Newcomers to our region sometimes are surprised to discover an unexpected sport thriving in our backyard: college baseball. That’s right, college baseball. Northerners have such a short season for their college baseball teams because the climate just doesn’t allow for as many games. Down south we don’t really have that problem, although I’m sure many of us would argue that these heat waves we’ve been having rival any type of colder weather!

The Charlotte 49ers baseball team played their first game on February 18, 2011 (a win over Coppin State).  With such a long season possible, it’s no wonder that so many of the college teams in our region experience great success.  Young student athletes are attracted to programs that give them the opportunity to play lots of games and develop their talents accordingly.

This year 7 of our area teams qualified to go the NCAA baseball tournament: Charlotte, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, N.C. State, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Both the North Carolina Tar Heels and the South Carolina Gamecocks advanced through the tournament winning their Super Regionals which qualified them to play in the College World Series (CWS) in Omaha, Nebraska. Unfortunately, we watched Vanderbilt and North Carolina slug it out earlier this week, only to see Vanderbilt come out on top. To many, that game was a major upset given that North Carolina has made five CWS trips in six years. Vanderbilt was in Omaha for the first time in program history. UNC was the No. 3 national seed; Vandy was the No. 6 seed. But why dwell in the past?

The South Carolina Gamecocks are still very much alive and are gearing up for a rematch against the Virginia Cavaliers. South Carolina defeated Virginia 7-1 on Tuesday and a win for USC today would send them back to the best-of-three championship series for the second straight year.I get excited just thinking about it!

Nothing like a spring afternoon or evening at the ballpark, college baseball style!

By DJ Stephan