This year, we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of our nation. The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, in the midst of the American Revolution. The war began a year before with the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. The beginning shot of the battle became known as “the shot heard around the world.”
A lesser known “shot heard around the world” happened later in Omaha, Neb., as Warren Morris delivered a 9th inning home run over the right field wall of Rosenblatt Stadium to send LSU to a College World Series win over Miami and sent Alex Cora face-first on the infield dirt. This past Monday, June 8, marked the 30th anniversary of that fateful day in history.
Sadly, though, LSU will not be in Omaha this year to celebrate the anniversary. The baseball team’s season ended after going 1-1 in the SEC Tournament.
But, five SEC teams will be celebrating an appearance at this year’s CWS. And, in fact, one side of the bracket can be described as an SEC Invitational. On that side of the bracket, Oklahoma plays Alabama (geaux Sooners), and Georgia plays Texas. Where have we seen this scenario before?
Anyway, Alabama is partying like it’s 1999 because it is the Crimson Tide’s first CWS appearance since 1999.
The other side of the bracket includes Ole Miss playing North Carolina (geaux Tar Heels) and Troy playing West Virginia.
That Troy game against West Virginia is the first matchup between teams making their first CWS appearance since LSU played Loyola Marymount 40 years ago in 1986.
As for me, I am pulling for West Virginia to win the whole thing this year. Here are a few reasons why.
I watched the end of the Regional finals against Kentucky when West Virginia won to advance to the Super Regionals. That scene in Morgantown with the team celebrating as John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” blared over the speakers was something to watch. In an age of college athletics being dominated by transfer portals and NIL deals, it is refreshing to see a scrappy team from West Virginia find success on the field.
Also, I have been to Morgantown and experienced it first hand. Several years ago, I went with some friends when LSU football played the Mountaineers. It was a great experience. Although we did not get the full experience because we did not see any locals light sofas on fire. I have not fact checked that claim, but it is one that I heard on several locations.
Circling back to Warren Morris, in a few weeks, he will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame as an Ambassador Award winner. Since Alex Cora is currently out of a job after being fired as manager of the Boston Red Sox, I, as secretary of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, suggested to our president and vice president that we invite him to the induction ceremony in Natchitoches. I still did not get a response. I can dream, can’t I?
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