College baseball's Super Regionals are officially here with 16 teams battling in best-of-three series to determine which eight will advance to the College World Series in Omaha. The Regional round saw major upsets with top-ranked teams like Vanderbilt, Texas, Georgia, Oregon and Clemson all eliminated early.
• Stetson Hatters players Isaiah Barkett and Lorenzo Meola earned tournament honors despite team elimination
• Key West native Felix Ong closed one for the Florida Gators
• Florida State (#9) faces tough west coast battle against Oregon State (#8)
• North Carolina (#5) hosts Arizona Wildcats with home field advantage
• Defending champions LSU (#6) welcome West Virginia to Baton Rouge
• Coastal Carolina's elite pitching staff takes on Auburn's tough offense
• Miami heads to Louisville as underdogs in ACC showdown
• UTSA makes history with first-ever Super Regional appearance against UCLA
• Duke faces Murray State without star AJ Gracia (suspended for celebrating)
• Tennessee and #3 Arkansas set for high-powered SEC battle
• Predictions for all eight matchups with personal commentary
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Episode Transcript
Thanks for tuning in to the Bring Joy podcast.
We're in season five and it'sall about baseball.
I'm talking big leagues to thelittle leagues, Yankees to the
Conchs and everything in between.
I'll share my joy for the gamewith you and whether you're a
fan of baseball or goodstorytelling, you'll be
entertained and each episodewill bring a little joy to your
day.
So sit back and relax.
(00:21):
Let's do this thing, thisepisode.
I'm talking college baseballbecause the Super Regionals are
officially here.
There are 16 teams remainingand this weekend, june 6th
through the 9th, they'll play inbest of three series to
determine which A's will punchtheir ticket to Omaha and the
College World Series.
(00:42):
The Regionals were a fun warm-upfor the Supers.
The round of 64 gave fans upset, dominant performances and some
nail-biting finishes.
But you could throw therankings out the window because
the number one ranked Vanderbilt, along with big boys from Texas
, georgia, oregon and Clemson.
Season ended in the first roundand speaking of season endings,
(01:06):
I got to give a big shout outto my boys, the Stetson Hatters.
The Hats played ball and whileour pitching didn't keep us
alive for the next round, my guyIsaiah Barkette, showcased his
talents, along with teammatesLorenzo Miola.
The two earned tournamenthonors.
I just hope the two juniorswill be back with the hats next
(01:26):
season to finish their careersin the land.
But with that portal andmerry-go-round rosters, I won't
be surprised if other teams comecalling.
And a big shout-out to Key Westnative Felix Ong, who closed
the game with the Florida Gatorsagainst Fairfield, striking out
two batters in the inning.
Way to go, Felix.
(01:47):
I already know you got plentyof innings in your future and
all your fans back in Key Westare rooting for you.
So yeah, there was plenty ofdrama in the first round and
it's just going to get moreintense in the Supers.
Fans are in for some goodbaseball.
Let's start with the FloridaState Seminoles, who are ranked
number nine.
They're headed out west tobattle number eight Oregon State
(02:10):
.
The two top 10 teams have had astrong season and the word is
this will be the toughest seriesof the weekend.
I've never liked West Coastteams or my teams having to
travel out west to play, coastteams or my teams having to
travel out west to play.
I mean, I don't know what timeit is.
Is it my time or their time?
(02:34):
So you know what time it is.
It's K-Time.
K-time for the nose ace JamieArnold and the rest of the lefty
pitching staff.
Those arms have been fired upand answering the call all
season and will do it again thisweekend, with plenty of help
from the offense led byshortstop Alex Lodice, the
Golden Spike nominee, or my guyMax Williams, or the fab
freshman Miles Bailey, or any ofthe gentlemen in the power
(02:55):
roster.
Coach Jarrett pushes the rightbuttons with these guys and they
are having fun together.
Now I know Oregon State has asolid roster.
They got pitching and a goodoffense and they got a superstar
of their own In Arquette and Icall it a battle.
It'll be that.
But hey, I love the Noles andI've watched them win big games
(03:16):
all year.
The Noles will win the seriesin dramatic fashion and head
straight to Omaha.
The number five ranked NorthCarolina Tar Heels will host the
Arizona Wildcats.
North Carolina's been hot and,with home field advantage, I'll
pick them to win the series overa tough Wildcat team that can
(03:36):
score some runs.
I don't love the Tar Heels butI do love their catcher, luke
Stevenson, and he'll be in thebig league soon.
So go ahead and write his namedown.
And he'll be in the big leaguesoon, so go ahead and write his
name down.
Luke and the Tar Heels pitchingwill highlight the wins in this
series and for the hometowncrowd.
How about West Virginia comingoff an impressive regional
performance to keep their seasongoing, now they got to face the
(04:00):
defending national champs,number six ranked LSU.
In Baton Rouge.
The Tigers pitching staff isloaded like always, and their
big guy is a lefty named CadeAnderson.
He and the champs won't getbeat at home and will be the
first in line to Omaha.
How about Coastal Carolina andAuburn?
(04:21):
Carolina has an elite pitchingstaff and Auburn has a tough
offense.
The Tigers are playing at homewith that damn Bermuda Triangle
in left field, that cursed wallthat literally took out my
Stetson Hatters.
So let's go Coastal Carolina,auburn in two or three, whatever
it takes.
And how about Miami?
(04:42):
They still playing and headedto Louisville.
The Canes are the underdog inACC showdown, but I watched
Miami play in the regionalagainst Southern Miss and
they're playing scrappy baseball.
So I'm pulling for the 305Miami Hurricanes to defy the
odds and win the series.
The University of Texas at SanAntonio made history by
(05:03):
advancing to their first everSuper Regional.
Congratulations, roadrunners.
The party ends here, though.
They'll be swept by a superiorUCLA team and the dance is over
for Murray State, who, by theway, are from Kentucky I had to
look it up.
I never heard of them but theyhave to face Duke in North
(05:23):
Carolina.
So Duke's going to ride theblue collar momentum and beat
the Racers in two games, despitenot having their superstar, AJ
Gracia, in game one due to aridiculous suspension for
celebrating with his teammateswhile holding a prop against
Oklahoma State.
Listen, I'm not a big fan ofthe flashy look at me
(05:44):
celebrations the bat flipping,jersey ripping, cussing and
carry on.
It's tacky, but the Yankeeshave beards.
Now Times have changed, but thegrassiest suspension was in
poor taste, not the celebration.
This time.
The SEC battle betweenTennessee and number three
Arkansas is going to be fun towatch and I don't know who to
(06:06):
pick.
These teams have a history withlots of storyline.
Both teams are stacked withtalent.
Arkansas is favorite.
Some say they're going to winit all, but Coach Vitello and
his team stay fired up and haveSEC pitcher of the year, liam
Doyle, and I know a guy whoknows a guy named Levi Clark,
(06:27):
that freshman sensation who hitsdingers.
So yeah, pull up a chair andenjoy this series.
Baseball fans are in for agreat weekend of baseball with
the Super Regionals.
I'm going to catch as much ofthe action as I can and get back
to you next week with anotherepisode to recap and look ahead
at the Elite Eight headed toOmaha.
I'm Joy Newley and I appreciateyou tuning in to my podcast.
(06:52):
My purpose is to bring joy tomy life and the lives of others.
If you enjoyed this episode,drop a review, share and
subscribe, because there's a lotof good stuff on tap.
You can also follow Bring Joyon YouTube and Instagram, or
check my website at joynewscom.
I go bring joy to the people inyour world.
Until next time, much love.
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