we have a reason to come back.”

(about extra innings): “We had an opportunity every inning all the way to the end. We just didn’t come up with the big hit and Arkansas did. I left four guys on base myself. It was one of those games where that kid won the battle on 3-2 and got a big hit. We couldn’t come up with one.”

Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn:
(opening statement): “It was just a great ball game to be a part of as a coach. Roller coaster. Those were tough kids that didn’t want to go home.”

(about pitching plans): “We’ve got some guys. Maybe not the guys that would be pitching for us on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We need to find a way to score some runs. We are thin though.”

(about the resiliency of his team all season): “I kept saying we’ve been doing this all year. The way you saw our team play today is what we’ve been doing all year.”

Arkansas outfielder Andrew Darr:
(about being calm during big at-bats): “I tried to have a good at-bat. I was looking for something up in the zone. I’m confident because I’ve been there before. Across the board, it was a good baseball game.”

Arkansas center fielder Brett Eibner:
(about his at-bat in the 9th inning): “I was looking for an off-speed pitch. I got it and put a good swing on it.”

(about where his big hit ranks in his career): “It is one of my top ones, definitely in the College World Series.”

Arkansas pitcher Dallas Keuchel:
(about his pitching performance): “I tell myself I’ve been through this before. I didn’t want to let them go out like that. They kept swinging through the slider and missing.”




 

Hogs survive in 9th, send Cavs home in extras
By Steven Pivovar
World-Herald Staff Writer

One pressing question emerged Wednesday night in the aftermath of Arkansas' 4-3, 12-inning victory over Virginia at the College World Series.

How many lives does a Razorback have?

Coach Dave Van Horn's team might have used them all before Andrew Darr's RBI double secured the win that keeps it alive for two more days. The Razorbacks were down to their last strike in the ninth in the Bracket One elimination game before Brett Eibner rocked Virginia with a monster, two-run homer to tie the game.

The Cavaliers had the winning run 90 feet from home plate in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings, and had the tying run at third in the 12th before Dallas Keuchel struck out Franco Valdes to end the four-hour, 46-minute thriller before 21,383 fans at Rosenblatt Stadium.

“That was a lot of heart shown by some tough kids that didn't want to lose and didn't want to go home,'' Van Horn said. “It will be one that I'll never forget.''
Painful memories were burned into the minds of the Virginia players, who now face an offseason of asking what might have been after their season, and first trip to Omaha, ended at 49-15-1.

“This was an unbelievable ballgame,'' Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said. “It took everything from Arkansas. It took everything from Virginia, but unfortunately, we came out on the short end of the stick.''

The Cavaliers had Eibner, Darr and Keuchel to blame for most of that. They also must confront the reality that their own squandered opportunities and mistakes led to their demise.

Base-running mistakes cost Virginia at least two runs in the first eight innings. A fielding error set up Arkansas' first run.
“We had a lot of opportunities and didn't capitalize on them,'' O'Connor said. “You have to credit Arkansas. They pitched in the clutch and made some clutch plays.''

Trailing 3-1 entering the ninth, Arkansas saw Virginia closer Kevin Arico get two quick outs before putting Zack Cox in a one-ball, two-strike hole. Cox then singled sharply up the middle and, three pitches later, Eibner launched an Arico change-up halfway up the bleachers in left field.

“I was looking for an off-speed pitch,'' Eibner said. “I happened to get it and put a pretty good swing on it.''

Eibner's 11th homer tied the game, but Virginia countered with a bid to end the game in the bottom of the ninth. The Cavaliers loaded the bases before Keuchel got Danny Hultzen to scorch a one-hopper at freshman Tim Carver, who was in the game because Ben Tschepikow broke his finger when hit by a pitch in the sixth.

Carver knocked the ball down and bobbled it momentarily before starting a game-extending double play.

“We were saying, ‘Just hit it hard right at us,' because we knew that guy (Hultzen) could really run,'' Van Horn said. “He hit it hard and Carver stayed in front of it — or he didn't have time to get out of the way.

“They did their jobs, and that was exciting in our dugout. We got out of an incredible jam.''

Keuchel, the winning pitcher in Saturday's opening-round win over Cal State Fullerton, also flirted with disaster in each of the final three innings. Virginia had runners at second and third in the 10th before Keuchel struck out Jarrett Parker and John Hicks.

