I said way way back when that if the CWS Championship Series went to a 3rd game, I would make a (feeble) attempt to liveblog it. Eight thousand runs later here we are, a Wednesday night battle for the national title. Even though Fresno State has the momentum from winning last night, they are definitely shorter on arms than Georgia. In my championship series preview I took Fresno State in three, and even though I think Georgia is a better team, I can’t deviate from my prediction now. The liveblog begins below…

P.S., If you guys want to, for example, ask questions about the 08, or perhaps even the 09 Draft in the comments, or college baseball in general for those of you who don’t know as much about the sport, by all means, go ahead.

5:48 (By the way all the times will be Central time): And the first question from Hef is: Assuming that all the high schoolers who was drafted in the first round sign with their teams, who’s the best college player to be drafted in 09? Three names I would throw out right now are right handers Steven Strasburg from San Diego State and Alex White of North Carolina, along with USC catcher Robert Stock

5:53: It occured to me (thanks Gonzo) that I should throw out my e-mail address for questions, so you can either ask in the comments or send them to thecollegehockeyblog@gmail.com

5:57: Gonzo asks: What two college baseball teams hate each other in the same way the Ohio State and Michigan football teams do?
Good question, Gonzo. That would probably have to be Florida State and Miami. The two had a minor bench clearing fiasco in the ACC regular season, and FSU coach Mike Martin wouldn’t come out to shake hands with Miami’s staff after the Noles were eliminated.

5:58: This goes without saying: Erin Andrews is smokin tonight.

6:07: Nug sends in this gem: I’m going to be doing a shot every time the announcers say “the Bulldogs are going to win” as if they are the wittiest guys on Earth. Care to join me? Do you know anyone any part-time college baseball handicappers that picked Fresno State?
Well Hef probably wouldn’t like me drinking on the job, so I’ll pass on that. As far as the handicappers picking Fresno, I would doubt it, although at the start of the season they were seen as being a possible Omaha sleeper team, but tremendously underachieved during the first half of the season.

6:11: And the first pitch is a ball. Here we go folks, tell your friends, maybe get some of the people at TBL away from Gossip Girl

6:15: Sac bunting in the majors is bad enough, but why do guys even bluff doing it with aluminum, especially in the first inning?

6:18 Wow. I guess I’m not positive why you steal there either, especially when you’re dead in the water like that.

6:22: I guess I have to mention the announcers before we get too far into the game: Mike Patrick I think has done a pretty good job all CWS, and Orel Hershiser to me is the best color guy in baseball, period.

6:35: A fairly awkward looking swing results in an opposite field bomb for the one thumbed man. Oh the power of aluminum

6:36: Tommy Mendonca’s all time favorite athlete is Ty Cobb. He’s good people.

6:44: This kid for Fresno should be getting absolutely hammered. He’s leaving a lot of stuff in the middle of the plate, and I faced kids with better stuff when I was in high school

6:46: This ump is being pretty generous as well.

6:49: Muno has been feeling the pressure a little here. If you’re anything but a die hard Georgia fan you almost have to hope Georgia doesn’t score here for that kid’s sake. I sounded a lot like TBL there.

6:54: What’s with the backup catchers playing? I realize that kids are probably tired, but it’s the frickin national title game!

6:58: You music nerds might laugh at me, but the heck with it: I like that new OAR song. Gordon Beckham due up for Georgia next inning.

7:08: I take back all my bad words about Justin Wilson, he is dealing.

7:10: Hef asks: Who drafted Detweiler (if anyone) and why hasn’t he been spoken of more often.
Steve Detweiler is just a Sophomore, and not 21, so he was not draft eligible. But next year you’ll hear more about him.

7:15: Hef also says “talk about how fake and dumb this is” my thoughts: Someone has some sour grapes. Excellent baserunning there by Fresno and they could add onto their lead here.

7:17: Here’s a good question to address during the brief mound meeting: Which teams had the best first round picks and which had the worst? Also, what later picks could pan out?
You have to like the Rangers picking South Carolina 1B Justin Smoak, and I personally think Anthony Hewitt to the Phillies could turn out to be a monster, although his bat is significantly behind the other tools. On the flip side, everyone rips on the Jason Castro pick but I think the Astros simply really really liked him. I think one of the relievers will end up being a bust. Quite frankly I don’t have 100% confidence in Joshua Fields.

