OMAHA, Neb. — They’re calling it the greatest show on dirt.
Every summer, eight fanbases make the pilgrimage to the plains of eastern Nebraska in search of a shared experience of camaraderie, ballgames and booze. Under the relentless Midwestern sun, they congregate by the tens of thousands within a three-block radius of downtown Omaha. For 10 days each summer, this mid-sized city is filled with college sports enthusiasts decked out in their school colors.
The area is also hosting a youth baseball tournament at the same time, adding to the childish atmosphere. Throughout the event, you’ll get a glimpse into modern American baseball culture: the uniforms, the hair, the sunglasses. The good, the bad, the disappointment, the excitement, all in one place.
Young baseball players sit in the stands at Charles Schwab Field, munching on popcorn, staring at the diamond and picturing a hopeful future. Next to them, their parents and grandparents watch the same games, reminiscing about the past, the glory days of their college years. For many of the players on the field, these are the happiest and most free days of their lives. Being young, athletic and skilled means feeling unstoppable, almost like a superhero.
The 2024 conference will feature four teams each from the SEC and ACC powerhouses, making it the most top-heavy, most unbalanced conference in the history of the sport. Over the past few seasons, the advent of NIL money and the transfer portal has only made the rich richer. There’s money at stake in this conference now: advertising dollars, TV revenue, sellout crowds and a whole lot of attention.
Still, the College World Series retains its intrinsic appeal.
There’s a lot to cry about in baseball here. Naturally, emotions rule. The end of a game is the end of a season, the end of a career, the end of a childhood. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t the most artful baseball. But it is one of the purest. And, without a doubt, one of the most thrilling.
This year’s dueling double-elimination tournament saw six games played over three days. There were three walk-offs, one elimination team, and plenty of dramatic and memorable moments.
If you need a primer or a refresher, Check out the MCWS Preview.
Game 1: North Carolina 3, Virginia 2
The opening game was a pitcher’s duel between Jason DeCarlo, a lanky right-hander from the University of North Carolina who had just turned 18 two months earlier, and Evan Blanco of Virginia. The two and the relief pitchers that followed were closely fought until the score was 2-2 going into the bottom of the ninth inning.
Tar Heel pinch-hitter Jackson Van Den Blake led off the inning with a double down the right field line, eventually putting runners on third and two outs. Virginia chose not to intentionally walk University of North Carolina center Vance Honeycutt, an All-American who will be a first-round pick in next month’s MLB draft.
Honeycutt made them pay with a walk-off hit down the left field line, eliciting waves of light blue joy from the home team’s bench.
Game 2: Tennessee 12, Florida State 11
A game for history. Billed as the ultimate showdown between the best offensive line (Tennessee) and best starting pitcher (Florida State’s Jamie Arnold) remaining in the tournament, this game lived up to expectations.
The Seminoles overpowered Volunteers pitcher AJ Causey to take a commanding 9-4 lead after 3 1/2 innings. Tennessee battled back with Brooklyn-raised second baseman Christian Moore to record the MCWS’ first cycle since 1956. The sixth-inning homer to cap the feat was one of the most incredible long hits in recent memory, traveling 440 feet to center field at rocket-like speed of 117.4 mph.
Entering the bottom of the ninth, Florida State held an 11-8 lead. But it wouldn’t last long. Tennessee, aided by a long hit by Moore and a controversial no-call on a check swing, stormed back and won on a walk-off win on a gaping double by outfielder Dylan Dreiling. The game was relentlessly exhausting, strange and fascinating. It was everything great about college baseball.
Game 3: Kentucky 5, NC State 4
Three games, three walk-off wins.
Kentucky’s Ryan Nicholson hit a game-tying home run down the stretch in the bottom of the ninth, then infielder Mitchell Daly smashed a walk-off home run into left field to send Lexington rejoicing.
The Wildcats’ high-energy, quirky dugout circus was on full blast all afternoon.
Game 4: Texas A&M 3, Florida 2
Though a four-hour rain delay dampened the excitement, a large crowd packed Charles Schwab Field on Saturday night to watch the SEC showdown, with Texas A&M scoring three runs in three innings and Aggie relief pitcher Chris Cortez leading the way to a close win.
Florida’s two-way dynamo Jack Caliannon drove in the winning run in the top of the ninth with a 117 mph double. He walked after a long at-bat and no other Florida players were able to score.
A&M’s victory was somewhat overshadowed by the nasty behavior during the game by two fans who were taken away by police. The hooligans, who have now been permanently banned from MCWS games, made their way through the stands to the Florida dugout and personally reprimanded Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan.
Game 5: FSU 7, Virginia 3
The Cavaliers were the first team sent home with a daytime loss to a resurgent Florida State team, whose offense pounced on Virginia’s relief pitchers after starter Jay Woolfolk was replaced with a sore leg after 3 1/3 fairly effective innings. Virginia managed to get a few runs back but couldn’t hit hard enough, sending them back to Charlottesville winless for the second straight year.
At this stage of the season, any season-ending loss is cause for long goodbyes and tearful eyes, and the loss to Virginia was no exception: Woolfolk became very emotional in his post-game press conference, praising head coach Brian O’Connor while fighting back tears.
Woolfolk, who has one more year of eligibility left, spoke like a man destined for the riches, glory and hardships of professional baseball, but as he stood at the podium, the past three years of his life flashed before his eyes — the early mornings, the late nights, the training, the road trips, the struggles and the successes — all of that and more.
During his time at Virginia, Woolfolk grew and improved thanks to meaningful relationships with caring mentors. Adversity on the field helped him become a better version of himself off it. This interaction is the bright side of college sports, which, in a way, is what it’s all about.
Game 6: Tennessee 6, UNC 1
Honestly, the championship game was pretty awful, at least by this year’s incredibly high standards. Tennessee’s Drew Beam was better than North Carolina’s Shea Sprague. Volunteers center fielder Hunter Ensley made one of the most sensational catches of all time, crashing into the outfield wall. Cavares Tears gave the Orange some breathing room with a three-run homer in the fourth inning to put them ahead.
The Vols never looked back after that and are now completely ahead at 2-0. UNC will face FSU in a consolation match on Tuesday.
