I'd mention Grahovic that went outfield for maybe first time since high school, and Kent that just keeps going where told and lighting it up. Kent's bat has also awoken, and it seems that he's discovered the half of the field left of second base now. He becomes more dangerous with each at bat.
Photo by Abigail Cook, TexAgs
Texas A&M Baseball
Boomer White offers his thoughts on Texas A&M's hot MCWS start
Texas A&M is one win away from a best-of-three championship series at the Men's College World Series for the first time in program history. On Tuesday morning, Boomer White joined TexAgs Radio to look back on the Aggies' victories over Florida and Kentucky in Omaha.
Key notes from Boomer White interview
- I’m really good after last night! That was a fun one to watch, and it sent you to bed on a good note. I was there last night, but I’m in the office right now. Got back late last night. It was a quick turnaround.
- The environment and the atmosphere in the ballpark were outstanding. Maybe 30 minutes before game time, it was like 50 percent capacity, but by the second inning, you couldn’t find a seat. This is the greatest baseball trip in the world, and I did it as a kid. You see kids in baseball uniforms and families everywhere. It was a great game in an outstanding environment. There were a ton of Aggies and some Wildcats, but that’s what you expect in a winners’ bracket game in Omaha.
- From the beginning of the season, you can see that these guys love each other. Coaches talk about how they love their teams all the time, but there is an aura this team has carried with them since the beginning of fall. It’s a good group of guys with their heads on their shoulders. The genuine love comes out in the heat of battle when guys go down. You’re seeing that come to the surface now more than you have all year.
- Ryan Prager was outstanding. He was throwing three pitches wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted. When pitchers can do that, it’s very difficult to hit. This is the Prager we have seen quite frequently all year, but it was nice to re-calibrate with what kind of arm he is after his last outing. It was outstanding. He was dominant. He had tempo out there. You felt like he was in total control and that he was doing exactly what he wanted. Maybe he ran out of gas a little around the 90-pitch mark, but he was outstanding. You got every bit of what you wanted and more out of Prager.
- You can take whatever advantage you can get, and when you only play two games a day in Omaha, it makes things more challenging when delays pop up. The volatile schedule plays an advantage to A&M, and it would be more and more rest for the Aggies. You’d take a weather delay for those other games right now.
- You could not be sitting prettier if you were the A&M bullpen right now. Not going to Evan Aschenbeck was outstanding. Josh Stewart was great. You’ll have Chris Cortez on four days of rest. You’ll have a refreshed Justin Lamkin. You’ll have your arsenal at your disposal. Whoever you play will have to play their best game twice in a row, or you’d have to do something really wrong to not come out of this. Jim Schlossnagle has the best chance to get to the finals with a team that’s ready to go win it.
- I’m not sure if I’m in a position to answer how Schlossnagle has evolved. He has always pushed and pulled the right buttons and levers. Shane Sdao and Braden Montgomery went down. You might have another injury. How are you putting yourself in a position to go to Omaha and win? Schlossnagle has been forced to make changes and take some risks. He showed up ready to win a national championship. I like how he leans on his assistants. He is not afraid to consult with guys in the dugout. He’s going to need to keep it up because this is not the same A&M team that was beating everyone’s brains in a month and a half ago.
- I had a quad and hamstring issue, and both of them were high, which means it's up toward the top of the leg. It looked like Jace LaViolette grabbed closer to the knee. It can be scary when something pops, but I’ve had uncomfortable things behind the knee that didn’t keep me from playing. That he grabbed his bat and went into the on-deck circle told me that it was potentially something that wouldn’t keep him out for a long time.
- Hayden Schott just finds barrels and hits line drives. That was my philosophy. Every ball he hits is like 100 mph off the bat and can go anywhere. When you do that, you give yourself a great chance to contribute. He’s doing it hurt, too. I love it. He’s a veteran leader, and he’s stepping up. That gives his teammates excitement and hope. Every time he swings, it comes off the bat hard.
- I don’t know enough about the arms that have been used by Florida or Kentucky, but I’ll say that Florida has played A&M well in all four games this year. I think they may feel more comfortable against A&M, especially after the Aggies just took it to the Wildcats. Yesterday, it felt like the Aggies were in control. I’d like to see that again. Whoever has to come out of the losers’ bracket will be in a much worse position than A&M. If the Aggies just play sound baseball, they’ll be in a good spot against whoever.
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