Spring Sports Recap

This year’s #1 spring sports teams fared much better than last year’s edition. Last year, five of my favorite teams were ranked #1 going into the postseason and all of them choked. Luckily this year, of the four teams that made the playoffs, only one went out early. Coincidentally, the team that came in with the least expectations was the one that won a title.

The Capitals came into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the league and earned the top seed in the East, only to get swept in the second round to the Lightning. Despite their consecutive early exits the past two seasons, the team seems stuck in the same direction by resigning Brooks Laich to a big deal and retaining Coach Boudreau.

Over the weekend, UVA’s #1 ranked baseball team lost in extra innings to eventual back-to-back champion South Carolina after committing back to back errors, having their star pitcher go out sick, and going 0-14 with runners in scoring position. Despite the excruciating way they were eliminated, the Cavaliers had their best season ever, lasting until the final four teams.

Similarly, the UVA tennis team made the final for the first time in the programs history, but also fell short to the eventual back-to-back champion USC (California, not Carolina this time). Despite being a couple points away from pulling off the come-from behind victory, there is no reason they cannot contend for a title again next year considering they are 68-0 against opponents not named the Trojans.

Oddly enough, my spring sports team that ended up going all the way was the one with the lowest expectations; the #7 ranked lacrosse team. Luckily, there’s a chance they can bring home another trophy next season considering most of the starters will be back next year.

Even though the Cleveland Cavs and Wizards did not even make the playoffs, they got great reviews in the draft, so there is hope all around.

Jim Riggleman Quits On the Above .500 Nationals

Minutes after the lowly Nationals won their 11th game in 12 tries, manager Jim Riggleman resigned over a contract dispute. He walks away from a team which is now above .500 for the first time this late in the year since their inaugural season in 2005. Apparently the 140-172 coach dropped an ultimatum on GM Mike Rizzo to extend his current one year deal in the midst of one of the best stretches in the team's recent history.


Only a DC sports team can have both positive and negative news on ESPN.com at the same time: (click to enlarge)

Further reading:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2011/06/jim-riggleman-quits-manager-nationals-winning-streak/1


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/post/riggleman-quits-at-nationals-manager/2011/06/23/AGPDlnhH_blog.html?wprss=nationals-journal

Virginia Cavaliers are Omaha Bound!

UVa’s baseball team is headed to the College World Series for the second time in the program’s history after a thrilling three game series against UC-Irvine. The past weekend, the Cavaliers hosted the Anteaters in the super regional round of the NCAA tournament in surprisingly stormy Charlottesville. In the first game, #2 overall MLB draft pick Danny Hultzen and Cody Winiarski combined to pitch a four hit shutout in the Hoo’s 6-0 victory despite a two hour rain delay.

On Sunday, the Wahoo’s jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second game before monsoon season came delaying the game for four hours. Once play resumed, UC Irvine gained momentum and rallied to tie the game in seventh and took the lead for good in the eighth, forcing an additional game.

In the third and decisive game, the Anteaters and Cavs were locked in a 1-1 pitchers duel going into the ninth inning. In the top of the inning, UVA made an uncharacteristic error on a bunt attempt putting men on first and third with no outs. The next Anteater batter drove in the leading run on a double play. Then in the bottom of the inning, Virginia’s first two batters were quickly retired. Trailing by one run, in front of five thousand fans at home, the nation’s #1 team was on the ropes. Then after falling 1-2, one strike away from elimination, David Coleman singled to center, Jared King got an infield single, and Reed Gragnani walked on four pitches to load the bases. After taking strike one, Chris Taylor makes Sportcenter’s #5 play of the day:

After one strike away from having nothing to write about, now my only concern is which sweet tee shirt I could get?

So Far, So Good for UVA Baseball

Virginia’s road to Omaha got off to a great start this weekend as the Cavaliers baseball team won all three games in the regional round. In three straight routs, the Wahoos crushed Navy, St. Johns, and ECU by a combined 29-3. In addition to their offensive prowess, UVa pitchers struck out 42 batters out of the possible 81 outs. #15 UC-Irvine comes to Charlottesville for the Super Regional this weekend after upsetting UCLA. The Anteaters hosted Virginia two years ago, when the Cavs made it all the way to the College World Series.

In addition, UVa got some other good news, when pitcher Danny Hultzen was surprisingly selected second overall by the Seattle Mariners in last night’s MLB Draft, the highest ever for a Hoo baseball player. I was hoping he was going to fall to sixth to the Nationals, but it looks like there can only be one Cavalier playing close to home.