population-we™: pop-we Highlights 2014 Men's College World Series Lineup

The 2014 College World Series will be played in Omaha, NE at TD Ameritrade Park from June 14 thru June 24 or 25, if necessary. There will not be a repeat this year as last year's champion UCLA finished 25-30-11 and did not garner an invitation to the tournament of 64. The final field of eight only has one team returning from last year with Louisville playing their way back. Only two of the top eight national seeds made it through with third seed Virginia and seventh seed TCU avoiding the upsets.

The first game Saturday has 40-23 UC-Irvine against 43-19 Texas. UC-Irvine earned their ticket to Omaha by beating Oklahoma State 8-4 and 1-0 in the super regional. Texas claimed their super regional against Kansas State winning 12-0 in the first game, losing 5-4 in the second and clinching 9-8 in the deciding third game.

The UC-Irvine Anteaters are led by Head Coach Mike Gillespie. Their top seven hitters are Connor Spencer (.368), Jerry McClanahan (.315), Taylor Sparks (.314), Jonathan Munoz (.294), Grant Palmer (.271), Chris Rabago (.253) and Mikey Duarte (.241) with Sparks and Kris Paulino leading the team with 5 home runs followed by Spencer and McClanahan with one each. The team batting average is .273 and they average 4.4 runs a game. Their top three starting pitchers are Andrew Morales (11-2, 1.53), Elliot Surrey (8-4, 1.99) and Evan Brock (9-6, 3.09) with Sam Moore being their main closer with 23 saves. Their team ERA is 2.73 and they have given up 3.4 runs per game. In the 2014 MLB draft they had five players taken: Sparks (Reds, 2nd round), Morales (Cardinals, 2nd), Spencer (Yankees, 8th), Rabago (Rockies, 13th) and Moore (Dodgers, 40th). This is their second CWS appearance and have not won the championship.

The Texas Longhorns are led by Head Coach Augie Garrido. Their top seven hitters are Madison Carter (.346), Mark Payton (.320), C.J. Hinojosa (.300), Brooks Marlow(.278), Zane Gurwitz (.278), Ben Johnson (.270) and Tres Barrera (.270) with Johnson leading the team with six home runs followed by Barrera with five. Their team batting average is .267 and they average 4.6 runs per game. Their top three starting pitchers are Nathan Thornhill (8-3, 1.63), Dillon Peters (7-3, 2.13) and Parker French (6-5, 2.45) with John Curtiss being their main closer with nine saves. Their team ERA is 2.33 and they give up 2.9 runs per game. In the 2014 MLB draft they had six players taken: Curtiss (Twins, 6th round), Payton (Yankees, 7th), Peters (Marlins, 10th), Thornhill (Phillies, 13th), Lukas Schiraldi (Mariners, 15th) and French (Tigers, 19th). This is their 35th CWS appearance and they won six championships.

The second game Saturday has 50-15 Louisville against 46-19 Vanderbilt. Louisville knocked off Kennesaw State 5-3 and 7-4 in their super regional. Vanderbilt claimed their super regional against Stanford winning 11-6 in the first game, losing 5-4 in the second and clinching 12-5 in the deciding third game.

The Louisville Cardinal are led by Head Coach Dan McDonell. Their top seven hitters are Nick Solak (.362), Cole Sturgeon (.328), Kyle Gibson (.323), Jeff Gardner (.318), Alex Chittenden (.295), Grant Kay (.288) and Zach Lucas (.268) with Gardner leading the team with nine home runs followed by Kay and Lucas with five each. Their team batting averge is .287 and they have averaged 6.3 runs per game. Their top three starting pitchers are Kyle Funkhouser (13-3, 1.94), Anthony Kidston (9-0, 3.54) and Jared Ruxer (7-1, 2.27) with Nick Burdi being their main closer with 18 saves. Their team ERA is 2.81 and they have given up 3.3 runs per game. In the 2014 MLB draft they had eight players taken: Burdi (Twins, 2nd round), Gardner (Nationals, 8th), Sturgeon (Red Sox, 10th), Ruxer (Angels, 12th), Joe Filomeno (Twins, 15th), Kay (Rays, 27th), Zachary Lucas (Pirates, 29th) and Kyle McGrath (Padres, 36th). This is their third CWS appearance.

The Vanderbilt Commodores are led by Head Coach Tim Corbin. Their top seven hitters are Bryan Reynolds (.340), Dansby Swanson (.336), Vince Conde (.301), Xavier Turner (.283), John Norwood (.281), Rhett Wiseman (.274) and Zander Wiel (.273) with Wiel leading the team with five home runs followed by Reynolds and Conde with four each. Their team batting average is .282 while scoring 5.7 runs per game. Their top three starting pitchers are Walker Buehler (11-2, 2.39), Tyler Ferguson (8-3, 2.51) and Tyler Beede (8-7, 3.58) with Carson Fulmer being their main closer with 10 saves. Their team ERA is 2.75 and they give up 3.4 runs per game. In the 2014 MLB draft they had five players taken: Beede (Giants, 1st round), Adam Ravenelle (Tigers, 4th), Conde (Yankees, 9th), Jared Miller (Diamondbacks, 11th), and Brian Miller (Rays, 15th). This is their second CWS appearance.

