“I don’t believe what I just saw!” Jack Buck’s famous line from the 1988 World Series just moments after Kirk Gibson’s dramatic ninth inning homerun is fitting for the Mississippi State Bulldogs’ roller coaster series victory this weekend.
Mississippi State and Vanderbilt played three nights of some of the most inspired baseball I have seen in years. Every pitch was crucial, and in the end the Bulldogs of Mississippi State will head to Omaha for the College World Series. Three nights of clutch hitting led the underdog MSU Bullies over Vandy. The MSU baseball team was left for dead in February, March, April and even as late as Memorial Day. Then, like Lazarus, MSU resurfaced in June to earn its tenth appearance in the College World Series to keep the proud tradition of MSU baseball moving forward.
If you saw the Bulldogs back in February when they took on USM in a three-game set, you likely thought this would be a rebuilding year for the Bullies. They struggled to stay above the .500 mark all year, but a three-game sweep of No. 3 Arkansas and top ranked Florida gave their faithful fans hope of a run in the SEC Tournament.
That hope faded on the opening day of the tournament when LSU ousted the Dogs in Hoover and then a week later Oklahoma rolled over the Bulldogs in the Regional opener in Tallahassee. After that, MSU played liked the 1927 Yankees.
Stats do not lie. There are 14 teams playing baseball in the SEC. State was twelfth in homers, thirteenth in steals and twelfth in fielding percentage. The MSU pitching staff struggled all year and was ranked eleventh in pitching in the SEC. Just a lot of True Grit by these Bulldogs. State has been to three straight Super Regionals and all under a different head coach. More good news for 2019 is that Jake Mangum will come back for his senior year.
BIG DAY FOR BILLY
Taylorsville native Billy Hamilton had a Sunday to remember. The Cincinnati Reds centerfielder threw out two runners, then made outstanding catches against the outfield wall in both the eighth and ninth innings. He also tripled and scored twice in the win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cards had beat the Reds 13 straight times.
EMCC RANKED NO. 1
The East Mississippi Lions are rated No. 1 in the 2018 Street and Smith’s College Football Preview magazine preseason football poll. The NJCAA poll also ranks Northwest Community College at No. 5, Jones County Junior College at No. 13 and Hinds Community College at No. 22. Street and Smith’s College Football Preview magazine is now available at newsstands across the state.
BIG U.S. OPEN PAIRING
Tiger Woods will be paired in the opening two rounds of the U.S. Open with Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson at Shinnecock Hills in New York. Thomas and Johnson are the top two golfers in the pro game, and Woods, who was the top golfer for almost a decade, is No. 80.
For this tournament, another trio of greats in Phil Mickelson, Jordan Speith and Rory Mcllroy will also tee off together. Woods’ last major win was the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego. He bested Rocco Mediate on the 19th hole as 18 extra holes was not enough on that day. It was Woods’ 14th major win.
ODDS & ENDS
— Justify won the Triple Crown by winning the Belmont Stakes as the horse led from start to finish. Justify is the thirteenth Triple Crown winner and first since 2015 when American Pharaoh captured the Triple Crown.
— Golden State won its third NBA title in four years with a sweep of LeBron James and Cleveland. It was the first sweep in the NBA Finals since 2007 when San Antonio swept James and Cleveland.
— Where will LeBron James play next year? He is a free agent and will pick from both L.A. teams, Philadelphia, Houston, San Antonio, Boston and Miami. He could surprise a lot of folks and sign back with Cleveland, which would be a good thing for the NBA.
— The Washington Capitals won their first Stanley Cup in pro hockey as they downed upstart Las Vegas in the National Hockey League finals.
— The World Cup will be played in a dozen cities across the Soviet Union beginning Thursday. The U.S. does not have a team in this year’s soccer championships.
