Blogging at College World Series- Days 4-5

DAY FOUR AT THE CWS
Off day for the team as they prepare to play Saturday at noon against Dixie State. DSC lost to North Georgia on the opening day, so the winner will advance while the loser gets an early exit.

7:07pm- On the recommendation from our awesome host, Bill Jones, we head to Mamma Maria's Italian Restaurant in Salem. It is a neat little place that will accomodate our big crew of the entire team, administrators, coaches, parents and family.

DAY FIVE AT THE CWS
11:10am- I'm just arriving at the ballpark and already see a ton of supporters making the trek to Salem to cheer on the Hounds. Among those in attendance were Head Baseball Coach Gary Vaught, Assistant Women's Basketball Coach Jen Conely, former players Beth Wendlinger, Lindsey Mishevich, Megan Hall and Kathy Blanchard. And more parents and families. And tons more listening on WICR FM or logged onto the NCAA's video webcast.

12:00pm- It's first ups for UIndy again and black unis.

12:14pm- Megan Russell in trouble in the top of the first, runners on second and third with none down.

12:17pm- Russell gets two grounders and a K to escape without allowing a run!

12:25pm- The Hounds plate a pair on Lindsey Gustine's two-out, two-strike single to take a 2-0 lead.

12:40pm- Jessica Breeden hits a screaming liner over the right center fence for a 3-0 Greyhound advantage.

1:37pm- Greyhounds close-out the win and advance to play Lock Haven at 4:00.

1:57pm- Coach Frost-Fisher along with Jessica Breeden and Lindsey Gustine answer questions at the postgame presser. The winning team's interview sessions are being videotaped and posted online here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgtxb7Y9ojA.

4:00pm- Ready for game two of the day and the Lock Haven Lady Eagles stand in the way. LHU superstar Kristen Erb is going for her 47th win of the season against just five losses.

4:37pm- LHU grabs the early lead and adds another on a sacrifice fly in the 2nd inning.

5:17pm- Megan Russell still pitching well, keeping the Lady Eagles mainly in check. The Hounds need a pair in the seventh to tie it up.

5:24pm- Jenny Swanson singles to give UIndy some one-out hope in the final inning, but Erb puts away her 98th career shutout, a DII record, to eliminate the Hounds.

5:41pm- Congratulations abound for the team and their great season. It didn't end exactly how they wanted, but it was a good run and will provide the learning experience for years to come.

8:00pm- We're off to Mac & Bob's for dinner. Great food and I think the calzone that Athletic Trainer Stephen Jones just ordered is bigger than my head.

Headed home in the morning after a fun run in the NCAA tournament that spanned three weekends. I'm sure it's an experience that these kids will never forget.

Blogging at College World Series- Day 3

10:00am- Bus loads for the field as the Hounds prepare to battle it out with seven other teams for the Division II national championship! First on the docket is Angelo State University, a team from the Lone Star Conference that whacked 89 homers this season, so the task to keep them in the park will be a large one.

10:25am- I run into some of our baseball players as I walk into the Stadium. They've just arrived after leaving Indianapolis in the middle of the night to get here. Awesome. Big props to Jason Ornellas, Cory Rupert and Matt Murphy-- among those who made that long early-morning trek.

12:00pm- Game is underway, UIndy is the visiting team and will wear their black uniforms. This is just fine for the Greyhounds, the team tells me they love to wear the blacks and they are not intimidated hitting first and taking a lead. I like it.

12:34pm- True to form, the Hounds do take the early lead, grabbing a run in the third inning on an RBI single from Megan Russell.

12:46pm- Angelo State strikes back with a run on a double steal to tie the score.

1:20pm- The Rambelles get back-to-back doubles in the 5th to score another run.

1:41pm- ASU gets one more run to take a 3-1 lead, but have not hit any homers and Russell has squandered just six hits.

1:50pm- Greyhounds drop the opening game, missing on a few opportunities. Russell pitched well but the Hounds' offense only got the one run. We'll have to wait until Saturday to be able to get back on the field and shake this off.

2:20pm- Head Coach Melissa Frost-Fisher speaks at the postgame press conference. She credits Angelo State with playing a great game, but felt her team needed to produce more at the plate to back Russell's start.

2:30pm- The team sticks around to watch the other games and scout the team they will get to play next.

