How About Them Cocks?

I had another exciting event take place on my birthday, the College World Series. I am actually a huge baseball fan. I played ball my entire life and it is one of my biggest passions. I admit, sometimes when I watch baseball and my favorite team is playing, I get a little too into the game. I chuck peanuts at the television. I yell at the screen and sometimes at the players (as though they can hear me.) And I often make comments to the umpires when they make bad calls. I am the one in the bar clapping and screaming, "Good eye, way to watch it!" But I can't help it. I love baseball! 

I think I am about 9 years old here.

With that being said, I have two favorite teams. One in the SEC and one in the MLB. I am a diehard Gamecocks fan. I went to the University of South Carolina and actually starting cheering for the Gamecocks when I was in middle school and attended the Lady Gamecocks softball camps. My two best friends and teammates, Megan and Lauren, were huge Cocks fans. So their love for the Gamecocks started rubbing off on me back then. And I am actually a Florida Marlins fan. I lived is South Florida for 15 years. The 1993  Florida Marlins season was the inaugural year for the team and I have been a fan ever since. I even had a "Billy the Marlin" birthday party at a Florida Marlins baseball game at Joe Robbie Stadium when I turned 10! 

As long as I have been a South Carolina baseball fan, they have always had a great team. South Carolina owns the longest current streak of NCAA Regional appearances among the 12 SEC schools with 11 straight trips to the tournament dating back to the 2000 season. In that span, Carolina has eight NCAA Super Regional appearances (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010). The program's 11-year total record of 522-217 is the fourth highest win total among NCAA Division I schools.

And this year they had another remarkable season. They beat Coastal Carolina in the NCAA super regional series in order to advance to Omaha for the College World Series. 

The Gamecocks started off with a tough loss at their CWS opener against Oklahoma. But they managed to win six straight games after their first loss, including one game where they were down to their last strike. Talk about shot nerves. South Carolina closed out the final College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium with its first National baseball title with a 2-1 victory over UCLA in 11 innings! It was such a great game, a little nerve-wracking and scary at times but it was a blast to watch! I am so proud to be a Gamecock!!! Congrats boys. You all did an amazing job. It was a great way to start off my birthday. Man, I had one heck of a birthday now that I think about it! 

Just announced-South Carolina head baseball coach Ray Tanner has earned National Coach of the Year honors from Collegiate Baseball!  This past season, Tanner reached a career milestone, he recorded his 1,000th career victory!! Congrats Coach, well deserved!