He loaded the bases with two outs in the 11th but retired Dan Grovatt on a groundout. After Arkansas took the lead in the 12th, Steven Proscia doubled to open the Virginia half of the inning and stole third on a strike-three pitch to Parker.

Keuchel then finished off his ninth win of the season by striking out Hicks and getting Franco Valdes to chase a pitch in the dirt for his fifth strikeout.

“I kept telling myself that this team has been through so much and I wasn't going to let them go out like that,'' Keuchel said. “I kept throwing that slider up there and I got some swings and misses.''

Darr, the hero of Arkansas' super-regional clincher at Florida State, delivered his second game-winning double of the NCAA tournament. Jarrod McKinney had singled with one out off losing pitcher Andrew Carraway and stole second. Darr then ripped the final pitch of a 10-pitch at-bat down the third-base line to bring McKinney home.

The Razorbacks couldn't relax until after Keuchel finished off the Cavaliers. Today, they'll start preparing for Friday's 1 p.m. bracket championship game against Louisiana State, which thumped Arkansas 9-1 on Monday.

Asked afterward who he might start in the game, Van Horn looked at a reporter and said, “Can you pitch?''

“We have some guys,'' he added. “They might not be the guys that are pitching for us on Friday, Saturday or Sunday during the season, but they'll go out there and give us a shot. We'll just need to find a way to score some runs.''

GAME SNAPSHOT
Star of the game: Andrew Darr got the game-winning hit for Arkansas, but the Razorbacks would have been packing their bags this morning had Brett Eibner not delivered a game-tying two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning.
Honorable mention: Left-hander Dallas Keuchel also deserves praise for walking a tightrope for four innings of high-anxiety relief before finishing off the win with three strikeouts in the 12th.

Play of the game: Razorbacks shortstop Tim Carver, playing after starter Ben Tschepikow broke his finger, kept his nose in front of a wicked smash by Danny Hultzen to start a double play that ended the ninth.

Coming up empty: The teams combined for 28 strikeouts, the third most in CWS history.

Our take: Arkansas showed a ton of guts in pulling out the victory, but one has to wonder how much the Razorbacks have left as they head into the Bracket One championship round. Louisiana State looks like an overwhelming favorite to reach the championship finals, but Arkansas has already shown it's not going down without a fight.
— Steven Pivovar
 

Cavs’ season ends with 12-inning loss to Razorbacks
By Jay Jenkins
Published: June 18, 2009

OMAHA, Neb. — Brian O’Connor knew it would not be easy.

Virginia’s baseball coach did not know, however, just how long it would take.

After blowing a two-run lead in the top half of the ninth inning, Virginia fell 4-3 in 12 innings in Wednesday night’s elimination game against Arkansas in the College World Series.

The Cavaliers got a runner to third base in the bottom of the 12th, but Franco Valdes struck out to end UVa’s season.

Virginia stranded nine runners over the last four innings of the game.

The Cavaliers were in cruise control before the ninth inning thanks in part to starting pitcher Danny Hultzen.

The rookie delivered an RBI double and worked 6.1 innings on the mound as he made the start on just three days rest.

Hultzen set the tone early for Virginia, scattering five hits as he struck out seven batters in 6.1 innings. The rookie was charged with one earned run, which was allowed after he had been pulled from the contest.

Virginia opened the scoring in controversial fashion in the fifth inning.

Leading off the frame, rookie catcher John Hicks belted a fastball that appeared destined for the front row of the bleachers in left field. As the ball cleared the wall and reached a host of fans it was deflected back onto the field and was not originally ruled a home run.

O’Connor quickly ran onto the field to protest the ruling with third base umpire Tony Maners.

“That ball was gone,” O’Connor pleaded to Maners.

Indeed it was — and was ruled as such after the four umpires met to discuss the situation.

The blast, which was the eighth of the year for Hicks, was the first for the rookie since he connected on a towering blast against Clemson in the opening game of the ACC tournament.

Virginia quickly added to its lead, scoring again as Hultzen helped his own cause with a two-out double to left that plated John Barr.

The 2-0 lead stood until the seventh inning.

