The University of South Carolina Gamecocks are NCAA Baseball Champions. And they deserve it. Watching their games as a "non-Gamecock", I could not help but notice that there was something very special, very different, very intriguing about this team. They simply refused to lose. Whether down to a last strike or needing a clutch play in the field, Carolina did what had to be done. They were on the ropes in their home regional and fought back to take it. They could have easily been eliminated at the Coastal Carolina Super Regional and saved themselves with a clutch hit. They lost their first game in Omaha, putting them in the brutal "losers bracket." But they promptly eliminated Oklahoma and Clemson to make the Finals. And there would be no stopping them there. Pitching was great. Hitting was there when needed. Defense was good. But in my humble opinion, pitching, hitting, and defense are not why Carolina celebrates a national championship today. There was just something......was it the tragic death of young Bayler? Or maybe the seances or spirit stick? Was it Jackie Bradley, Jr? Or was it simply that they had the most heart of anyone in the tournament? They had some luck....you must have a few "duck snorts" as Coach Tanner said to win a championship. Are they the best team in college baseball? Are they even the best team in the SEC? Are they the best team in the state of South Carolina? Does it matter? They were the best team in America in the month of June, 2010, and they deserve to be called champions, "dee"-finitively.
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