Tech to face Miami for ACC baseball title
The Georgia Tech baseball team has one more hill to climb Sunday on an improbable ascent. The Yellow Jackets will play Miami for the ACC championship in Greensboro, N.C., eight days after their spot in the eight-team tournament was secured on the final day of the regular season.
The game will start at noon and will be carried on ESPN2.
The No. 8 seed, Tech upset top-seeded Florida State (the top-ranked team in the country) on Wednesday, beat No. 17 Virginia on Friday and then Clemson on Saturday behind six innings from Jake Davies, who limited the Tigers to two hits in the fourth pitching start of his career.
A team that entered the tournament on the NCAA tournament bubble, Tech can secure its ticket automatically by winning its first ACC title since 2005. The Jackets (35-24) are just the third No. 8 seed to reach the final.
“We didn’t have anything to lose,” Davies said. “Nobody expected us to do anything. We upset the No. 1 seed and then things just kind of fell into place.”
Davies has taken the lead role, hitting four home runs in three games, including a two-run shot in the first inning of Saturday’s game to give the Jackets a lead they never surrendered in their 5-1 win.
Davies is 5-for-11 in the three games with nine RBI and a slugging percentage of 1.636, not a bad addendum to his portfolio before the major league draft begins June 4.
“This is the best I’ve ever seen the ball,” Davies said. “I’m playing probably the best three games I’ve played in my career.”
Freshman Josh Heddinger, who demonstrated his big-game appetite earlier this season with two solid starts against Georgia, is expected to pitch for the Jackets against Miami. The sixth-seeded Hurricanes (36-20) took two of three from Tech on the final weekend of the season, though the three-game aggregate was 14-12 in Miami’s favor.
Including the win over the Hurricanes to secure the No. 8 seed, Tech has now won four games in a row over ACC opponents. Prior to that, the longest winning streak the Jackets put together against ACC competition this season was three games, and did that against Boston College and Duke, neither of which qualified for the tournament.
“Offensively, that’s really what we should have been doing all season,” Davies said. “You know what? You get hot at the right time. That’s what this thing’s about.”
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302 comments Add your comment
Supersize that order, mutt
May 27th, 2012
3:38 pm
Thanks, UOAD. Hadn’t even thought about that
Robert the Yellow Jacket
May 27th, 2012
3:39 pm
I would not mind being wrong but I think we are the third team to do it.
Supersize that order, mutt
May 27th, 2012
3:39 pm
you can just go to wrek.com
5150 UOAD
May 27th, 2012
3:40 pm
WREK 91.1 on line from the site
http://www.ramblinwreck.com
and go down to listen live
1 4 GT
May 27th, 2012
3:40 pm
I agree Robert, but I still hate to go thru the agony, until it’s won by MY team.
Robert the Yellow Jacket
May 27th, 2012
3:40 pm
Screw the Braves if they can;t win without Chipper. We have the Jackets.
Ol'JacketFan
May 27th, 2012
3:40 pm
3rd 8th seed to make the championship game, 1st to win it
Robert the Yellow Jacket
May 27th, 2012
3:41 pm
Thanks 1 4 Tech.
Supersize that order, mutt
May 27th, 2012
3:41 pm
Who would have thought after losing to lowly Mercer that we would end up being ACC Tournament champions.
5150 UOAD
May 27th, 2012
3:41 pm
Robert I think we are the 3rd team to Make it to the ACC CG but the FIRST to win It.
Robert the Yellow Jacket
May 27th, 2012
3:42 pm
And thanks again Ol’JacketFan.
My mistake.
Robert the Yellow Jacket
May 27th, 2012
3:43 pm
My bad UOAD.
Buzz 2011
May 27th, 2012
3:44 pm
Yellow Jackets, ACC CHAMPS again. Taking out the #1 team in the country and two other top 20 ranked teams on the way..what a tournament run. Great job Danny Hall and all of the Jackets.
Ol'JacketFan
May 27th, 2012
3:44 pm
It’s been a lot of fun watching the tourney games, wondering where they’re going to be sent and seeded?
Robert the Yellow Jacket
May 27th, 2012
3:44 pm
This sure beats the Indy 500.
What happened to Biff?
Nothing else to whine about I guess.
1 4 GT
May 27th, 2012
3:44 pm
OJF—you check that doggie link yet?
5150 UOAD
May 27th, 2012
3:44 pm
AMC is showing APOCALYPSE NOW better than the SEC baseball. LOL
Buzz 2011
May 27th, 2012
3:45 pm
Were the Dawgs even in the SEC tournament? None and done again???
Supersize that order, mutt
May 27th, 2012
3:46 pm
NCAA regionals will be announced tomorrow
1 4 GT
May 27th, 2012
3:46 pm
How many bb players on scholarship?
5150 UOAD
May 27th, 2012
3:46 pm
BIFF I banished to the “Haters Pit of Hell” in the 6th inning.
Supersize that order, mutt
May 27th, 2012
3:47 pm
Dawgs were in and out after two games
Robert the Yellow Jacket
May 27th, 2012
3:47 pm
What kind of fan are you if u show up when things look bad to gripe and disappear when your team wins?
5150 UOAD
May 27th, 2012
3:47 pm
http://www.ramblinwreck.com
to get the write up before KEN’S write up and BUY your ACC CG TEE SHIRT.
Robert the Yellow Jacket
May 27th, 2012
3:48 pm
Forgot UOAD.
That fixed him.
