I felt like doing a write up about our trip to Columbia for those of you who couldnāt go but wanted to. Kinda go along with the pics seen here: [URL=http://s64.photobucket.com/albums/h188/Charlottedude/NCAA%20Regional/?mediafilter=images]http://s64.photobucket.com/albums/h188/Charlottedude/NCAA%20Regional/?mediafilter=images[/URL]
I got into Columbia about 30 minutes before the 1st game started. Turned out tickets were only $12 for GA so that was nice. When I got in and sat down, I saw that Judy Rose was there. Also SCK was there (Pic 2440). Bobby Lutz was also in the house. The team was introduced incorrectly as āUNC Charlotte 49ersā but it certainly didnāt mess up our players.
Our first game against NC State was great. We quickly got off to a 3-0 lead in the 1st inning and then tacked on 3 more in the 6th. NC State really had no answer for us. As Mills got tireder, he made a few mistakes which allowed NC State to get 2 runs. A relief pitcher also let State get 1 more run, but there was really never much of a threat from NC State. At the end of the game, State brought in 3 or 4 pitchers in the same inning. I think the coach probably had a good reason, but it seemed kinda sad at that time. Like they just hated the idea of losing to us, and very handily I might add. We won the game 6-3.
During the game I talked to an NC State fan and his son. They both were very impressed with Mills and asked about him a couple times. I also talked to a USC fan who was also impressed with Mills. He told me we would get USCās best pitcher, Hempy, in the next game. He also told me that SC had been in a month long drought. Wouldnāt ya know it, the next day TS Barry rolled through and rained out both the dayās games. Luckily, f-o-r-t-y-n-i-n-e-r-s came down and relieved me of my boredom. We went out that night to the Red Hare. If you are ever in Columbia and want a good bar, that is definitley one of em.
The next day HappyCamper49, marcushe, and 2 guys who donāt post came down for the USC game. We also saw Over40Niner there too. This game was a lot rougher than the NC State game. The team came out and made several mistakes. Notabley our third basemen missed several easy grounders. One thing I noticed early was how much bigger the USC guys were. Several of their players looked like real MLB sluggers. USC got off to a good lead and we really never had a chance. In the 4th inning USCās starter, Hempy, went flat and we got 4 runs, but then he shut us down in the 5th. After that a reliever came in for them. At the end of the game, we did come back and had we had a few more innings, we may have taken the lead, but we didnāt. USC won this one 12-8.
Now I realize we were losing which can make a person more sensitive, but some of those USC fans were annoying! One guy in front of us would not shut up. He sounded like he had a freakin christmas ham stuck in his throat. They also talked a lot of rediculous trash. One crazy thing was that the Uh-Huh guy got talked to by the USC cops. They basically told him to be quiet. Seemed pretty messed up to me, but Iāll get back to that later.
So that night we played NC State and this game made me feel a lot better. We totally whooped their butts again. Two times they made surges but never really came close to beating us. It wasnāt crowded again so all the niners sat together and made a ton of noise. I sat with Over40 and UNCCTF and also met Ninerballin. We won 12-10. After two games, I donāt know if I just didnāt see what NC State really had since their best pitcher was hurt and never played, but I was not impressed with them. Seemed like we had a much better team than them. I felt really confident after this win and it really felt like we had a shot against USC.
To start the day off, I stopped by the SC State Museum. It was pretty cool, affordable, and I do recommend it. That afternoon we faced USC. I donāt know why they didnāt start sooner because if we won there would be another game, but the game started at 4pm. The place was once again packed. The USC people put a live chicken on top of our bullpen. I thought that was pretty funny. Out the gate the niners were hanging in. Then in the second inning, we got a run but clouds began to threaten. In the middle of the 3rd, score still 1-0, there was a rain delay. It lasted about 2 hours and play did not resume until like 8. We had major momentum going into the delay, but afterwards it seemed to have diminished for sure.
The USC fans came back 3X as loud. USC got 2 runs and I got worried but then we came back and scored 4 runs and it seemed like our momentum was back and better. Everything was going okay, until our relief pitcher through the wrong pitch to the wrong guy. All tournament long I had heard that #50 Disher was due up and this turned out to be his time. Iām pretty sure all we needed was one out, bases were loaded, and Disher came up and knocked out a grand slam. I think this is what really did us in. For the rest of the game, until the bottom of the 8th, we hung in there, but I think that grand slam just took the wind right out of us. If we played them a 3rd time, I think we could have won that game. It was a disapointing end to an amazing season, but USC did have the better team and I really hope they destroy UNC in the Super Regionals.
Now I have to get back to the USC cops. They were talking to our fans way more at each game. I donāt know what their strategy was, but I know they were biased against us. One of them walked by and said āgreat inningā to a USC fan after USC scored a couple runs. Seemed pretty messed up to me.
I also wanted to elaborate on the USC fans. These people down there really care about their baseball and it is crazy. They are way crazier than we are for basketball. Their older alumni actually stand up and yell. It is actually mostly the older guys who yell relentlessly. It is an amazing thing to see. I think it is about 35/65 for cool USC fans to bad ones. A lot of their guys are annoying and out of line with their comments. But USC also has a huge problem with Southern Douche Bags. These are a horrible breed of people who think they are the coolest thing to walk the face of the earth and generally [I]know[/I] they are right about everything. It makes their comments at games and all around activity that much worse. After USC beat us for the second time, I had someone walk by and straight up mock my Niner Nation shirt. Not, āgood gameā or anything but instead she made fun of my shirt. They have a lot of people with that mentality, but they also have a lot of classy fans. That is one thing that makes me feel better about us. We donāt have the greatest sports in the world, but atleast we dont have a bunch of asshole fans.
In the end it was a kick ass trip and a lot of fun to go watch. I ended up only spending $27 on tickets because people gave me money to the games they couldnāt watch. It was fun (while we were winning) to be the only Charlotte fan in a sea of garnet at the second USC game. Iāve def found a new love of college baseball and am ready for next season. Congratulations on an awesome season, Niners, and thank you seniors!
:49ers:
Any of you other guys who were there got an stories?