Seems like a waste of $500

For the first time in 12 years, the Florida State baseball team is one of the last four teams standing.

With consecutive wins in elimination games vs. ACC foes Virginia and North Carolina Sunday and Tuesday, the Seminoles are making their first appearance in the College World Series Semifinals since 2012 on Wednesday at 3 p.m. vs. No. 1 overall seed Tennessee (ESPN).

For FSU, it'll be a chance at revenge after the Volunteers plated four runs in the bottom of the ninth and used a controversial check-swing call to beat the Seminoles 12-11 in both teams' CWS opener Friday night. FSU would need to beat Tennessee in back-to-back games in order to knock out the Volunteers and advance to the CWS Championship Series while the Volunteers need just one win to advance.

"Can't wait. They're really good. They're really good..." FSU head coach Link Jarrett said about the rematch vs. Tennessee after Tuesday's win over UNC. "That game was very close to being pendulum swung our way and it did not. It's tough...They're really good. There's no wiggle room in the lineup. They have a variety of arms. They're talented. They've been here. They played in this stadium a lot. So excited. I recognize the difficulty of beating that team. It takes everything you've got. You have to finish. You have to defend. You have to execute pitches. And you have to be versatile and compete offensively to figure out a way to do it."

Through three games in Omaha, FSU's offense has been producing at an exceptional rate. The Seminoles' 27 runs in three CWS games are already the most an ACC team has ever scored in a single year in Omaha and third-most any team has scored since the College World Series moved to its new stadium, Charles Schwab Field, in 2011. FSU's 10.6 runs per game in the NCAA Tournament are the most of any team.

That FSU has produced so much in the CWS with minimal impact from its best hitters speaks to the depth of this lineup. In three games in Omaha, James Tibbs III and Cam Smith have combined for four hits in 23 at-bats with two total RBI. They've walked a combined nine times in three games so it's not like they have been a complete black hole, but still, they haven't yet looked like their powerful selves yet in the CWS. For FSU's sake, Wednesday would be an ideal moment for that to change.

FSU has announced it will start freshman right-handed pitcher John Abraham (5-1, 4.24 ERA over 34 innings). He's thrown just once in the NCAA Tournament, tossing one scoreless inning vs. UCF in the regional back on June 2. It'll be his 25th appearance and third start of the season.

While Abraham had some struggles early in the season, he's allowed just five earned runs over 18.1 innings (2.45 ERA) over his last 14 appearances with 23 strikeouts to 17 walks. Abraham has maxed out at 3.2 innings this season, throwing 3+ innings just three times this season. As such, he's likely to be an opener much like Andrew Armstrong was on Tuesday.

Tennessee, on the other hand, has announced it will start senior LHP Zander Sechrist (4-1, 3.26 ERA over 66.1 innings) for Wednesday's game. Sechrist became the Volunteers' third starter as the season progressed. Over his last four starts, he's allowed just two earned runs on 18 hits over 23 innings.

FSU lineup



Tennessee lineup


Vols are having to DH their centerfielder Hunter Ensley today after he suffered an injury Sunday vs. UNC. Kavares Tears, who had been their right fielder, moves to center to replace him.

FSU sports information:

Rising Florida State senior Maddy Huggins had a career day at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday, advancing to the semifinals of the women’s 200 breast, placing 12th with a time of 2:29.43.

In prelims, Huggins led from start to finish in heat two, touching first with a time of 2:29.17, which was her personal best after being seeded at 2:30.85. Carrying the lead into the circle seeded heats, Huggins ended up with the ninth-fastest time overall, advancing to the semifinals.

Working in the second heat, Huggins touched eighth, just shy of the final (2:29.03).

She also swam the 100 breast on Sunday, touching 27th with a time of 1:09.81, which was just off her best (1:09.58).

Incoming freshman Logan Robinson also saw a big time drop, earning a spot in the semifinals of the men’s 200 fly.

Seeded 37th with a time of 2:00.04, Robinson clocked 1:58.37 in prelims, tying for the last spot in semifinals. Working out of lane eight, Robinson swam faster and moved up to place 13th with a time of 1:58.08.

Lleyton Arnold also competed in the men’s 200 breast, touching 41st at 2:15.18, which was just off his best (2:14.47).

Mason Herbet will compete in the 100 fly to close out U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials while Samantha Vear (3-meter) and Katrina Young (platform) are set to compete at U.S. Olympic Diving Trials.

On his commitment and more:

FSU sports information:

Adriaan Wildschutt was selected to represent South Africa for the 2024 Olympic Games. The track and field events will run from August 1-11 at State De France.

Wildschutt qualified for Paris, after lowering his own South African national record in the 10,000-meter at The Ten in San Juan Capistrano, California with a time of 26:55.54 in March of 2024.

