Sorry the posts have been limited today and short on information.
We had Lots of Baseball and Little Time on a key day which kept the Crusader season alive.
North Greenville dropped game 1 of the National Championship Series to Oklahoma Wesleyan 4-2. The Crusaders threatened often in the game, but could never breakthrough against talented right-hander Nick Randolph. NGU loaded the bases a couple times and hit the ball hard, but right at defenders. Three errors also doomed the Crusaders. They fought hard though, and saw Caleb Phillips eat up some key innings to keep many of the other arms fresh for tomorrow. His effort alongside Mark Benjamin's first start kept NGU in it, but the Crusaders couldn't quite get the elusive big hit to tie the game or forge ahead.
The Loss was North Greenville's first at the College World Series, both this year and in the program's history. The Eagles victory snapped a streak of 9 consecutive World Series wins at Legacy Field and Prasco Park. (The Crusaders were 5-0 en route to the title last year, and were 4-0 heading into tonight's match-up)
North Greenville's Baseball Club is still one step away from their dreams becoming reality in 2011. The remaining challenge is to win two games tomorrow to secure a repeat title.
As coach Henson pointed out, North Greenville has already won two games in one day at Prasco Park (site of the Championship Round), they did so just yesterday. Talking with several of the players after tonigh's loss, we recounted numerous times that the team was able to sweep double-headers this year. It will be this task that will stand between them and a Championship tomorrow.
The Crusaders feel good about the fact that they will have National Pitcher of the Year Drew Provence on the mound for Game 2 tomorrow morning. If they can find a way to grab the momentum and force a rubber match, it should make for one more interesting day of World Series Baseball.
After such a long journey, the 2011 Season ends tomorrow!
If things fall their way and they are able to take advantage of their opportunities...the Crusaders could close it out as Back to Back NCCAA National Champions...
See you tomorrow morning at 10:45 on a special National Championship Series edition of The Crusader Pre-Game Show...
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