›Baseball has its Super 16. The field has narrowed from 64 to just 16 schools after a memorable regional weekend. Here is a look at the breakdown of those who remain. The ACC’s allotment was cut by more than half, with 4 of the 10 schools advancing forward. 5 of the SEC’s record 7 host teams also advanced to the second round. The Big 12 made the most of its limited opportunities. All 3 schools from the conference (Texas Tech, TCU and Oklahoma State) won regionals to stay alive. Adding in the Arizona Wildcats as the lone Pac 12 team still in the hunt reveals that 13 of the 16 clubs remaining come from Power 5 conferences. The American Athletic (East Carolina), Big South (Coastal Carolina) and Big West (UC-Santa Barbara) provided the final three entries to the Super Regional round.
›7 of 8 National Seeds advance, host Super Regionals. Clemson became the only National Seed to exit when the seventh seeded Tigers were knocked off by Oklahoma State at home. As a result South Carolina becomes the only non national seed to host a super regional. Most national seeds won their regionals with ease. Fifth ranked Texas Tech and eight seeded LSU faced the biggest scares, as both were forced into decisive second games of their respective regional finals. Florida (#1), Louisville (#2), Miami (#3), Texas A&M (#4) and Mississippi State (#6) all cruised through the regional round with unbeaten marks.
›There will be a new championship series in Omaha. With both Virginia and Vanderbilt eliminated, the College World Series is assured of a new Championship matchup for the first time since 2013. The Cavaliers and Commodores had traded titles each of the past two seasons. Their departure leaves the championship battle wide open for a brand new flavor when the eight regional winners arrive in Omaha Father’s day weekend.
›Weather left its mark on the first weekend of tournament action. A number of storms sweeping through the southeast forced as many games to Tuesday this year as had been played beyond regional championship Monday in the past decade. The Baton Rouge regional faced storms early and never had a chance to get on track, while South Carolina saw storms roll through late, forcing the final regional championship battle back to Tuesday. Perhaps nowhere was play affected more dramatically than Raleigh. A Monday night delay stretched the ninth inning over into Tuesday. The Wolfpack went to bed three outs away from the Super Regionals and leading by two runs, only to see Coastal Carolina steal away the regional with a four run final frame following the resumption.
›Florida, LSU, Miami and TCU are the remaining group from last year’s CWS participants. Seven teams from last year’s college world series received regional berths, Arkansas was the only team failing to make a return trip to the NCA tournament. Seven quickly dwindled to four this past weekend as Virginia, Vanderbilt and Cal St Fullerton were all knocked off in regional play. With the 4 remaining teams each playing in different Super Regionals, the bracket allows for half the ’15 field to return to Omaha with series victories this weekend.
›A pair of clubs will appear in Super Regionals for the first time. Congratulations to Boston College and UC Santa Barbara. The Eagles and Gauchos are appearing in Super Regionals for the very first time in each school’s history. In a year where both northern and western NCAA Tournament bids proved even harder than usual to come by, these clubs claimed regional titles. As a result, they will carry the mantle for those two baseball regions. Arizona is the only team besides these two which plays its home games west of Texas or north of Kentucky still with a post-season pulse following the first round.
›Intriguing showdowns dot the southern landscape on Super Regional weekend. Both the Sunshine State and the Lone Star State are provided with rivalry rematch series as Florida-Florida State and Texas A&M-TCU highlight the pairings. Boston College travels to Miami in an all-ACC battle which assures their conference at least one team in Omaha. Mississippi State is the most recent school to play for the title without having ever won a crown, they’ll face Arizona, now the most recent winner among teams still fighting. Fans will also be keeping an eye on Cinderella schools like UCSB and Coastal Carolina as they square off against powerhouses Louisville and LSU. The offensive battle between Texas Tech and East Carolina contrasts nicely with the pitching rich paradise in Columbia, South Carolina where both club’s offensive impact will be put to the test as the Cowboys of Oklahoma State come to town rounding out the three game Super Regional showdowns. No less than a spot in Omaha and shot at the National Title will be on the line when these schools tangle this weekend, expect the very best.
“First Glances” provides a weekly snapshot of the story lines impacting the hunt for Omaha and the 2016 National Championship with quick-hit headlines from around the country.