HL Baseball Tournament

[circle70]

Congrats to the Baseball team for a good showing. With the worst RPI (by over a 100) of the 4 teams in the Regional, we still won a game and almost two games. Coach Dee did a great job with a rebuilt young team.

One thing puzzles, though. Our #1 starting pitcher, Miramontes (ERA 3.38) didn't start any of the games. In the Houston game, facing elimination, we start our worst pitcher, Kohlstaedt (ERA 6.08) over Miramontes. The only thing I can think of is that Coach Dee figured that since Houston gave up 22 runs to A & M the day before, that even with our worst pitcher going, that we could outscore them and have Miramontes available for the A&M game. Two things wrong with that thinking: 1.) you never leave anything on the table when losing the game sends you home, you go with your best, and 2.) if the hunch was right and we beat Houston, we would still have to beat A&M twice, a highly unlikely outcome.
Had we gone with Miramontes vs Houston and won (not a foregone conclusion, I know), it would have been a school first--two wins in the Regional Tournament.
With everyone back next season, except for the aforementioned worst pitcher, we should be back in the Tournament.

[soccer fan]

You can second-guess it all you want, but that Houston-UIC game was one of he most thrilling baseball games I have ever watched. When UIC scored those 4 runs in the bottom of the 9th, I was screaming loud enough that my dog went off and started barking like crazy and going bezerk. I'd like to believe she was actually cheering for the Flames (she's been a semi-regular at the games). All I can say is thank God my wife wasn't home at the time, or I would have gotten an earful.

The bottom line is there is nothing negative to be said about a team that plays with as much heart as this year's Flames. You've got to admire their spirit and their ability to fight back game after game. Add a little more pitching, and there will be no more underdog - they'll be serious contenders.

Great season, guys. Lots of excitement, lots of fun to watch, and congrats on keeping the regular season streak intact. You showed any and all doubters you belonged in that regional, and all UIC partisans are proud as hell of your good work.

Go Flames!

P.S.: wasn't it great to see UIC on regular television?

[UICAndrew]

Another great season by the team. It would have been nice to beat houston, but with the expectations coming into the season, who would of thought we'd end up here with another regional win???

Also, Granderson made a shout-out to the team in his espn.com blog if you didn't catch it:

"Also, I would like to congratulate the UIC Flames baseball team, which is heading to its fourth NCAA Regional in College Station, Texas. They will open up against Texas A&M today. The UIC Flames are getting better and better each year, with this being their fourth regional in the past six years. Watch out for the Flames!"