Saturday, June 7, 2014

Two Wins From Omaha

This is Mike Bianco's 14th season as head coach of Ole Miss. He's been to Regionals (12 of them in fact). He's been to Super Regionals. He's won the SEC Tournament. He's won the West. But he's never - no not once - in those previous 13 years taken the Rebels to the College World Series.

Omaha. That's where the Rebels want to be. It's where we all want to be. As bad as the fans want to be there, you can be certain Bianco wants to be there even more. As it stands now Bianco is the Dan Marino of SEC baseball coaches. He's won a lot, and put up some impressive numbers, but he's never won the big one. 

It's not for lack of wanting to get to there. Omaha is the goal every year. Each of Bianco's 14 Ole Miss teams started their seasons wanting to get to make it to the College World Series.

"We talk about it when they walk on campus," Bianco told the Daily Journal. "I don’t think it’s one of those things that you get scared to talk about.”

This might be Bianco's best chance yet.

The goal of Omaha may have seemed far-fetched back in February. The Rebels were preseason picked to finish at or near the bottom of the SEC West, but whoever was making those predictions didn't know Bianco had a pair of aces up his sleeve in Chris Ellis and Christian Trent. And no one could have predicted the offensive surge provided by the fearsome lineup that is Auston Bousfield, Austin Anderson, Will Allen and power hitter Sikes Orvis. Mediocre in 2013, they were anything but this season, leading the SEC in several hitting categories. They're the best of a lineup that is bat on ball capable from top to bottom. The Rebels are experienced, talented, fast and fearless with a confidence that earned them the name "Walk-off Crew" early this season when the Rebels won game after game after game on 9th inning comebacks. They may have been down, but they were never out. They were exactly what Mike Bianco said in his preseason press conference that he wanted them to be - tough. 

It was that attitude and that toughness that carried these Rebels to an SEC West title. 

And it's that mentality that Ole Miss will need as it faces the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns in a Super Regional. 

The Rebels are two wins away from Omaha. Two wins away from cementing Bianco's place in Rebel history as a legendary ball coach. Two wins away from greatness. Two wins.

It sounds simple, but be assured Ole Miss is in for a fight on the bayou. Sun Belt or not, Louisiana-Lafayette didn't get to 57-8 by accident. 

Ellis will get the start. One day after being drafted in the 3rd round by the Anaheim Angels, the biggest day of his life no doubt, Ellis will pitch in the biggest game of his life, facing down a squad capable of hitting the long ball from the top of the lineup all the way to bottom. 

Louisiana-Lafayette has 66 home runs on the season. For some perspective, Ole Miss hit 39. Thirty-nine homers seems like a pretty good year until you consider 66. The Ragin Cajuns have power, and nearly their entire lineup hits .300 or better. Ellis will have to keep his ball low in the strike zone and prevent the Cajuns from making solid contact. 

Ole Miss will face Austin Robichaux (7-3, 2.83 ERA). He's the coach's son, and he'll be pitching the biggest game of his life, too. 

That's what makes these games so special. 

ESPN2. Bright lights. High stakes. 

A chance to make history. A chance to become part of Ole Miss lore. 

That's what's on the line this weekend down in Cajun Country (7 p.m., ESPN2). 

To say it's exciting would be an understatement. 

Let's go to Omaha.