In May, he competed in his first ever Diamond League meet in the 5,000, clocking a time of 12:56.67 to become the only South African to hold two national records.

Wildschutt represented his country at the World Championships in the summer of 2022 and 2023, placing 18th in the 5,000 in 2022 and 14th in the 10,000 in 2023. He also placed fifth in the 10,000 at the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

During his time at Florida State (2021-22), Wildschutt accumulated seven All-American honors in his career after joining the team in January of 2021.

Wildschutt was the ACC Performer of the Year in 2021 in cross country where he won the ACC and NCAA South Region titles before finishing sixth at the NCAA Championships. Wildschutt was a two-time USTFCCCA Men’s South Region XC Athlete of the Year, being the only Seminole in school history to earn the honor multiple times.

After COVID-19 pushed most of the cross country season to 2021, Wildschutt finished second at the NCAA Championships in March, days after placing fourth in the 5,000 at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

In the fall, he won five races throughout the season, tying the school record set by Herb Willis in 1981.

Wildschutt holds the outdoor program record in the 10,000 (27:38.54) and indoor 5,000 school record (13:09.30), which is the second-fastest time in NCAA history.

Wildschutt is the 56th Seminole with ties to FSU track and field to compete in the Olympics. He is the first to represent South Africa. FSU has had a representative in every Games since 1972.

Coming out of the loser’s bracket of the College World Series takes heroic performances.

That’s just what FSU pitchers Andrew Armstrong and Connor Hults delivered Tuesday vs. UNC after somewhat struggling (or not pitching at all) the last few weeks.

FSU sports information:

Florida State Men’s Golf Alum Cristobal Del Solar etched his name as the first Florida State Men’s Golf Olympian, qualifying for the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.

Del Solar, who enjoyed an All-America career with the Seminoles from 2013-17, will represent his home country of Chile. Of the 60 qualifying golfers based on the two-year calculation of the Olympic Golf Ranking, Del Solar finished 46th.

The top-15 world-ranked players are eligible for the Olympics, with a limit of four players from a given country. Beyond the top 15, players are eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top-15.

Del Solar has produced solid numbers during his stay on the Korn Ferry Tour, owning five Top 10 finishes in the 2023-24 season. Of the 14 events played this year, he has made 11 cuts. Recently, he finished third at the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX, shooting 19-under.

Del Solar has one lone PGA TOUR appearance this season, making the cut and tying for 48th at the Mexico Open at Vidanta on Feb. 25.

The Seminole Alum will compete as one of 60 players at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, which is just outside of Paris, from Aug. 1-4. The Olympic tournament will consist of four 18-hole stroke-play rounds, just like on the PGA TOUR, and the Top-3 finishers in the 60-player field will be awarded gold, silver and bronze medals.

While at FSU, Del Solar put together an outstanding career. He was a 2017 third-team All-American and won the Irish Creek Collegiate in that same season, capping his career with his lowest stroke average at 71.06. He was also a two-time All-ACC selection.

Among players who competed all four years at FSU, Del Solar ranks seventh all-time in lowest career stroke average at 72.10. He also has 11 career Top 10 finishes in college.

Perhaps his biggest splash was made on Feb. 8, when he became known as Mr. 57 after shooting the lowest professional golf round in history in the first round of the Korn Ferry Tour's Astara Golf Championship.

Olympic Golf made its return to the Summer Olympics in the 2016 Games in Rio, and also was played at the Tokyo Games that occurred in 2021. Prior to 2016, the sport was only part of the 1900 and 1904 Games.

Brooke Wyckoff goes in-depth with the Osceola on various players, notably the new additions in the offseason, what's next for Ta'Niya Latson, the ratings success of women's hoops, NIL and more:

FSU quarterback Tramell Jones shows his consistency on Day 1 of Elite 11 camp

Join us at Glory Days today at 3 pm as we continue the game watching fun.
It's fun. The food is great. The beverages cold. And the company spirited.
If you are in town, come on! Love to see you.

FSU has not offered a ton of linebackers for the class of 2025. Most of the offers for 2025 came before the spring started. Tavion Wallace who FSU leads for was offered before the spring. Riley Pettijohn who FSU also offered early showed interest but that has since subsided. Gavin Nix, Zaydrius Rainey Sale and Ty Jackson were all offered early. The only recent offer for the 2025 class was Michael Hastie. FSU has a commitment from Ethan Pritchard of Seminole HS and everyone feels he will play linebacker in college. So with Pritchard committed and Wallace about to FSU does not have a major need for linebackers in the class of 2025. The 2026 and 2027 classes are starting to fill out for the Seminoles. We will break down the line backing board and where FSU stands with offers.


