Posted on 06/24/2005 9:27:39 AM PDT by subterfuge
OMAHA, Neb. -- His body crumpled to the ground, as his team's hope for a national championship seemed to crumple with him.
Florida pitcher Alan Horne, clutching his left thigh in the third inning of Thursday's elimination game against Arizona State, was done.
The Gators' dreams had vanished. The energy had faded.
slugger Matt Laporta would send a shot sailing into the trees over the leftfield bleachers. Laporta, who leads the nation in homeruns with 26, provided the final blow of what initially seemed like an improbable comeback.
Or so it only seemed.
Just as the line was about to go flat, just as a three-run deficit and an injured starting pitcher seemed like too much for Florida to overcome, the pulse came back.
Snip...
a fan-interference call, one that initially seemed to further hinder Florida's hopes less than 20 minutes after Horne's injury, that would change the game's momentum for good – this time, in the Gators' favor.
Snip...
It was a call that would fire up Florida so fast, three of its following seven batters hit homeruns to turn a 3-0 deficit into a 6-3 lead
"Obviously, we were all pretty upset," Florida second baseman Adam Davis said. "We decided in the dugout to use it as fuel. That's what we did. We stepped it up a notch.".
Snip...
"[McMahon] looked pretty upset so I just wanted to put a smile on his face," Leclerc said. "A lot of things hadn't been going good for us the last two games. We felt like we had to make our own breaks."
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
Won the SEC in baseball and are in the final 2 for the CWS.
Expecting BIG things from the football team this year.
I think there's one of those "Priceless" jokes in there somewhere.
ORANGE!!!! BLUE!!!!
Your the only FReeper I'm sure is a Gator supporter.
You go freak!
Its always great when one of your local teams plays in a national championship no matter the sport. Its history.
I love the Gators as well! Only wish Spurrier was coming back.
I think I prefer the guy we've got now. But ask me again at the end of this season.
Know that your Gators are well represented by their fans in Omaha. I was in the stands Wednesday, and there was lots of Orange and Blue.
I didn't know that. Thanks.
I agree… as long as they're the right shades.;-)
Seriously, I'm pulling for the Gators in the CWS. I've watched most of the games so far. Beating the Longhorns would be quite an accomplishment. IMHO, the best two teams have made it to the finals.
Exellent. Did anyone around comment about Arizona State's head coach say "F-U" during television broadcast on Tuesday afternoon?
They caught him as plain as day.
Hey I'm a 'Canes fan unless they're playing UF.
But never, ever will I root for those rotten FL STate crimiNOLES.
That ump btw made a bad call, tho somewhat understandable. After seeing the replay a few times (which the ump didn't have the luxury of) it was clear that catcher didn't have his glove even near ready to make the catch.
As the Florida coach said, the ump rewarded him for effort which is not his job. It was a judgement call and he made the wrong one, but things like that happen.
Go Gators!!!!!!!!
'97
Urban Meyers is going to be an awsome coach. He is a total fitness freak and has an excellent play book.
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