It wasn’t that long ago that most Ole Miss fans considered their baseball program elite in terms of the national landscape.
In 2009, the Rebels played in their fourth super regional in five years but, as they had done in the previous three, fell short of the College World Series.
After being the red-headed stepchild of baseball in this state to rival Mississippi State’s success, those were much-needed good times for Ole Miss baseball for sure. The Rebels were the top program in the state during that short stretch, but by no means were they ever considered an elite program by anyone not wearing red-and-blue-colored glasses.
To be elite, a team has to make periodic trips to the College World Series. Boy, did Ole Miss come close a few times but was never able to get over the hump in its quest for a return trip to Omaha.
It takes a lot of talent and maybe just as much good fortune and team chemistry to reach the CWS. Often it’s a matter of getting hot at the right time of year — which is what happened for Mississippi State last June in its impressive run to the CWS finals.
There is nothing easy about making it to Omaha. There are a lot of great teams that miss out on the College World Series each year.
That’s why I use the word “periodic.”
But no team that’s been to Omaha only four times and hasn’t made the trip since 1972 can be considered elite. Just can’t.
Ole Miss is just 3-8 in super-regional play, but it has a chance to change that this weekend against No. 6 national seed and top-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette.
The Rebels can end more than 40 years of frustration by winning the best-of-three matchup against a dangerous ULL squad.
This should be a great series for many reasons.
First, it’s the only one of the eight super regionals to feature two teams ranked in the top six by Collegiate Baseball — No. 1 Louisiana-Lafayette (57-8) and No. 6 Ole Miss (44-18).
Secondly, both teams swing the bats really well for average and power. ULL ranks second in the nation in hitting with an average of .319, and Ole Miss is 10th at .304.
Caleb Adams has 11 home runs to lead four ULL players who have at least nine home runs. That’s why the Ragin’ Cajuns rank second nationally with 66 homers.
Led by first baseman Sikes Orvis with 13, the Rebels have 39 homers, ranking them 22nd nationally.
You get the picture. Fireworks could fly in this series.
Seven of eight ESPN analysts have predicted Ole Miss will break its long College World Series drought.
And I agree.
Coach Mike Bianco, given a not-so-ringing endorsement of a one-year extension this year, has had more talented teams reach the postseason in the past, but this is a veteran squad with great pitching. The Rebels have a team ERA of 2.67 — more than one-run lower per nine innings than the Ragin’ Cajuns.
If you are a believer in the old adage that great pitching beats great hitting, and I am, you have to favor the Rebels this weekend.
Ole Miss’ top three starters — Chris Ellis, Christian Trent and Sam Smith — are a combined 24-5. And Aaron Greenwood and Scott Weathersby have been dominating out of the bullpen.
The Rebels were picked sixth in the SEC West by league coaches in the preseason, so it’s only fitting that this is the year they get over the hump.
An offense that was very strong much of the regular season has fallen off some of late for Ole Miss. But I expect the explosive Rebel lineup to come out of its shell this weekend and for the Rebels to prevail in three games.
It won’t be easy, though. The Ragin’ Cajuns have the luxury of a rowdy home-field advantage at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field, and they are 5-1 against the SEC — 1-0 against LSU, 2-1 against Alabama and most recently 2-0 against Mississippi State to win their regional out of the losers bracket.
Lafayette is a tough opponent, but there is just a different feel about this Ole Miss team. There’s no pressure, just confidence.
They proved that with a pair of one-run wins over a really good Washington team in the Oxford regional.
