The 2008 College World Series is just a few months away, and eight teams will earn a trip to Rosenblatt Stadium for a shot at a national title beginning Saturday, June 14.
Each week during the college baseball season, the CWS Tickets Race To Rosenblatt will list the eight teams who look to be the best bets to earn a trip to Rosenblatt Stadium. In our first installment, we'll highlight the eight teams that start the year as our favorites to make the trip to Omaha's Rosenblatt Stadium.
1. Arizona State
The Sun Devils reached the College World Series last year and have all the ingredients to not only get back to Omaha, but win the whole thing in 2008.
The Sun Devils have three preseason All-Americans returning to the lineup, led by outstanding third baseman Brett Wallace. The junior won the Pac 10 Triple Crown in 2007, leading the conference in average (.404), homers (16) and RBIs (78). He will anchor a very strong lineup that also includes preseason All-Americans Ike Davis (.349, 8 HR, 61 RBI) at first base and catcher Petey Paramore (.379, 53 walks).
Arizona State has a very solid pitching staff with a pair of 10-game winners returning. Josh Satow (13-3, 2.76 ERA, 119 K) and Mike Leake (13-2, 3.69, 94 K) give the Sun Devils a solid 1-2 combination on the mound, and Jason Jarvis was solid in relief last year, posting 11 saves.
The Sun Devils will have a tough challenge this year, with in-state rival Arizona among the key contenders in the Pac 10 and national races. With their returning talent, though, they look to be the leaders out of the starting gate in 2008.
2. North Carolina
They've been bridesmaids the past two years, but North Carolina has all the makings of a team set to move up one spot and make a claim as national champions in 2008.
The Tar Heels have a number of standouts from last year's team back, including pitchers Adam Warren and Alex White. Warren was an outstanding 12-0 last year and won two games for the Hells at the CWS. White also was solid, going 6-4 with a 3.35 ERA. They will anchor a solid staff that has some youth, but should be stronger by season's end.
Dustin Ackley is one of the key offensive standouts returning for North Carolina, coming off an outstanding freshman campaign that saw him lead the nation with 119 hits and earn All-America honors. He batted .402 with 10 homers and 74 RBIs and will see time at first base and left field.
Junior Garrett Gore will move from second base to shortstop this year, making way for sophomore Kyle Seager, who hit .308 last year. Chad Flack will anchor the hot corner for a third straight year, and Kyle Shelton will split time with Ackley at first base when Ackley plays in the outfield.
Seth Williams and Tim Fedroff are back in the outfield for the Heels, and several younger players could also see time in the outfield for coach Mike Fox.
North Carolina will be at something of a disadvantage this spring, as their home field is undergoing renovations. They will play their home games 20 miles away at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
3. Arizona
The battle for baseball supremacy in Arizona should be interesting, as the Wildcats bring back a loaded lineup from last year that should make for an interesting season.
Almost all of the starting infield from last year is back. Third baseman Brad Glenn (.333, 10 HR, 62 RBI) and first baseman C.J. Ziegler (.355, 13 HR, 63 RBI) give Arizona a good 1-2 punch offensively, while Colt Sedbrook (.335) and Robert Abel (.264) will shore things up in the middle.
Dwight Childs returns behind the plate for the Wildcats after starting 52 of 59 games last year. In the outfield, T.J. Steele (.323, 21 SB), Jon Gaston (.319) and Diallo Fon (.300) are all back as well.
The Wildcats have a solid pitching staff returning, led by staff ace Preston Guilmet (12-2, 1.87 ERA, 146 K). The righthander allowed just 34 walks and had five complete games last year, giving the Wildcats a durable No. 1 arm. He'll be joined by Jason Stoffel (5-0, 1.87), Cory Burns, Mike Colla, Ryan Perry and lefties Daniel Schlereth (8 saves) and David Coulon.
4. Rice
One of the most successful programs of the past decade has been the Rice Owls, and they are a prime contender for a national title once again in 2008. Coach Wayne Graham is in his 17th year with the Owls, and he has a great nucleus to build around last year's team that finished in the final four at the College World Series last year.
The Owls have a great 1-2 combination on the mound with Matt Langwell (8-2, 2.35 ERA, 57 K) and Ryan Berry (11-3, 3.01, 125 K). They also have a good closer back in Cole St. Clair, who had nine saves last year and struck out 26 while holding down a 1.91 ERA.
Offensively, the Owls lost some pop from last year's bats, but still have some good wood returning, led by infielder Aaron Luna, who had a team-best 13 home runs and 66 RBIs last year. Jordan Dodson (.302) is back, as are infielders Diego Seastrunk (.304) and Jess Buenger (.306).