Ol'JacketFan
May 27th, 2012
3:48 pm
14 GT, not yet but I will. Heading out to enjoy the sizzle of steaks
and a cold beer! My fellow Jackets fans, enjoy the day and remember a vet!
5150 UOAD
May 27th, 2012
3:49 pm
Dawgs were in and out? You mean a dWag can’t STAY longer than that on a Drunk Passed out Fake Blonde Chick? LMAO
Robert the Yellow Jacket
May 27th, 2012
3:50 pm
& thanks 4 T-shirt info.
Maybe they can’t find some whiney reason o steal this one.
We need to do a NCAA SUCKS cheer next year at football games.
Supersize that order, mutt
May 27th, 2012
3:53 pm
@ OJF…..have a good dinner, and if you’re a vet, God Bless You !!!
5150 UOAD
May 27th, 2012
3:53 pm
Do you think Charlie Sheen visiting TECH baseball this season and taking BP helped the JACKETS not give a F and just play loose? LMAO……………..!!!!!!!!!!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
May 27th, 2012
3:53 pm
WREK just confirmed that Tech is the first 8 seed ever to win the ACC tournament
5150 UOAD
May 27th, 2012
3:55 pm
SUPER were you Questioning my Knowledge about TECH History? Naw you were just checking my FACTS! LOL
Supersize that order, mutt
May 27th, 2012
3:57 pm
That’s not Tech history, that’s ACC history. But regardless, I wasn’t the one who questioned it earlier. I’m just passing along the confirmation from WREK
5150 UOAD
May 27th, 2012
3:58 pm
KEN has a NEW BLOG about the CHAMPIONSHIP WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 4 GT
May 27th, 2012
3:58 pm
Gonna show my ignorance. The “McCamish Pavilion” is the old Alexander Memorial Coliseum, right? Why the name change? Has GT done anything to recognize “Whack” Hyder? Or Al Ciraldo? If so, what?
Supersize that order, mutt
May 27th, 2012
4:00 pm
@ 1 4 GT…..that’s a sore spot for many Tech fans. I don’t think they should have dropped “Alexander” from the name in favor of some rich dude. And like you, I think both Hyder and CIraldo should be honored somewhere
5150 UOAD
May 27th, 2012
4:01 pm
I get to DREAM about Ashley Judd Jumping for Joy over a Victory wearing GT cheer leading Uni (Like Marlyn Monroe in 52). I know she was cheering for her hubby winning the Indy 500 but dammit it is my fantasy so leave me alone…………….
1 4 GT
May 27th, 2012
4:03 pm
FYI—-Memorial Day honors vets who have died—-in combat or not—-Vet’s Day in November honors all Vets from day 1 until present, including those currently serving. But who’s counting, do something for a military member or family anyway.
Supersize that order, mutt
May 27th, 2012
4:05 pm
@ 1 4 GT……that is correct. I think in recent years they have almost come to be the same thing in most people’s minds.
5150 UOAD
May 27th, 2012
4:07 pm
1 4 GT when you drop the Millions like that You get to put your name on stuff even though you had NOTHING to do with Athletic teams at TECH. He is a grad but the UNI-Bo.b will still be the Uni-B.ob at AMC in my mind. LOL
Supersize that order, mutt
May 27th, 2012
4:08 pm
Davies officially Tournament MVP
5150 UOAD
May 27th, 2012
4:08 pm
TECH gets 4 players on the ACC Tourney team and Jake BABE Davies for the MVP.
1 4 GT
May 27th, 2012
4:09 pm
I have no problem with that attitude SS—-only guvmint & banks get a day off for vet’s day anyway—-so most people probably really know what it means.
Supersize that order, mutt
May 27th, 2012
4:11 pm
Well, guys, I am outta here at least for now. I may check back later on the other blog, depending if anybody is posting there. If not, have good dinners tonight and a special Memorial Day. Be back here next weekend for the Regionals and every day during the week just to pass the time with good Tech friends
RWRECK77
May 27th, 2012
4:15 pm
Taking Alexander off the Coliseum didn’t suit me for sure.! Ciraldo and Hyder do need to be honored but whats up with nothing named for Heisman??? Looks like that would be obvious PR. Is there a reason there isn’t a Heisman building ,,,,,Scratching my head,,,,,, was the old gym with the pool the Heisman gym??
RWRECK77
May 27th, 2012
4:16 pm
Super I bet you can answer that question!
1 4 GT
May 27th, 2012
4:18 pm
see ya later SS & 5150 I know what you mean—-I assume the Alexander referred to FB coach between Heisman & Dodd? The students need to repaint it like the big tit again some night—-and leave a really big sign behind saying they did this to honor Alexander
Supersize that order, mutt
May 27th, 2012
4:39 pm
@ RWERCK77……yes, the old gym was the Heisman Gym, and yes, Alexander Coliseum was named for the FB coach between Heisman and Dodd
1 4 GT
May 27th, 2012
5:42 pm
We need to start a campaign to email DRad about honoring these 4 (Heisman, Alexander, Hyder & Ciraldo) men. The Heisman Indoor Practice Facility, the Alexander/Hyder Athletic Facility & the Ciraldo Booth (BDF@HGF) Booth press box. Then they can honor Mr. Moneybags as they choose.
Supersize that order, mutt
May 27th, 2012
5:55 pm
@ 1 4 GT, although it was a long time ago, Ciraldo’s predecessor (Jack Hurst) should be honored too. He was even better than Ciraldo, and nothing has ever been done to honor him.