The first game Sunday has 45-19 Texas Tech taking on 47-16 seventh seed TCU. Texas Tech battled through their super regional beating College of Charleston 1-0 and 1-0. TCU claimed their super regional against Pepperdine winning 3-2 in the first game, losing 3-2 in the second and clinching 6-5 in the deciding third game.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders are led by Head Coach Tim Tadlock. Their top seven hitters are Tyler Neslony (.388), Alex Humphreys (.322), Tim Proudfoot (.317), Eric Gutierrez (.312), Adam Kirsch (.300), Stephen Smith (.282) and Bryant Burleson (.275) with Gutierrez leading the team with 12 home runs followed by Kirsch with 10. The team batting average is .287 while scoring 6.0 runs per game. Their top three starting pitchers are Dylan Dusek (8-0, 1.94), Cameron Smith (8-2, 2.81) and Chris Sadberry (5-3, 3.17) with Jonny Drozd being their main closer with five saves. Their team ERA is 3.17 and they gave up 3.5 runs per game. In the 2014 MLB draft they had four players taken: Sadberry (Marlins, 6th round), Hunter Redman (Dodgers, 8th), Proudfoot (Athletics, 21st), and Dominic Moreno (Cardinals, 33rd). This is their first CWS appearance.

The Texas Christian Horned Frogs are led by Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle. Their top seven hitters are Garrett Crain (.335), Boomer White (.318), Dylan Fitzgerald (.318), Derek Odell (.280), Kevin Cron (.279), Jerrick Suiter (.278) and Cody Jones (.269) with Cron leading the team with five home runs followed by Fitzgerald, White and Jeremie Fagnan with two each. Their team batting average is .283 while scoring 5.1 runs per game. Their top three starting pitchers are Preston Morrison (9-4, 1.32), Brandon Finnegan (9-3, 2.12) and Tyler Alexander (10-3, 2.16) with Riley Ferrell being their main closer with 15 saves. Their team ERA is 2.19 and they gave up 2.7 runs per game. In the 2014 MLB draft they had six players taken: Finnegan (Royals, 1st round), Jordan Kipper (Angels, 9th), Cron (Diamondbacks, 14th), Kyle Bacak (Nationals, 25th), Suiter (Pirates, 26th) and Jones (Indians, 38th). This is their second CWS appearance.

The second game Sunday has 49-14 third seed Virginia taking on 46-19 Mississippi. Virginia was challenged at their super regional by Maryland who they lost 9-5 in the first game then beat 7-3 and 11-2. Mississippi faced sixth seeded Louisiana-Lafayette who they lost 9-5 in the first game and then won 5-2 and 10-4.

The Virginia Cavaliers are led by Head Coach Brian O'Connor. Their top seven hitters are John La Prise (.368), Mike Papi (.311), Joe McCarthy (.305), Branden Cogswell (.292), Derek Fisher (.285), Kenny Towns (.273) and Daniel Pinero (.266) with Papi leading the team with 11 home runs followed by Brandon Downes with seven. Their team batting average is .281 while scoring 5.6 runs per game. Their top three starting pitchers are Nathan Kirby (9-2, 1.73), Brandon Waddell (9-3, 2.66) and Josh Sporz (5-4, 3.04) with Nick Howard being their main closer with 19 saves. Their team ERA is 2.31 and they have allowed 2.7 runs per game. In the 2014 MLB draft they had eight players taken: Howard (Reds, 1st round), Fisher (Astros, 1st), Papi (Indians, 1st), Downes (Royals, 7th), Cogswell (Athletics, 7th), Artie Lewicki (Tigers, 8th), Whit Mayberry (Tigers, 21st) and Nate Irving (Diamondbacks, 34th). This is their third CWS appearance.

The Mississippi Rebels are led by Head Coach Mike Bianco. Their top seven hitters are Auston Bousfield (.349), Will Allen (.345), Austen Anderson (.331), J.B. Woodman (.308), Brantley Bell (.307), Errol Robinson (.299) and Sikes Orvis (.295) with Orvis leading the team with 14 home runs followed by Bousfield with six. Their team batting average is .303 while scoring 6.1 runs per game. Their top three starting pitchers are Chris Ellis (10-2, 2.45), Christian Trent (9-0, 2.21) and Sam Smith (5-4, 3.45) with John Laxer being their main closer with six saves. Their team ERA is 2.72 and they have allowed 3.4 runs per game. In the 2014 MLB draft Ole Miss had nine players taken: Ellis (Angels, 3rd round), Bousfield (Padres, 5th), Anderson (Orioles, 9th), Laxer (Tigers, 9th), Braxton Lee (Rays, 12th), Allen (Tigers, 12th), Hawtin Buchanan (Mariners, 20th), Aaron Greenwood (Astros, 28th) and Trent (Dodgers, 29th). This is their fifth CWS appearance.

With only two national seeds this College World Series could have a cinderfella ending for one of the other six. Time to play ball in Omaha!

-population-we™ blog post by John Bohan

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