Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

(FL) Gators awaken, reach finals (college baseball)
Orlando Sentinel ^ | June 24, 2005 | Jeff Darlington

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Florida; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: georgevsjeb; golonghorns; hookemhorns; longhornsrule; texaswillwinitall
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last
To: yarddog

I'd say it was the wrong call too. It's analogous to when a fielder has to run hard or dive for a ball and misses it, it is ruled a Basehit and not an Error.

But hey, that's baseball. And it did get my team fired up.


21 posted on 06/24/2005 10:42:36 AM PDT by subterfuge (Hillary's Operative Cooked the Books! **just keep saying that wherever you go**)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Ha! And ol' Saint Bobby Bowden better get his hallow polished up.

BTW, the Seminoles are 0-1 at the new Bobby Bowden Field @ Doke Campbell Stadium! (football reference)


22 posted on 06/24/2005 10:45:55 AM PDT by subterfuge (Hillary's Operative Cooked the Books! **just keep saying that wherever you go**)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: subterfuge

Since I may not be online Monday, let me be the first to congratulate the Florida Gators for a very successful season and finishing #2 in the country.


23 posted on 06/24/2005 10:46:48 AM PDT by Diddle E. Squat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: elc

If you're not a Gator, you're GATOR BAIT.

>=x=x=~


24 posted on 06/24/2005 10:47:27 AM PDT by subterfuge (Hillary's Operative Cooked the Books! **just keep saying that wherever you go**)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Diddle E. Squat

BTW, I wonder what kinda bet is going on between W and Jeb over this.


25 posted on 06/24/2005 10:48:41 AM PDT by Diddle E. Squat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: subterfuge

That guy in the stands was our "Steve Bartman."


26 posted on 06/24/2005 10:50:15 AM PDT by dfwgator (Longhorns are Gator Bait!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: GianniV

"I love the Gators as well! Only wish Spurrier was coming back."

What happens when Steve Spurrier takes Viagra?

He get's taller.

Great coach, but he is a big d***


27 posted on 06/24/2005 10:53:04 AM PDT by FatherofFive (Choose life!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: FatherofFive

"You might be a southern, college football fan if you've ever told anyone to 'kiss your Spurrier.'---Jeff Foxworthy

I happen to love the guy (Spurrier). He is SO NOT politically correct I don't know how any FReeper couldn't like him. Unless you went to Tennesse...or Georgia...or Kentucky...or South Caronlina...or


28 posted on 06/24/2005 11:03:46 AM PDT by subterfuge (Hillary's Operative Cooked the Books! **just keep saying that wherever you go**)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: aynrandfreak

I agree with the "Orange" part! :))

Hook 'Em!


29 posted on 06/25/2005 11:11:28 AM PDT by Tall_Texan (Visit Club Gitmo - The World's Only Air-Conditioned Gulag.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: subterfuge
I guess I have to pull for Florida, since so many of my business colleagues went to Texas. I just don't want to see the gloating next week if the Longhorns win.

Of course, since many of my colleagues are also Oklahoma Sooners, they cringe at any remark about my school, USC.

I believe in double standards.

30 posted on 06/25/2005 11:18:38 AM PDT by Dog Gone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson