By Rebecca Gitlen
May 30, 2012. Appalachian State’s baseball team had a warm sendoff today at Smith Stadium from 12:45 to 1 p.m. as they boarded the bus to the NCAA Tournament.
For the first time in 26 years, The Mountaineers (39-16) have reached this postseason landmark, so these boys earned a little fan fare.
“It was just a great season,” said Ryan Arrowood, pitcher for the team. “It’s been a lot of fun hanging around these guys all year, getting to know them even more than what we already knew. It’s like a huge family. And getting this opportunity to go play in the regional, it’s just so great and so exciting.”
What’s next for the team:
The Mountaineers will arrive in Charlottesville on Wednesday evening and practice on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Davenport Field at the University of Virginia Baseball Stadium. Thursday’s practice is open to the public.
In order to make it to the final eight teams that make up the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. the Mountaineers must win their regional bracket, then win a super regional bracket.
The Mountaineers are the No. 3 ranked team in the four-team Charlottesville, Va. regional. Their first opponent of the postseason is the No. 2 ranked Oklahoma Sooners. The game begins at 8 p.m. on Friday.
According to Mike Flynn, ASU assistant athletics director, the Mountaineer players are confident in their chances.
“They’ve never gotten on a bus expecting to lose,” Flynn said.
For more information and a video, including coach/player interviews and some baseball, visit goasu.com.
To view the College World Series Division I bracket, click here.
Video
Video by Rebecca Gitlen
Produced by Maria Richardson
[youtube]http://youtu.be/04BuMGsKAbI[/youtube]
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