Arkansas (40-24) chased Hultzen from the contest then as it pushed two runners into scoring position as Bo Bigham reached on an error by Virginia third baseman Steven Proscia and with a double to left by Zack Cox.

Virginia padded its lead in the eighth as Dan Grovatt delivered an opposite-field homer to left field.

The run was needed.

With Kevin Arico in to close the contest, Arkansas sophomore Brett Eidner blasted a two-run, game-tying homer.

Virginia tried to answer in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings, getting at least two runners on base in each situation, but Arkansas reliever Dallas Keuchel worked out of the jams.
 

Virginia eliminated in heartbreaker
By Curt McKeever
Correspondent
12:08 AM EDT, June 18, 2009
 
OMAHA, NEB - Virginia had to make it to its first College World Series the hard way playing away from home. But no way could the Cavaliers have exited it on a harder note.

One out away from victory, Virginia watched Arkansas' Ben Eibner hit a two-run homer off closer Kevin Arico to send the game into extra innings, and the Razorbacks eventually won it 4-3 in the 12th on Andrew Darr's RBI double.

The crushing outcome marked only the second time in 47 games this season Virginia had lost a contest it led after eight innings.

"We're pretty bitter that we let that one get away," sophomore Dan Grovatt said. "We had every opportunity in the world and we just couldn't get that hit."

Virginia ended its best season in school history at 49-15-1.

Arkansas (41-23) advanced to face top-ranked and No. 3 national seed LSU hoping to win and force another meeting for the right to play in the championship series.

The way it finished, though, will be hard to swallow, as the Cavaliers had runners at third base in each of the last five innings who didn't score.

Steven Procia led off the 12th by doubling past third, then stole third base as Jarrett Parker struck out. But Arkansas' Dallas Keuchel, pitching in relief for the first time in 18 appearances this season, struck out John Hicks and Franco Valdes to end the game.

The Razorbacks produced their winning rally against right-handed senior Andrew Carraway, who retired the first eight batters he faced before No. 9 hitter Jarrod McKinney singled to right with one out in the 12th. After McKinney stole second, Darr ripped a 2-2 pitch down the third-base line to produce the decisive run.

Virginia had taken a 2-0 lead in the fifth, on Hicks' eighth homer of the season and a two-out RBI double by Danny Hultzen.

Arkansas struggled to solve the left-handed freshman pitcher Hultzen, who lasted just three innings in his start Saturday against LSU. The Razorbacks got just five hits off him in 6 2/3 innings, and their run, coming in the seventh, was unearned thanks to an error by third baseman Steven Proscia.

After Bo Bigham reached when his grounder got under Proscia's glove, Zack Cox doubled off the left-field wall to end Hultzen's night. But after Eibner produced a sacrifice fly off Tyler Wilson, the right-handed sophomore got James McCann to hit a bouncer back to Proscia to preserve the lead.

Virginia runner can't get home in 10th inning

Steven Proscia thought he might have won the game.

The Virginia third baseman delivered a hit up the middle that might have scored Shane Halley from second base with the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning Wednesday night. But Halley stayed close to the bag at second and didn't run until the ball had gotten safely to the outfield. He could advance no further than third, and was left stranded there as both Jarrett Parker and John Hicks struck out.

Proscia threw his arms up in exasperation after rounding first and realizing the run hadn't scored.

“I hit it, and I knew the outfield was playing in so it would be a close play anyway,” he said. “It was smart. If one guy doesn't get it done, the next will. I had confidence in Jarrett coming up, but that's baseball.”

Halley, who entered the game as a defensive replacement with Virginia leading 3-1 in the top of the ninth, had just eight at-bats all season before his hot shot to lead off the 10th got past third baseman Zack Cox for a two-base error.

Halley might have advanced to third on Dan Grovatt's check-swing roller that Cox had to charge, but he instead held close to second base despite third being uncovered. Then came Proscia's at-bat. Typically a runner on second base is expected to advance to third on a grounder that is hit at him or to his left — Halley actually had to avoid the ball while taking a step back towards second.

“It was a tough read,” Proscia said. “There's nothing you can do.”

Eibner vowed not to repeat history

Brett Eibner didn't want to make the final out of an Arkansas season again.

And he didn't.

Eibner launched a long, two-out, two-run homer to tie the game with Virginia 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth. The Razorbacks won 4-3 in 12 innings and stayed alive at the College World Series.

