CWS Shenanigans
UVA pitcher/real-life version of Kenny Powers is already the star of the College World Series
One of the sneaky great content events in all of sports, the College World Series, is officially underway and back with a vengeance in 2021 after being canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All we can say is thank goodness, because we missed the f--- yous, the aluminum bat moonshot walk-offs from dudes named Jumbo and the epic choke jobs that only college kids can produce.
We're still in the Regional stage of the CWS, but we already have an early leader in the clubhouse for content king - Virginia relief pitcher Stephen Schoch, also known as the real-life version of Kenny Powers.
Schoch's Cavaliers lost their first game of the Columbia Regional to South Carolina, 4-3, immediately putting their backs against the wall. They then beat that bracket's other loser, Jacksonville, 13-8 in an elimination game, setting up a must-win rematch with South Carolina. UVA was leading 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning when Schoch entered the game with two outs and runners on first and third. Schoch proceeded to emphatically slam the door from there, pitching the final two-and-a-third innings, striking out five batters and not giving up a single hit or run. Virginia didn't advance to the Super Regional stage with the win, but you can be damn sure Schoch celebrated like his team did:
Just an absolute glove LAUNCH from Schoch, and this was just to advance to the Wahoos' third consecutive elimination game. They won that, too, over Old Dominion, who they'll need to beat a second time on Monday evening at 7 p.m. to advance to the Super Regional, where the winner of Oregon State vs. Dallas Baptist awaits.
Selfishly, we're hoping UVA gets through ODU so we get more of Schoch/Kenny Powers, whose post-game interview game is even better than his flamethrower game. When asked if anything makes him nervous, Schoch simply responded with "Caves... mainly."
Yep, this guy is the effing man. Very good chance Virginia utilizes Schoch out of the pen again Monday night, as it's a must-win game. Apologies to Monarchs fans, but we're firmly in the Wahoos corner in the hopes we get another post-win interview like that one.