Go, Jays!
Creighton is hoping for ‘91 magic as it prepares to host MVC tourney
Has it really been 20 years since the Bluejays rocked Omaha by making it to the big show at Rosenblatt Stadium for the first (and only) time? Perhaps it would be fitting that they help usher in the new digs by appearing on the field rather than in the stands.
Nebraska, on the other hand, is a long shot just to make the Big 12 Conference tournament. Only the top eight teams qualify, and the Huskers are tied with Missouri at 6-11 for last place in the 10-team league.
It seems like more than three years ago since the Huskers qualified for regional play. Their last CWS trip came in 2005. The fall from grace started two seasons ago when NU failed to finish high enough to make the Big 12 tournament.
It hasn’t been better in 2011. The Baylor Bears took two of three from the Huskers at Haymarket Park over the weekend. Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Baylor was a shocker, because NU starter Tyler Niederklein hurled a no-hitter through five innings before giving up a two-run homer.
“A lot of good things happened today,” NU coach Mike Anderson told the World-Herald. “Unfortunately, one bad thing happened and it cost us the game.”
Things don’t get any easier for Big Red. Next up is fifth-ranked Texas in Lincoln. Then comes a road series with Texas A&M, followed by a home series against Missouri. Niederklein said after Sunday’s loss that the Huskers lost a chance to gain some ground over the weekend.
“It was a big series,” he said. “We’re not done. We’ve got three series left, and we’re going to have to make those count.”
If the Huskers go down for the count, they’ll only have to look forward to their first year in the Big Ten Conference, where they should have a better chance to return to the glory days.
Creighton, meanwhile, sits atop the Missouri Valley Conference. And the Jays seem to be picking up steam after last weekend’s three-game sweep over Bradley at TD Ameritrade. Sunday’s 16-6 win over the Braves was stunning as CU rallied from a 6-0 deficit.
Designated hitter Michael Mutcheson, who had three hits and five RBIs, called the game “a little bit unusual.”
“We came out pretty slow,” he told the World-Herald, “but they say hitting is contagious. I’m proud of the boys because we did a great job of coming back.”
The Jays’ sweep hiked their record to 31-10 overall, 9-3 in the Valley. Three teams are tied for second with 7-5 marks – Illinois State, Wichita State and Southern Illinois.
CU officials no doubt are glad to see the Jays move to the new park. At the CU Sports Complex, the team was drawing hundreds, while at TD Ameritrade the turnstile counts have been in the thousands.
The first six league games at TD drew an average of 6,248 – 10,814 coming to see the first MVC game against Southern Illinois.
The Jays went just 1-3 in their first four games at their new home but bounced back with the series sweep over Bradley. Perhaps a pep talk a few days earlier from former CU coach Jim Hendry fired up the team.
“He told us that something is going to happen and that someone in the room that isn’t contributing right now is going to contribute,” substitute outfielder Joey Bowens told the World-Herald.
Bowens certainly contributed by going 3 for 3 with two RBIs in Sunday’s 10-1 win over Bradley.
Back-to-back road trips against Wichita State and Evansville will be followed by a three-game set at home against Missouri State to end the regular season. Then the Jays host the MVC tournament for the first time at TD Ameritrade.
That in itself is quite an accomplishment, since the MVC tourney has been held mostly at Wichita State the past 24 years. TD Ameritrade’s 24,000-seat venue will become the largest of any college baseball tournament.
The Jays are a lock to continue postseason play, and they should draw large gatherings for the MVC meet. A good showing in the May 24-28 tourney should propel them into an NCAA regional.
A second CWS appearance would make for a sweet reward for a successful season.