But first Cox had to get a two-out single to keep the inning alive after falling behind no balls, two strikes.

“I made the last out in the Stanford Regional last year,” Eibner said. “And I wanted another chance. I wanted to hit. I wanted the pressure. I wanted to make a difference. I knew I wasn't going to let it happen again.”

Shortstop out for Arkansas

Arkansas will likely have to keep playing without shortstop Ben Tschepikow, who broke the ring finger on his left (glove) hand when he was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning.

The senior stayed in the game and assisted on a play in the seventh inning, but was pulled for a pinch hitter in the eighth because of difficulty swinging the bat.

“He's been the guy down the stretch,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “He could field, but he couldn't really grip the bat. If Ben wants to play, I'll play him. He's a senior who has been here for five years. But as far as I know, he's probably done.”

Pitching plans up in the air

Arkansas had no idea late Wednesday night which pitcher it would start Friday against LSU.

“A couple of innings here, a couple of innings there,” Van Horn said.

Dallas Keuchel, the winning pitcher Wednesday after throwing 66 pitches in four innings of relief, has already said he's ready to go. Van Horn wasn't sure if he'd use the left-hander. He ruled out Wednesday starter Drew Smyly, who threw 85 pitches in 4.2 innings.

“I'd say everybody is available except our starter today, and I don't know about Dallas,” Van Horn said.

Eibner, whose two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth extended the game Wednesday night, is hoping for a second chance on the mound. Eibner (5-5) took the loss Monday against LSU, allowing four runs on five hits in 1.2 innings.

“I didn't throw very well Monday, and I'm real disappointed in what I did,” Eibner said. “I've let that go and I'm ready to go again.”

Fans agree: Hit was homer

The left-field bleacher fans who had a brush with John Hicks' fifth-inning drive all agreed. It was definitely a home run.

The Virginia hitter's blast carried into the bleachers, where 14-year-old Dustin Cooper of Copperas Cove, Texas, was in position to make a backhanded catch with his glove. But 18-year-old Blake West of French Settlement, La., reached his purple LSU cap across his friend — Jordon Cornetz — and in front of Cooper's glove. The ball hit off West's cap and hand and ricocheted back onto the field.

None had leaned over the outfield wall, which could have resulted in a fan interference call.

Third-base umpire Tony Maners gave the safe sign, not the home run signal, and Hicks stopped at second. After the other umpires consulted, it was ruled a home run and Virginia led 1-0.

Cooper said he got to the stadium five hours early, giving him the chance to get a front-row seat.

The run looked big at the time, but Arkansas eventually won 4-3 in 12 innings.

— Rob White

O’Connor family feels ‘thrill’
By Chad Purcell
World-Herald Staff Writer

For the record, Barb O’Connor said, it was so much tougher watching her son work from the mound.

Sure, it’s been an emotional roller coaster for the O’Connor clan this week at Rosenblatt Stadium. But at least it’s at the point now where Barb — mother of Virginia coach Brian O’Connor — can sit somewhat still.

“I used to get a lot more nervous when Brian was pitching,” Barb said. “It was tough just to watch. Most of the time, I used to walk the fence line.”

The arrival of O’Connor’s Cavaliers to the 2009 College World Series has been one of the biggest stories surrounding this year’s event. And just as you’d imagine, the occasion has been every bit as thrilling, chilling and draining for the coach’s immediate family.

Brian’s parents, Barb and John, already were in their seats about 10 rows behind the Virginia dugout some 45 minutes before Wednesday’s game. The Council Bluffs couple could barely go a second without somebody — friends and strangers alike — stopping by to chat.

Two days after their son guided Virginia to a win over favored Cal State Fullerton, the O’Connors still seemed to be floating on air.

“Even if they didn’t win a game here, this all would’ve been phenomenal,” John said. “But to watch them win that one, it was such a thrill.”

This is one family reunion the O’Connors say they could get used to. On Wednesday, their party numbered about 25 strong and included the coach’s wife, Cindy, and two brothers, John and Kelly.

But even when they aren’t at the ballpark, the commotion seems non-stop. The e-mails haven’t stopped flooding in. The phone rings off the wall. Letters and cards even keep coming in.