The Owls have some good talent that came in off the bench last year and should battle for a starting spot in 2008. Among those are Jared Gayhart, who batted .339 last year to lead all returning Rice players. Catcher Adam Zornes could step into the starting role as the Rice backstop this year.
5. Vanderbilt
The Commodores had a breakout season last year and were ranked No. 1 in the country heading into the postseason. Although they fell in super-regionals, they look to be in good shape for a national title run in 2008.
Leading the way will be senior outfielder Dominic de la Osa, one of the leading candidates for top individual honors nationally this spring. He hit .378 with 20 homers and 62 RBIs and stole 20 bases last year for Vandy, and will be the anchor of the Commodores offensively.
de la Osa will be joined by senior David Macias, a defensive specialist, in a group of six returning starters on defense. Junior shortstop Ryan Flaherty earned All-American honors last year and brings a 35-game hitting streak into the season. He'll be joined by veteran infielders Brad French at first, Alex Feinberg at second and junior Pedro Alvarez at third, another All-American who led the team with a .386 average.
Vanderbilt will have a pretty solid staff returning, led by sophomore Mike Minor. Minor is coming off a 9-1 campaign and earned Freshman All-American honors last year, and he will be joined by juniors Brett Jacobson and Nick Christiani as the leaders of the Vandy staff. They will be directed by senior catcher Shea Robin, one of the top defensive backstops in the nation.
6. South Carolina
The Gamecocks lost a heartbreaking super-regional with eventual runner-up North Carolina last year, but should have a good enough nucleus returning to make a run at getting back to the CWS in 2008.
South Carolina has some great offensive talent coming back, led by junior first baseman Justin Smoak (22 HR, 72 RBI, .315). Smoak is one of three returning players with double digit home run numbers in 2007, making the Gamecocks a serious offensive threat.
Also coming back in the big-stick department are junior infielder James Darnell (.331, 19 HR, 63 RBI) and senior catcher Phil Disher (.328, 15, 63). Six of South Carolina's full-time starters on defense are back this season.
The Gamecocks lost some good arms in the pitching department, but still have a good nucleus returning. Blake Cooper (7-2, 4.48 ERA) and Mike Cosco (6-2, 3.84, 74 K) lead a group of three starters back, and Curtis Johnson should be solid in relief after striking out 54 in 42 innings of work.
7. San Diego
The Toreros were looking like a serious contender for the CWS last year, but saw their hopes derailed when they were upset in regional play.
Coach Rich Hill should get another opportunity to make a serious run in 2008 despite losing several key players from last year. The Toreros' strength will be in its pitching, which will be anchored by preseason All-American Brian Matusz. The senior was 10-3 last year with a school-record 163 strikeouts and was a Team USA member last year.
Also coming back to the USD pitching staff is Josh Romanski, another preseason All-American. A left-handed junior, he went 9-1 with a 3.05 ERA last year and also performed well at the plate, batting .335 with 30 RBI to earn second-team All-American and first team All-West Coast Conference honors.
The Toreros have a solid third starting arm in senior Matt Couch (9-2, 3.60), and a good closer in sophomore A.J. Griffin, who had an impressive 11 saves and a 6-2 record last year as a freshman.
San Diego should be solid defensively, led by returning catcher Logan Gelbrich. The infield is led by James Meador at first base, Kevin Hansen will move from third base to second base, Victor Sanchez is a hot recruit who will step in at third and standout shortstop Sean Nicol will be a force as well.
Romanski will play outfield when he's not pitching, leading things in center. Vanderbilt transfer Ryan Davis should step in at right field, and two freshmen -- Anthony Strazzara and Zach Walters -- appear to be in the hunt in left field.
8. Ole Miss
The Rebels look to have a solid lineup in 2008, led by preseason All-American pitchers Lance Lynn and Cody Satterwhite.
Lynn will anchor the Ole Miss starters after an 8-5 campaign and a team-leading 2.85 earned-run average. He struck out 146 and walked just 44 last year, giving the Rebels a solid No. 1 starter. Satterwhite, meanwhile, is capable of closing things out after recording four saves last year. They are among five pitchers returning for Ole Miss this spring.
Offensively, first baseman Justin Smoak and third baseman James Darnell also earned preseason All-American honors, and they will give Ole Miss a solid effort at each corner. Smoak hit .315 with 22 homers and 72 RBIs last year for South Carolina, while Darnell led the team last year with a .331 average, hitting 19 homers and 63 RBIs.
Check back weekly throughout the season and see which teams move up and down the list. And don't forget to get your CWS tickets at Ticket Express, where no College World Series game is ever sold out.
