World Series Day 1 Preview

World Series Gameday has arrived.

The Crusaders completed their service project yesterday and enjoyed the World Series banquet last night, now it is time to get down to baseball. After bad weather all day yesterday, it looks to be clearing off. Forecast seems to indicate that we will be able to get the games in today.

A couple of things from the banquet last night: The BBQ was great and the speakers were even better. Former Giants draft pick and current ESPN analyst Chris Singleton challenged all participants to focus on excellence on the field and in their faith. His address was followed by the yearly awards and announcing of the 2011 NCCAA All-American first and second teams.

North Greenville was well represented in these areas. Adam Taylor was selected as a second team ALL-American outfielder, while Drew Provence and Derek Fulmer were First Team selections.
Provence highlighted the night for NGU, taking home 2011 National Pitcher of the Year honors.

Now to the games...

With all due respect to each team in our pool-coupled by the knowledge that once you make it this deep into the post-season all teams are good and any team can beat you- I am going to go ahead and throw it out there (for the sake of your gaining insight into the tournament's makeup), that conventional wisdom would suggest that today and tomorrow should determine NGU's standing in their pool.
The Crusaders are going to have what you would expect to be their toughest pool games right out of the gate. This afternoon they face the tournament's #3 overall seed in Mount Vernon, tomorrow morning its #2 overall seed in Chicago based Judson.

Today's matchup should be another excellent pitching duel (watch it be like 13-12 now that I said that), with both starters having been selected as 2011 First Team All-Americans.

Here are the numbers on our Ace...
Drew Provence  9 Regular Season Starts  (7-1) 3.39 48K/13BB  in 61 1/3 Innings
                      Post-Season: 1-0, 2 ER, 7K/2BB in 7 IP vs Palm Beach last week

He will go up against the Mount Vernon staff Ace...
Kyle Barr  (7-2) 2.18 83K/28BB in 74 1/3 IP  5 CG and 1 Save in 12 Appearances


North Greenville will be the visiting team in game one.

First pitch for the Defending Champs is slated for 2:30 PM. 

The Crusader pregame show will be on the air at 2:15.

Will try to post more, including scoring updates on the other two pool games being played prior to ours, when we arrive at the Ballpark around Noon.