“It’s really amazing,” said Kelly O’Connor, who played college ball with Brian at Creighton. “I’ve reconnected with so many people because of this. It’s been great.”

It’s been well-chronicled how Brian made it to the College World Series as a player in 1991 with the Bluejays, and how he came back in 2002 as a Notre Dame assistant. But none of this hubbub ever gets old for the family, Kelly confirmed.

“For him to be able to do this for his players, I know that just means so much to him,” Kelly said. “Before they made it this year, a lot of people used to ask us, ‘When’s Brian coming back to Omaha?’ But I don’t know if people understand how truly difficult it is to get here.

“This is very special for all of us.”



 

A trip for fathers and sons
By Jay Jenkins
Published: June 18, 2009

OMAHA, Neb. — It was a made-for-TV moment.

Fathers and sons crowded around in huddles as Omaha steaks were slapped on the grill.

Steve Proscia, the father of Virginia third baseman Steven Proscia, did not skip a beat, laying out marinated chicken and whopping-sized steaks at the R.V. park he elected to stay at following his lengthy trek to the College World Series.

The food itself blew the players away. Well, almost everyone.

“I didn’t eat,” said Virginia pitcher Andrew Carraway. “I was just there to hang out and went out with family and friends afterwards.”

He regrets that now.

“He missed out,” said Virginia pitcher Matt Packer, Carraway’s roommate on the road. “It was legit. It was really good, but simple. They just have a grill and some chairs.”

Players and fathers also tossed around footballs and Frisbees as the food was slowly cooked.

“It was something I will always remember,” Packer said.

It is not shocking that the elder Proscia invited the entire contingent to a meal. The families of the players have bonded in a unique way during the magical run that has now included 13 postseason games.

Steven Proscia, a rookie, has enjoyed seeing his father every step of the way despite what it may have done to his bank account.

“He is a character,” he chuckled. “He gets everyone involved and he gets the whole team involved. It is just a big party. He just loves it, especially me being a first-year player and being in the College World Series.

“It is really unbelievable.”

Proscia, a New Jersey native, has been a mainstay in Virginia’s lineup, bouncing around the middle part of the batting order. He entered Wednesday’s game with 10 homers, the most by a UVa rookie since 2005.

There have been slumps along the way, but Prosica remained positive.

“I just think it helps when you have teammates around you that are producing as well,” he said. “If one person doesn’t get it done you know somebody else will get it done.

“Anyone on our team is capable of having a big day and it says a lot about our team that anyone is ready to hit and ready to go.”

As for the steaks, they were fittingly purchased in Wahoo, Neb.

“That is a little coincidental,” Proscia said, “but everything is working out for us.”

Shuffling things up

With a left-hander starting for Arkansas, O’Connor elected to switch up his lineup, a practice that dates back to the regular season.

Second baseman Keith Werman, who had six hits in the first two games of the College World Series, was benched. Phil Gosselin assumed the starting duties at second and was replaced in left field by sophomore John Barr.

“It was what got us to this point, so I decided to stick with it,” O’Connor said.

Breaking glass

During a practice session on Tuesday at a local high school, Arkansas centerfielder Brett Eibner drilled a batting practice homer that shattered the window of a fan’s car.

It was not something unique for the Razorbacks.

“We’ve broken one out here before,” said Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn. “I know that’s the third one that’s happened at this ballpark already.

“That’s bad timing on his part.”

Van Horn was asked if the cracked window would provide a positive sign.

“I don’t know,” he joked. “I’ll tell you later on this week and see how it goes, but it did liven it up a little bit out here.

“The guy wasn’t very happy, I can tell you that. He was mad.”
 

Devvarman qualifies for Wimbledon
By The Daily Progress Staff
Published: June 18, 2009

In Wimbledon, England, former Virginia tennis player Somdev Devvarman will make his Grand Slam debut next week after qualifying for the doubles main draw at Wimbledon. Devvarman, the 2007 and 2008 NCAA singles champion, teamed with Kevin Anderson to win two matches in the qualifying draw to advance to the main draw field of 64.

The tournament marks the first time that the two players have teamed together. Anderson, from South Africa, was a three-time All-American at Illinois from 2005-07 and won the 2006 NCAA doubles championship. Last year, Anderson teamed with Robert Lindstedt to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals, before falling to eventual champions Daniel Nestor of Canada and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia.

