After a lengthy hiatus, the Arkansas Razorbacks are finally back in Omaha at the College World Series, armed for bear and looking to settle a score.
Everyone is over-aware of how things went down in 2018, so I won’t over rehash it. But rest assured, had the right fielder called everyone else off that can-o-corn and made the catch (just as he’s supposed to), DVH would already have at least one Natty.
Instead, here he sits, empty handed and hungrier than ever.
Up first for the Hogs was an old SEC nemesis, LSU, and their ace, Kane Anderson. The lefty is projected as a top draft pick in the upcoming MLB draft, and, perhaps, may be the first pitcher chosen, overall.
Arkansas countered with its own Friday night hoss, Zach Root, another elite southpaw with a bag fulla filthy pitches, and the game was set.
Just after 6 p.m. CST the home plate ump dropped his hand, pointed at Root, hollered, “Play Ball!” and we were off and running at Charles Schwab Field.
The two future first-round draft picks breezed through their half of the first stanza, as expected, and it was evident early on that both were in command of some of their best stuff.
Sadly, Root would come unnerved and lose his head in the next inning, upset with the inconsistency of the strike zone. This led to three earned runs, and he was forced to watch the final 7 1/3 innings from the dugout. Van Horn was as upset as I’d ever seen him with a player when he stormed the mound to collect the game ball. He refused to even meet his gaze, when he snatched it outta the lefty’s hand. Thankfully, he only threw 38 pitches and would have plenty of gas in his tank left to start again on Tuesday.
The margin Root spotted the Tigers would be plenty of room for Anderson and his pen pals to nail down the dub.
Next up for the Hogs were the Racers of Murray St., the Cinderella story of this year’s CWS field. Sorry, but this Arkansas team is more Big Bad Wolf than Wicked Witch and dismissed the underdogs in business-like fashion.
Justin Thomas, Jr., got off the snide and was a perfect 4-4 at the dish to lead a full-team effort. On the other hand, Mr. Gage “I Bring the” Wood took to the hill for the Hogs and was simply splendid. The junior from Batesville retired 27 of the 28 Racers he faced in a no-hit, complete-game shutout, fanning a school record 19 hitters along the way. It was only the third no-no thrown in the history of the CWS. Not only that, but he was one, loose pitch away from the rarest air of all – perfection.
Many pundits are saying that Wood may have tossed the most dominant game in the history of college baseball, considering the circumstances and stage, and all I can do is nod in agreement. For despite all the baseball I’ve been a part of over the decades, that was the one and only no-hitter I’ve witnessed from start to finish, firsthand or otherwise.
So let’s all hang in there and prepare for the long haul, cuz it’s gonna take the entire Natural State getting behind this Hog team to pull it off.
But you gotta believe, baby. You just gotta believe.
GoHogs!