Chatham players to watch in the College World Series

by Anthony Dabbundo, 06-13-2019

The field of 64 is down to eight, and multiple Chatham players will take part in the 2019 College World Series in Omaha, beginning on Saturday.

The eight teams to qualify for the CWS will now be broken up into two pools of four, and they will compete in a double elimination bracket. The final two teams standing will then play a best of three series to decide the 2019 National Champion.

Bracket 1

Texas Tech (John McMillon ‘18) vs. Michigan

Saturday, June 15, 1 p.m., ESPN

McMillon, a right-handed pitcher that featured for the A’s last summer, was critical in the Red Raiders advancing to Omaha. He pitched twice last weekend, and will likely see more action on the mound in one of the first two games of the CWS.

Arkansas vs. Florida State (Cooper Swanson ‘19, Drew Mendoza ‘18)

Saturday, June 15, 6 p.m., ESPN

Drew Mendoza’s single over the head of the LSU second baseman in the bottom of the 12th inning last weekend sent the Seminoles to Omaha for the fourth time this decade.

Cooper Swanson has played in just 45 of the Seminoles 62 games this season, posting a .136 average and .787 OPS. He could see a pinch-hit at-bat or a spot appearance in the CWS.

Bracket 2

Vanderbilt (Cooper Davis '19, Hugh Fisher '19) vs. Louisville 

Sunday, June 16, 1 p.m., ESPN

Hugh Fisher allowed two hits and four runs without recording an out in his lone Super Regional appearance, a loss to Duke in game one of the Commodores three-game series win over the Blue Devils. He’s been a reliable pitcher for Vanderbilt, though, most of the season.

Cooper Davis has been a reliable bench bat for Vanderbilt this season, hitting for a .331 average in 35 appearances this season. He could be valuable in pinch hitting situations.

Mississippi State vs. Auburn (Jack Owen ‘19)

Sunday, June 16, 6:30 p.m., ESPN

Jack Owen owns the second-lowest ERA of all Auburn pitchers in 2019. He’s likely to see action in the CWS, after the left-hander pitched in both the Regional and Super Regional rounds.