2025 Offers
Michael Hastie-Douglas County-6'3-230 -He is one of the bigger linebackers on FSU board. As with most of the FSU defense the trend is towards bigger players. Michael fits the mold. He is a big backer that will help out in run support. He is actually not terrible in pass coverage. He moves well for a big guy. It will be interesting to see if FSU takes his commitment or waits for guys like Gavin Nix, Rainey and Jackson.

2026 Offers
Adam Balogoun-Ali: The Benjamin School-(FL) 6'2-200: Ali performed very well at the Rivals Camp. He was one of the top backers. His versatility is what first stood out. He can run. He can go back into coverage and stay with backs and receivers in space. He is someone that can come down in the box or drop back into coverage and help in the passing game. He may end up one of the more complete backers on the board. FSU is one of the leaders for Ali services.

Desmond Johnson: Miami Northwestern (FL) 6’1-200: Northwestern has been down the last few seasons. Johnson is someone that FSU watched this spring and offered. He comes from the same school as Lavonta David. FSU linebacker Marvin Jones also played at the west. He is a backer that gives you some speed and quickness on defense. He can drop down the seam and cover a linebacker. He does not have great size so playing the run may be an issue at times.

Malik Morris-Lakeland (FL) 6’1-230: They say the day of 230 pounds linebackers are over. Morris breaks the mold as he is a BIG Backer. The question with Morris is he able to cover backs and receivers in space? If he is not an every down linebacker that hurts his overall stock. He is someone that can play downhill and stuff the run. He is not easy to run against. He is athletic enough to not be a liability in coverage.

Izayia Williams: Leesburg (FL) 6’1-200 Committed to Syracuse: Williams is a prospect to keep an eye on. He pulled the trigger early for Syracuse. He is someone that is going to draw a ton of interest from college coaches. Williams can run. He is a good enough athlete to come off the edge and rush the passer. He is athletic enough to play in coverage. He is built like a safety but that is the type of backer you see in college football these days. He is much underrated and we expect him to be heavily recruited next fall.

Jordan Campbell: Carol City (FL) 6’2-200 Committed to Miami: Campbell is a hybrid LB/DE. He can stand up and rush the passer. If you look at his frame he is similar to former Seminole Christian Jones. He has size and length. He is someone that can put pressure on the quarterback. He has the speed and quickness to play in space. He has some range. You can have him drop into coverage and play the pass. He is a prospect that you recruit and worry about where to play him once on campus.

Markel Dabney: Hugeunot (VA) 6’1-210: Dabney has been offered. He is a prospect that has played on both sides of the football. We like backers that have also played running back. He will call out the defense. Turn on the film and Dabney is very active on the defensive side of the football. He can blitz and make a big play. He can rush the passer. He can come up and play the run. Dabney is more of a complete backer than some of the prospects listed above.

The last time an FSU player hit two home runs in a College World Series game or three home runs in a single CWS, Jaime Ferrer hadn't been born yet. The junior slugger has powered the FSU offense with three homers and eight RBI in two games in Omaha.

For the second time in three days, Florida State baseball's season is on the line Tuesday afternoon.
The eighth-seeded Seminoles (48-16) take on No. 4 seed North Carolina (48-15) in their second consecutive College World Series elimination game Tuesday at 2 p.m. (ESPN) at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. It'll be the first time the conference foes have faced off since 2022 and the second time they have played in the CWS (1989).

FSU leads the all-time series vs. UNC 72-39, but has lost eight of the last 13 games it has played against the Tar Heels.

While FSU hasn't made an official announcement yet, UNC's website has senior lefty Andrew Armstrong (5-0, 6.98 ERA) listed as the Seminoles' projected starting pitcher. It would be his 23rd appearance and ninth start of the season and his first appearance of the NCAA Tournament. He allowed three runs over 1.2 innings in his last appearance vs. Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament, also a start. Armstrong has thrown four-plus innings just twice this season so he's likely more of an opener with FSU piecing together the rest of its pitching performance after however much Armstrong can give FSU.

As head coach Scott Forbes said Saturday, UNC will start junior righty Aidan Haugh in its first elimination game of the CWS. He's got a 4.53 ERA over 51.2 innings and has also made just one appearance in the NCAA Tournament, allowing four runs on five hits over three innings in a regional loss to LSU.

Notes on Brennen Oxford's redemption, a UNC preview
Jaime Ferrer powering FSU offense with historic College World Series start

The weather in Omaha today will be worth monitoring. There are winds fluctuating between 17 and 20 miles per hour during the expected game time with chance of rain listed at less than 25% throughout the afternoon. However, that chance of rain is projected to skyrocket to 83% at 5 p.m. Central and 98% at 6 p.m. Essentially, the longer the game goes this afternoon, the worse the chances they will be able to finish it before a storm that is projected to stick around the rest of the day.

