OT: Hawkeye Baseball Cinderella Story Still Going!

[iowalaw]

To those who didn't follow, the Hawkeye baseball team struggled mightily this year, after having their best season in history last year. Only the top 8 teams in the conference make it to the Big 10 tournament, and the Hawks were in 10th place up until a week ago. They had a win streak at the end of the season that allowed them to sneak into 8th place with a win in their final series of the season.

The Hawks opened the conference tourney as an 8 seed playing the 1 seed...and have won every game since!

Today is the conference championship game. A win and the Hawks are in the NCAA tourney! This is similar to the run Luke Recker's team made in the big ten tourney in basketball, winning 4 games in 4 days as a 7 or 8 seed. Go Hawks! It would be nice to get a Big 10 title this year after having it within our reach in football and basketball.

http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...l-tournament-letter-to-hawkeye-fans/85093636/

 

[WORTHYWISH]

For us that don't follow closely, is this a young team?

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

Also, for those who don't follow the BTT tournament, why is it a one-game final? Why doesn't the double elimination extend all the way to the finals? Seems a little unfair that Iowa has to go undefeated to win the title, but OSU can lose one (and that first loss is to Iowa!) Is that typical?

And Go Hawks!

 

[iowalaw]

It's not a young team, but last year's recruiting class was ranked #1 in the Big 10. Baseball is kind of like basketball, where the studs don't often stick around through their senior years.

 

[DarkThunder#61]

Also, for those who don't follow the BTT tournament, why is it a one-game final? Why doesn't the double elimination extend all the way to the finals? Seems a little unfair that Iowa has to go undefeated to win the title, but OSU can lose one (and that first loss is to Iowa!) Is that typical?

And Go Hawks!

That's baseball.....

 

[backinblack23]

Also, for those who don't follow the BTT tournament, why is it a one-game final? Why doesn't the double elimination extend all the way to the finals? Seems a little unfair that Iowa has to go undefeated to win the title, but OSU can lose one (and that first loss is to Iowa!) Is that typical?

And Go Hawks!

That was my thought as well, how is that fair to any team that goes undefeated in the tournament, yet loses to a team they already beat in the tourney and lose the championship. Isn't the college world series a true double elimination all the way to the end?

 

[cruhawk]

For us that don't follow closely, is this a young team?

Except for a core group of seniors (most notably Tyler Peyton, Nick Roscetti, and Joel Booker), it IS a young team, with its most promising players in the younger classes. The '15 recruits were the top class in the B1G, and the '16 class, originally ranked 3rd in the conference, has been elevated to #1 since the addition of two more players at the end of April, including yet another top 500 recruit (the class now has 10 top 500 high school players).

 

[cruhawk]

That was my thought as well, how is that fair to any team that goes undefeated in the tournament, yet loses to a team they already beat in the tourney and lose the championship. Isn't the college world series a true double elimination all the way to the end?

Yes, the format stinks and it isn't right, but Iowa, having played only three games (by staying in the winner's bracket) compared to five for tOSU, had the inside track--at least with regard to pitching--and should have won. They simply didn't get it done. It's especially tough after watching the B1G teams that did make the NCAA tournament--including tOSU--get bitch-slapped in their regionals. ..

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

Hard to feel sorry for the Buckeyes. I just can't do it.

 

[DarkThunder#61]

Except for a core group of seniors (most notably Tyler Peyton, Nick Roscetti, and Joel Booker), it IS a young team, with its most promising players in the younger classes. The '15 recruits were the top class in the B1G, and the '16 class, originally ranked 3rd in the conference, has been elevated to #1 since the addition of two more players at the end of April, including yet another top 500 recruit (the class now has 10 top 500 high school players).

So.....national championship?

 

[DarkThunder#61]

Yes, the format stinks and it isn't right, but Iowa, having played only three games (by staying in the winner's bracket) compared to five for tOSU, had the inside track--at least with regard to pitching--and should have won. They simply didn't get it done. It's especially tough after watching the B1G teams that did make the NCAA tournament--including tOSU--get bitch-slapped in their regionals. ..

I liked that last part.

If Mathews could've pitched longer, we would've won. That's the unfortunate part. I blame Ohio State for that because I can.....and f*** Ohio State. That's why.

 

[cruhawk]

So.....national championship?

With the talent here, and coming here, I would think some deep runs into the post-season--including CWS appearances--wouldn't be unreasonable to expect. Of course, players getting hurt, getting drafted, or just not panning out, can affect this. But Heller, with his ability to recruit, coach, and push forward in the development of the facilities, has put Iowa in the hunt.