7:20: Turn the channel now, Mendonca can’t hit lefties

7:28: With two outs, Georgia really needs to get this guy home from third. Miles Starr and his .222 average probably isn’t what they want up there though.

7:29: With an ump giving the pitcher as much room as he has been tonight, you can’t take strike three there.

7:31: Really, someone sent me a college hockey question? Who’s going to win the Hobey this year?
I think I’m obligated to answer this one, although feel free to groan if you want. Obviously it’s way too early to tell, but a couple names to throw out are Colin Wilson of BU, Lee Jubinville of Princeton, Richard Bachman of CC and Alex Kangas of Minnesota. I actually really like Kangas’s chances to be honest.

7:34: I have no idea what Hef means. Is it just me or has this game been semi-boring? Or is it just cause I feel the pressure to try and make it interesting?

7:39: Beckham will be up again soon. Even though he will be a member of the Chicago White Sox, I really like watching him play and hope he has success in pro ball, which I think he will.

7:41: I forgot to mention that MLJ favorite Ike Davis reportedly has signed with the Mets.

7:43: ESPN just flashed a graphic that Gordon Beckhams dad played QB for South Carolina. Could Beckham be the second kid of a college QB in a few years to win a national title? Huston Street won a title as Texas’s closer, and his father played QB at Texas.

7:49: I thought Erik Wetzel was the best hitter for Fresno, but he’s 0-3 tonight. Ouch.

7:50: I wonder how soon Georgia will bring in Josh Fields?

7:53: I realize college baseball, and especially the WAC, has some offensive environments, but how in the world do you have 92 RBI in a college season?

8:00: Steve Detweiler has had a pretty decent game, to say the least. After last night’s offensive explosion it’s too early to call the game Billy Packer style, but it’s getting pretty close for Georgia.

8:02: If Hef is done, can I be too? The Georgia hitter just threw his bat in the Fresno dugout. Good thing everyone is ok.

8:07: Mendonca has played great at 3rd. Definitely helps cover up for the fact he can’t hit.

8:15: Interesting, Wordpress wouldn’t let me edit this post for awhile. P.S. now I know how hef felt towards the tail end of the draft liveblog.

8:18: Georgia hasn’t been very patient offensively tonight, and they’re swinging at a ton of pitcher’s pitches. No surprise then that they’re not squaring up on a lot of balls.

8:23: 1st and 2nd and Fresno gets out of it. 7 Shutout innings puts Wilson on the short list of best title game performances ever.

8:30: At this point, Steve Detweiler is pretty much a guaranteed hit.

8:34: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Georgia has just 6 outs left. Red Sox just went up 5-0 on the DBacks

8:45: Is Wordpress or my internet the reason why I couldn’t update? Anyways, Georgia finally put one on the board, and just so I have it for the record, I think Michael Beasley will be a much better pro than Derrick Rose

8:47: I kinda have to disagree with Orel here. A 5 run lead isn’t insurmountable, but the steal is kinda bush there.

8:51: Here comes Fields for the last outing of his college career, he should get a nice ovation from the UGA fans.

8:56: The last inning of the college baseball season is always a little sad for me. It’s the culmination of the entire draft season, and for me it’s tons more fun to watch college kids than major leaguers.

8:58: I suppose if everyone for Georgia gets on and Beckham hits a walk off that would be interesting, no? PS, Ombudswoman, call me!

9:00: Hey Clayton Allison, thanks for coming! Seriously though, it’s too bad the senior couldn’t finish it out.

9:04: Why would you swing at the first pitch when a new pitcher comes in? You have to be taking a strike there.

9:05: Fresno is just one out from the title. I predict a flyout to left.

9:07: Flyout to right it is. Hard hit ball, but just hung up in the air too much. Congrats to Fresno, first mens title in any sport for the schol and just the second overall.

9:10: Alright folks, that’s it for me, I’m ending it by saying Erin Andrews, marry me.

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