Unbelievable! Dawgs win!!! After last night’s win by the Tarheels, Georgia is now the only undefeated team to enter the Championship series on Monday. Despite Josh Fields nearly giving the game away (4 freakin’ runs in the 9th?) we escape with the win and sweep the bracket.
I’m a huge Diamond Dawg fan and a true homer, but I never thought we’d get past Miami. Hell, I was worried that Stanford would even up the series and force a game two for today. Never in my life am I so glad to say that I was way wrong!
Perno made a big deal to the team about how history repeats itself. A little lame, but it worked apparently. His 1990 National Championship team had to get by a heavily favored Stanford team looking for 3 consecutive CWS titles. And now this squad had to do the same. Whatever works.
I happen to think it has a lot more to do with redemption than history. Last year’s pathetic season was too much of an embarrassment for arguably the most talented team we’ve ever seen at Georgia. This year though has been all about hard work, tough opponents, confidence - maybe even borderline arrogance. But mostly, its been about a dertermined group of athletes focused on redemption. Lately I’ve been seeing this quote from Gordon Beckham in a lot of articles that speaks to that edge:
“We came here to play, and now we’re in the National Championship Game, and you couldn’t ask for more. All we wanted to do was be playing on the last day.” [emphasis added]
Every game it seems someone different in the lineup has a brilliant day. I think back recently to Olson’s MVP performance throughout the Regionals & Supers. Peisel’s clutch hits against Miami in game one at the CWS. Stephen Dodson’s command pitching & Matt Cerione’s 2-out, bases loaded, single to win game two against Stanford. And then yesterday’s parade of hits by Rich Poythress to send Stanford home & sweep our bracket. Outstanding.
I’ll be biting my nails Monday night, for sure. But more than anything, I’ll be watching to see which Bulldawg gets his due for another brilliant day. Hopefully it will be accompanied by many of these…
Go Dawgs!
Btw, There’s a great article up this morning on espn.com about yesterday’s game. In it there’s a great quote from Rich Poythress where he talks about his injury last year and how that affected his attitude coming into this season. It earns him Damn Good Dawg status for life:
“Poythress had shown plenty of “want to” in the fall of 2006 and last spring. After tearing an ACL while trying to avoid a tag during his first at-bat of a fall scrimmage, he worked hard at rehabilitation and was lucky enough to be able to return four months later.
“That was a reality check. I told a bunch of people that more than anything it made me appreciate the opportunities I get every day,” Poythress said. “A million kids would give the shirts off their back to play baseball for the University of Georgia. I’m still trying to take advantage of that.”
I’ll say it again…GO DAWGS!!!
Dawgs against te Dogs. Too bad we couldn’t lay waste to another weak sister from the ACC. Looks like we get a real team with a decent mascot. Bring ‘em on. GATA!