The Louisville Cardinal Nine has jammed their way to college baseball’s Final Four.

This is the equivalent of making it to the last Saturday of Hoops with Ian, Grant and Bill on the call.

Like ascending to the CFP semis with Chris and Herbie in the booth.

It’s way cool.

Which is why even I, Mr. Throw Up Some Diversionary Smoke Screen in the Lede, knows better.

And, which meandering I declined the propensity to do after hearing a live version this morning of Bob Marley’s “Jammin'” with a reference to Zion I could have play around with.

The Cards are jammin’.

And hope the fans are jammin’ too.

And hoping the jam is going to last.

 * * * * *

Speaking of “last,” in a game as fractious and tense as college baseball in Omaha, it seems to me that the team with the final at bat has a distinct advantage in a tight one.

Yeah, I know, brilliant observation, that.

Oregon State took advantage in Encounter I.

The Cards in Encounter II.

While the double elimination aspect of the NCAA tourney makes total sense and is absolutely fair, given the nature of the pastime, I’ve never understood how the home team is designated? Seems to me the higher seeded team should always have such a benefit.

But, as it is wont to do, the NCAA eschewed the obvious.

 * * * * *

Speaking of announcers, I just get a kick out of Ben McDonald.

As someone prone to hijack conversations, I recognize and acknowledge a fellow with the same  inclination.

But the guy knows baseball, loves baseball and has some stories.

Plus there’s that Louisiana accent.

And flat top.

 * * * * *

I am famously not a data guy. But a few Cardinal stats from the the tourney grab my attention.

As beleaguered as U of L hurlers seem at times, they are getting it done.

That the Beavers were just 1/15 with runners in scoring position is as much a credit to the Cards on the bump as it is to OSU’s failure to perform in critical spots.

The case of Brennyn Cutts intrigues.

Prior to Tuesday’s start, his longest outing of the season was 58 pitches. After three innings yesterday, with 7 strikeouts, he’d thrown 56. He reached that “magic” number a couple of pitches into a full count BB to Oregon State’s lead off hitter in the 4th. Which was followed by surrendering a homer.

Meaning he stayed true to form.

While fashioning a really awesome opening three innings.

 * * * * *

As I indicated up front in my GameCap of the 7-6 walkoff, I did indeed misspell the Yiddish word fakakta (Also, farkakta.)

Two loyal readers gently corrected me soon enough.

The first, my main copy editor in absentia, Hoya.

If not for whom, and the quick corrections he points out, my loyal readers might not be so loyal and forgiving.

 * * * * *

Choke the Chanticleers.

— c d kaplan