FSU lineup


UNC lineup


I'll be there live in person again today with updates in the lead-up and once the game gets underway.

Watch interviews of FSU head coach Link Jarrett, pitching coach Micah Posey, starting pitcher Andrew Armstrong and outfielder James Tibbs III talking through all aspects of the Seminoles' win to advance to the College World Series Semifinals Wednesday afternoon.

Behind 14 hits, a clutch start from Andrew Armstrong and a clutch save from Connor Hults, FSU is through to the CWS Semifinals for the first time since 2012.

FSU-Tennessee Game 1 is set for tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Malik Clark acknowledged he has a “good idea” where he will commit, potentially in the next few months before his senior year begins. After wrapping up an official visit to Florida State, the four-star receiver and Rock Hill, S.C., native was asked if there was a gap between schools in his home state as well as North Carolina and FSU.

“Probably,” Clark said. “That gap probably closed now because I’ve been around them. I’ve just been around North Carolina, South Carolina for a long time.”

Let’s come out of the losers bracket and win the whole damn thing!

Florida State is hosting four prospects for a midweek official visit on Tuesday. The players arrived early this morning to take in a summer workout and have now arrived at the Moore after breakfast to begin their visit.

Here is a short thread of arrival photos.

The latest on the Elite 11 here:

If you’re not able to get to Doak Campbell Stadium for each Florida State game, the window to purchase single-game tickets is opening soon.

FSU athletics will begin selling single-game tickets on June 18 at 9 a.m. There will also be an early-access window on June 17 for boosters. Tickets are capped to a maximum of six per game.

All single-game ticket locations will be in the visiting team’s allotment. Availability for single-game tickets varies, with limited quantities for home games against Clemson and Florida.

All tickets will be mobile passes in 2024 and must be saved to a mobile wallet (no screenshots).

FSU’s pricing varies by game:

Sept. 2 — Boston College, $50
Sept. 14 — Memphis, $40
Sept. 21 — California, $50
Oct. 5 — Clemson, $125
Nov. 2 — North Carolina, $50
Nov. 23 — Charleston Southern, $40
Nov. 30 — Florida, $125

Only two times for home games have been set: FSU vs. BC is at 7:30 p.m., while FSU-Memphis is at noon.

Fans who aren't Seminole Boosters can join ahead of the June 18 window and jump in to purchase on June 17.

Rivals national analyst Adam Gorney has thoughts on FSU QB commitment Tramell Jones and the other prospects at the Elite 11 showcase:

share some insight...and facts, from a retired umpire's perspective.

As many know, I retired from college and high school softball umpiring a few years ago and I try to share information from an umpire's viewpoint whenever it may be helpful.
I worked a handful of practice games over the years for my son's high school baseball team...just on the bases, so that's the limit of my knowledge of umpiring baseball games. Because of that, even though it is standard mechanics for baseball umpires, I personally think it's ridiculous for the plate umpire to ask for help from the first or third base umpire, on a check swing. The base umpires are 100+ feet away from the plate! When I was out there working, I was surprised at what a difference it is from softball. Anyway, I just think it's asking an awful lot for a base umpire to make that call.

We all grow up with the mistaken understanding of rules like "tie goes to the runner" or other "urban myths" that we may have played by, but really weren't/aren't part of the rule book. Since the ruling Friday night, I've heard since that play is a judgement call, it's not reviewable. I do understand that it's not reviewable, but that particular play IS NOT a judgement call. Rule 2.39 is written for what in baseball terms, is called a "Half Swing". It says this:

"An attempt by the batter to stop the forward motion of the bat while swinging, which puts the batter in jeopardy of a strike being called. The half swing shall be called a strike if the barrel head of the bat passes the batter’s front hip. This does not apply to a bunt attempt when the batter pulls the bat back."

So, clearly this is very specific and really not a "judgement call". Of course, the umpire has to decide (judge) if the barrel of the bat crosses the batter's front hip, but it is clearly reviewable and if he "judges" incorrectly, just like any other close play at any base or plate, it can be and SHOULD be reviewed and corrected!!

I don't think there's any doubt that the barrel of the bat went past his front hip and should have been called a strike. I also don't blame the 3rd base umpire completely, because he's 100+ feet away from the plate, and the system put him in a position to fail. It is a bad system from a mechanics standpoint and like Link said after the game...it should be a reviewable play. And to his credit, apparently he's been saying that for quite some time, not just after Friday's game.

Anyway, just my perspective of what happened and what hopefully will happen/change in the future.