In the first round of qualifying, Devvarman and Anderson defeated No. 8 seed Sergei Bubka and Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. In the second round of qualifying on Wednesday, the duo topped Alessandro Motti of Italy and Joseph Sirianni of Australia 7-6(0), 6-7(1), 8-6 to qualify for the main draw.

The full draw will be announced Friday.
 

Checking in from the JPJ
Jeff White
Jun 17, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE—The NBA players association’s Top 100 camp opened today, and I spent much of the afternoon at John Paul Jones Arena. Many of the nation’s top high school boys basketball players are in town for the camp, including several U.Va. targets.

One such player is Kyle Collinsworth, a 6-6, 195-pound swingman who’s a rising senior at Provo High in Utah.

Virginia’s new coach, Tony Bennett, knows the Collinsworth family well. When Bennett was the coach at Washington State, he recruited Kyle’s brother Chris, who ultimately signed with BYU. Kyle was a ninth-grader when Bennett began to recruit him, and Bennett hasn’t lost interest since taking the U.Va. job in late March.

Collinsworth’s parents and one of his sisters accompanied Collinsworth to Charlottesville, and while Kyle was on the court, they spent some time in the U.Va. basketball offices with the coaching staff.

I spoke for a few minutes with father Jeff Collinsworth, who told me that the distance between Provo and Charlottesville won’t hinder Virginia’s chances with Kyle. The family holds Bennett in very high regard, and Jeff Collinsworth said his son’s interest in U.Va. is serious.
 

UVa has no worry in Prince dealings
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: June 18, 2009

The scenario out in Manhattan, Kan., which seems more akin to an Abbott & Costello routine — or, better, a Three Stooges episode — won’t have any impact on Virginia’s football program.

Ron Prince, who returned to UVa as special teams coach after being fired as Kansas State’s head coach, is in the center of a legal storm. KSU is attempting to have an agreement worth $3.2 million in deferred payments to Prince declared invalid.

The school claims it was a “secret agreement” between former Kansas State athletic director Bob Krause, who has since been fired, and Prince.

Nowhere to hide

Prince’s attorney, Neil Cornrich — a pretty sharp guy who represents some of the top coaches in college and pro football — maintains the agreement was not done in secret.

“Not only is it inaccurate to claim that this was a secret agreement, but also it makes no sense since the contract was mutually agreed upon, signed and legally binding,” Cornrich has stated.

KSU, which seems to be shooting itself in the foot at every turn (the school has since suspended two longtime athletic administrators without explanation), won’t take the blame for any of the obvious missteps it may have taken.

Outgoing Kansas State president Jon Wefald, who is retiring at the end of the month, should take full responsibility for the mess. He hired Krause, a longtime friend who had never been an athletic director, to head the department. Krause happens to be the son-in-law of one of the school’s top sugar daddies.

Hmmm. Does anyone here see any red flags being sent up the pole?

No such secrets

Wefald said he was shocked to find out about the $3.2 million deal in addition to a $1.5 buyout when KSU booted Prince with five years left on his contract.

Well, I don’t know how Kansas State does its business, and I don’t pretend to be a lawyer, although I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. But, in most of the schools I have covered during my career, the athletic director has to get approval on various levels to sign a deal like this.

In other words, there’s no way that UVa’s Craig Littlepage could sign a deal with a coach without running it through the school’s attorneys and most likely Leonard Sandridge, who would keep his boss appraised of the situation.

No “secret” deal would be possible. There would be several sets of eyes on the scenario.

For KSU to claim that no one other than a couple of people in the athletic department knew about this deal is unthinkable. Sounds like a university that realized it screwed up and is now trying to find a way to keep from paying the money.

Plain and simple. Well, maybe not simple. Not when it has to go through the courts, although no one would be surprised it this controversy ends in a financial settlement.

Meanwhile, Cavalier fans shouldn’t be concerned. It will have no bearing on UVa football. Prince won’t lose any sleep over it because it’s out of his control.

As far as coach Al Groh is concerned, this whole thing might as well be happening on the moon.

Maybe that would be a good place to settle the whole issue, a nice “secret” place where Kansas State can hope there’s no media exposure and where Wefald and Krause might seem more at home.