Really good info Nick gave us in his ORU preview on the GC home page. Here's a clip.... "After tossing their ace Jakob Hall in game one, Oral Robert’s will turn to LHP Harley Gollert against the Gators. The 6-0, 195-pound redshirt senior has worked to a 4.30 ERA in his first season with the Golden Eagles. Gollert has walked 31 batters and struck out 88 in his 88 innings pitched in 2023. The Toronto, Ontario native has posted a 10-1 record in 17 starts this season. His .252 batting average against is a promising sign for the Gators’ offense. The lefty is averaging 1.64 home runs per nine innings, a stat Florida’s offense could expose on Sunday night."
Asture Gators know they beat us in hoops in 2nd round of the 2021 NCAA tourney. That Hobby Lobby donation money goes a long way. I guess better the college than buying stolen artifacts from ISIS but who knows.
We are winning today vs ORU. Different sport, but time to redress the balance from NCAA Basketball 2021. Seriously, we have a special team this year that is driven and is on a mission. That does not guarantee a win today, nor does it guarantee a CWS Title. What it means is that we are laser focused today with deadly precision. University of Florida.....It's Great To Be A Florida Gator!!
After watching more than 3 decades of the CWS, I have come to the conclusion all 8 teams are more than qualified to win it all. There are no weak teams in the CWS. By this time the team that wins it is peaking at the right time, has a solid bull pen with strong hitters who know how to get on base and then has just enough luck at the right times. You could play the slate 100 times and get different outcomes each time.
The way Waldrep has pitched lately- if his splitter is on - no worries. I see that ORU has had some fairly high scoring games in post-season so if we can jump on their guy early it might be a little less stressful game then the UVA affair. ORU used their top guy out of the Pen vs TCU- threw 46 pitches Friday. Against a LHP, I'd start: Shelly LF, Langford CF, Evans RF (reward him with a start- and the Sheik has done nothing at the plate). I'd also consider starting Thomas at 3rd and have him lead off as Kurland looks gassed in the last weeks. Matherly 87 will argue that Halter hits LHP pretty well but he looked a little shaky on a few balls on Friday and Thomas is a solid fielder and knows the strike zone. Unlikely, I understand but a suggestion and we need production at the top of the order. Let's do it!
Best wishes today against ORU Diamond Gators! Appreciate ya'll letting a seldom seen Gator jump on the hayride. I root for Gators in every sport. Tell ya what, that UVA Gator game was unbelievable. Watched all 9 innings. First for me this year! Bring it home!!!!
One thing, that I believe most people, are overlooking, is that the OR team has won 52 games this year. Now I know the competition is not SEC level, but one thing Oral Roberts team knows how to do, is win. I think it would be a mistake to overlook, this fact, this team has the mindset that they are going to win, and to all of us who have played sports know, this is 90% of the battle. I hope we get up on them early and create some doubt in their mind, otherwise, we could be in a game that could surprise us in the end.
Fully agree, never take an opponent lightly, especially at this stage of the post-season. Gators go into this game with a top flight ace on the bump who has looked the part in his last few starts and if he's on his game... we win against anyone. I am concerned some about our approach at the plate in that cavernous ballpark. Granted it turned out spectacularly great on Friday but it would be good to also piece together some sharp singles and doubles for crooked numbers. But your main point is well taken- no complacency at this point just because you are playing a "Summit Conference" ball club. Max pressure on them from the first pitch.
Halter is a gap hitter and excellent defense 3B. Thomas swings out of his a&& on every pitch. Halter needs to stay IMO.