By Noah Darling
OMAHA, NE- I’ve been saying it to myself all morning. Don’t get emotional.
Today, that is easier said than done. America has spent the college baseball offseason riding the high that the 2022 Stillwater Regional gave us in early June. At some point, we have to turn the page. Today is not that day. Arkansas and Oklahoma State, the teams that provided the unprecedented awesomeness of the Stillwater Regional Final, face off in the College Baseball Showdown this afternoon. The unfortunate aspect of FLOSports aside, we owe the event a massive thank you for making this dream come true.
Although the rosters may look different, particularly on the Razorback side, it was only 3 games ago when Oklahoma State stars Roc Riggio, Nolan McLean, and Marcus Brown, among others, had their seasons ended on their home field via the heartbreak of losing a thriller that America wished both teams could have won.
Today at 2:30 local time, thousands will file into Globe Life in Arlington and witness the memorial, and re-birth of arguably, the greatest regional final in the recent history of our sport. The rest of us will be watching at home as we celebrate the memories of the 2022 postseason matchup, while officially ringing in the new season, with hopefully, another Cowboy-Razorback classic to wrap up opening weekend.
Today’s rematch may lose a bit of it’s lore as both teams entered Saturday 1-0 and left it 1-1, but the infamous Roc Riggio is certain to draw the eyeballs of Arkansas and College Baseball fans alike. The Razorback lineup doesn’t feature many returning starters from last year’s thriller, those that maybe didn’t experience the field in Stillwater are certainly well versed on the legend of the Stillwater Regional. Don’t underestimate the seismic impact of two very good teams fighting for the difference between 2-1, and 1-2.
So, gather your kids, educate them on the cultural significance of today’s tilt, and watch the glow of the next generation of college baseball fans, and legends, as they blossom before our very eyes. Try not to cry, but emotion is inevitable. Today, we celebrate the greatest thing to happen to any of us, and thank our lucky stars that we get to do it all over again. These are the moments that define a generation.
Comments