The Texas baseball season will end tonight in Omaha.  The question is,  will Texas close it out with a dog-pile on the mound or with the disappointment of coming so close, but leaving with second place?

Texas sophomore Cole Green will get the start for the Longhorns, but other than Taylor Jungmann, the entire pitching staff will be ready to go.  As of 4:25 pm it is warm and sunny, but there is a chance of thunderstorms throughout the evening. 

Here’s a look at the Horns arrival to Rosenblatt Stadium at about 3:30 Central time.

The UT-LSU championship series game will be delayed because of thunderstorms in Omaha.  The game is scheduled to start at 6:10, but it looks like it will be at least 7:00 before they get started.

The Longhorns are trying to avoid elimination with a win over the Tigers and force a third and deciding game.

The Longhorns will try to extend their season tonight against LSU.  Texas will need to end the Tigers 14 game winning streak that goes back to May 20th in order to force a deciding 3rd game on Wednesday.  Horns hoping they have a little history on their side, two of the last three CWS winners lost their first game of the Championship series, Oregon State in 2oo6 in Fresno State last year.

Texas fans have not given up hope.  Check out the video below as fans lined up some 7 hours before 300 tickets went on sale for tonights game.

 

The heat is on the Longhorns and everyone else in Omaha.  It is smokin hot for the 2nd straight day.  I know its hotter in Austin, but maybe it feels so hot because its not supposed to be an oven up here. Actually its not that unusual for the temps to reach the 90’s this time of year, but after covering this event 8 times over the last 18 years,l I’m more used to 70’s and 80’s than high 90’s. 

We arrived at Rosenblatt Stadium around 11am and the fans are already lined up behind the outfield for those bleacher seats. Die hard.

LSU did to Texas what the Longhorns have been doing to other teams this entire post season.  LSU scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th with two outs to the tie the game 6-6.  Tigers won it with a two out rbi single from Mike Mahtook in the top of the 11th.  Horns face elimination for the 2nd time in the post season.  Horns won the third and deciding game against TCU in the Super Regional.  Augie Garrido it will be tough to accept this loss, but also said that if they Horns let this one linger on Tuesday, they have already lost the game. 

It’s great to be back in Omaha for the College World Series. There are a few things that make this one of the best sporting events ever and the CWS Statue is one of the reasons for this. I’ve seen more families take pictures here than any other place at any other sporting event that i’ve been to. I wanted to give you a sneak peak of where it is and how ESPN gets all of those cool shots.

ONe of the reasons I simply love this statue is because it represents the joy of the game. Not one single person or thing, but the emotion of winning, the joy of being number 1, the start of the dog pile…it’s awesome and if you can, you should get a picture taken in front of the CWS statue.

Texas arrived just after 3:00 to Rosenblatt Stadium for Game One of the CWS championship series.  LSU rolled in about a half hour later.  It was pretty clear based on the reception that unless the UT fans are late arriving, there will be more Purple than Burnt Orange in the stadium.  Even though the Horns are the number one seed, you get the feeling they are the underdog.  Texas has been battling all post season starting wtih that 25 inning win against Boston College in the 2nd game of the regional.  LSU has been red hot for a while.  Tigers have won their last 13 games.  You have to go back to May 20th against Vanderbilt for their last loss.  While LSU has won all five of their national championship games, they have never played in a best of three series for the title.  Texas is 1-1 in that format, losing two in a row to Cal-State Fullerton in 2004 and then beating Florida in two straight for the last title in 2005.

Here is some video from both teams arriving.

Its game day in Omaha.  That is actually rare for the Horns lately.  Texas has  played a grand total of three games since winning the Super Regional on June 7th. Now it comes down to the best two out of three against LSU.  Tigers won five titles from 1991 to 2000.  Texas is looking for its third championship since 2002. 

 Rosenblatt Stadium has been THE destination for College Baseball players for more than 50 years.  That is coming to an end.  A new park is under construction in downtown Omaha that will  be ready for the 2011 CWS.

 Below you can take a quick driving tour of the area where the park is being built as well as the cool drive into Rosenblatt Stadium.

Texas didn’t practice on Saturday after their win over Arizona State friday to earn a trip to the College World Series final.  Augie Garrido’s reason, at least the one he shared with media Sunday was “how can you practice winning like that?”  Garrido was referring to the Horns third straight dramatic finish in Omaha.  Cameron Rupp hit a tape-measure home run to dead center field to tie the game, then Connor Rowe won it with a homer to left.  Texas will now face LSU for the National Championship.  The Tigers have won their three games in convincing fashion, outscoring their opponents 34-11.  LSU will try to win their 6th national championship, Texas is looking for its 7th.  A national title would give Augie Garrido his 6th as a head coach, one more than former LSU coach Skip Bertman.  Sophomore Chance Ruffin will start for Texas after going just two innings in Tuesday’s win against ASU while LSU counters with SEC pitcher of the year Louis Coleman. 

This is the 2nd to last year the College World Series will be played at Rosenblatt Stadium.  After next years series it will move to downtown Omaha and into the under construction TD Ameritrade Park next to the Qwest Center.    Here’s a quick look at the view walking into Rosenblatt.

Giddings lost their 3A championship game 5-2 to Carthage Friday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk field.  The Buffaloes were cruising behind starting pitcher Ethan Kmoch until  the 5th inning.  Carthage struck for four runs, all with two outs to erase a 2-1 giddings lead.  The Buffaloes did put their first two batters on in the top of the 7th, but could not bring in any runs.

With just two seniors on the roster, Giddings figure to be one of the favorites next year in Class 3A.