The University of Colorado last fielded a baseball team in 1980, Colorado State in 1992. And with their departure went a sizable state collegiate baseball tradition.
But state-represented baseball at the college level hasn’t disappeared. Far from it.
With college baseball on its biggest stage, four former Colorado prep standouts will take the field at the College World Series beginning today at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha:
Chad Lembeck, a former standout at Mullen High School, is an outfielder for Rice; Blake Williams, Fort Collins, is a pitcher for Louisville; Kiel Roling, Grand Junction Central, is a catcher at Arizona State; and Tyler Vaughn, from Rampart, is an infielder at Cal-Irvine.
Keep a lookout for them as the tournament continues through June 25.
Also, keep in mind the following details in this, the 61st edition of the CWS:
Games air on ESPN and ESPN2 beginning today at noon, with Rice against Louisville.
WEAK IN REVIEW
Bud Selig’s fuse is running short with Jason Giambi. The MLB commissioner is reportedly close to suspending the Yankees slugger if he doesn’t start cooperating with the ongoing investigation of steroid use in baseball. All well and good. But when will Selig threaten Barry Bonds, who has never fully cooperated with any investigation?
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
The Rockies are such a tease. They’re made to look like pluggers in a loss against Tim Wakefield, but the next night they look like all-stars in a win over Curt Schilling. It took 65 games to get back near .500. For the benefit of fans, it would be great if the Rox could just decide, finally, whether or not to be relevant.
THE COUCH
ON: The U.S. Open this weekend will remind golf fans why it is the sport’s most prestigious event. Of the four major tournaments, it likely is the most difficult to win. U.S. Open fields through history have been the deepest and most talented. Every golfer sells out to win. And something always ends up memorable, see most recently: Phil Mickelson’s double-bogey on the final hole last year to lose the tournament. The Open airs on NBC continuing today at 1 p.m. and finishing Sunday at 11 a.m. Or, if you’d rather, you can watch the newest thrill-ride of reality television, the John Daly Show, on CNN and Court TV.
OFF: What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than to spend an hour or two chatting with the old man while walking a 5K this weekend? For this reason, there are two good Father’s Day-themed events for your choosing. Try the Windsor Kiwanis Club Father’s Day Family 5K Run/Walk at Eastman Park in Windsor on Saturday. The race, which follows the Poudre River Trail, starts at 9 a.m. (970-686-5329). Or find the CooperSmith’s Father’s Day 5K in Old Town Square in Fort Collins on Sunday. Now in its 10th year, that race starts at 8 a.m. (coopersmithspub.com).
AROUND THE STATE
Stakes are high at the Rocky Mountain Cycling Omnium this weekend in Morrison, Denver and Golden. The races will serve as both the U.S. Paralympics Road Cycling Championships and the U.S. Handcycling Road Race and Time Trial Championships. The 13.2-kilometer time trial today at Bear Creek Lake Park in Morrison will be used to select the world championship hand cycling team, the first step toward molding the U.S. Paralympic team for the 2008 Beijing Games. The road race at the State Patrol training course in Golden on Saturday will determine a national champion. And there will be a short-course criterium in Denver’s Curtis Park on Sunday. Check for more information.