7:00pm- It's Logan's for dinner tonight.

9:30pm- Although tomorrow is an "off day", practice time is 8:00 a.m., so it's an early retirement tonight for the team.

Blogging at College World Series- Day 2

WEDNESDAY
8:00am- The team arrives at the Moyer Complex for its first practice. The Hounds will put two hours in at the facility, taking the normal infield and outfield work in addition to hitting at the park.

11:50am- The bus loads to head to a barbeque in Salem for the teams. It is a nice park setting with a basketball court, picnic tables, cornhole and loads of food. The Hounds quickly make their way to the karaoke microphones. They proceed to belt out a rousing rendition of Sugarland's "Stay". Yeah, they crashed the party... Kinda like NCAA's Amy Farnum Novin mentions in her preview article about the Hounds . Cat Sampson again wows the crowd with her Technotronic skills. I'm pretty sure Cat was just born when that song was cool...

1:30pm- UIndy visits the V.A. Care Center to visit with patients. The residents were welcoming and many wanted to take their picture with the team. More than just the games, these championships are about the entire community. The Greyhounds made many more fans during their hour visit.

7:00pm- All eight teams are invited to a banquet honoring the teams and their accomplishments. Two representatives from each squad are chosen to present information about their team. Senior Maggie Swanson and junior Megan Russell shared their thoughts on the resiliency of their team and the payoff from all of the hard work they've logged this season. later, Russell would be named to the National Fastpitch Coach Association's All-America Second Team! It is her second All-America honor of her career after she was a Daktronics Third Teamer as a freshman. She is the first Greyhound to ever be named an All-American by the coaches' association, however. CONGRATULATIONS!

9:35pm- After a long post-banquet meeting with school administrators and head coaches, the players are anxiously waiting on the bus for the return trip to the hotel. We are once again serenaded from the back of the bus...

Blogging at the NCAA Softball World Series

The Greyhound softball team has advanced to the NCAA Division II Softball Championships in Salem, Va. as UIndy tries to earn its first national championship. While the softball team is in action, the men's golf team is in its national tournament and the track teams are in San Angelo, Texas for the D-II Outdoor meet.

All said, a lot going on in the world of UIndy athletics. We're going to try to capture the complete picture of the championships here in Virginia--more than just the games. The team has embarked on a week-long journey that will create lasting memories. Look here each day for an update.

TUESDAY
8:00 am- The Hounds load the bus outside Nicoson Hall, but not before Head Baseball Coach Gary Vaught offers his well-wishes and gives a nice motivational speech. Head Football Coach Joe Polizzi and Associate Athletic Director Matt Donovan are also on hand to greet Coach Melissa Frost-Fisher and send them on their way.

1:30pm- The bus stops at a Chili's in Huntingon, W.V. for lunch. The team seems loose, but focused. The waiter asks "Who do you want to face/not want to face?" After a very brief pause, Lindsey Gustine offers: "They don't want to face us".

5:00pm- Getting close to the hotel in Roanoke, Va. Unfortunately, they have found the wireless mic. Well, I shouldn't say unfortunately, because we all got a good laugh from it. Jenny Swanson offers up a stunning rendition of a Cher classic... Cat Sampson "pumps up the jam"...

5:30pm- We pull into the hotel and our host family greets us. They've done their best to make the team feel welcome, and this sign posted out front in the lobby is witness to the details these people have gone to in that regard.

7:30pm- Surprise. A dinner at Olive Garden. It was the same recipe for the NCAA Regionals and the NCAA Super Regionals...

10:00pm- Lights out. An early practice tomorrow morning followed by a BBQ, community service and a formal banquet at night.

Follow the Spring Madness

Ok, so we haven't updated here in a bit. Well, in case you haven't noticed the Greyhound spring sports are keeping us quite busy. Hot in pursuit of a national championship! We've put together a page that has all the information you will need to follow the Hounds on their quests for greatness in the upcoming NCAA tournaments. Seven spring teams made the NCAA postseason: men's tennis, softball, baseball, men's golf, women's golf, women's track and men's track. Six of them will be in competition this week and next.

We'll be on the road with some of them, sharing our experiences. Check out the coverage on our twitter page (look to your right) and as well as here.

Look forward to blogging and sharing pictures from a UIndy National Championship! Go HOUNDS!