Georgia baseball gets feel for College World Series ballpark in Omaha
· Yahoo Sports
OMAHA, NE — Daniel Jackson, the only Golden Spikes finalist for nation’s top player that is in the College World Series, stepped into the batting cage Thursday for the first time at Charles Schawb Field and didn’t come away feeling great.
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“Uggh,” he could be heard saying after he fouled one back into the cage.
The Georgia baseball star’s game has carried well wherever the Bulldogs have played during a season in which he is line for the SEC triple crown with 31 homers, 86 RBI and a .396 batting average.
“The wind was blowing out, to be honest,” Jackson said. “I didn't hit very good on the field.”
Good thing for Georgia that Jackson will have a chance to hit when it matters on Saturday at 8 p.m. against Texas in the double-elimination four-team, All-SEC bracket that will determine one of the teams in the finals.
Jackson's two-run 10th inning homer lifted Georgia to an 11-9 super regional win Sunday over Mississippi State to clinch the series.
Charles Schwab Stadium is 335 feet down the line, 375 to the power alleys and 408 to center.
“Stanford was a pretty big park, it played pretty big,” said pitcher Joey Volchko who transferred to Georgia from Stanford and will start Saturday for the Bulldogs. “I’ve never seen 408 dead center. That’s pretty nice. Especially after the weekend at Foley and the offensive massacre that ensued there.
For a Georgia team making its first trip to Omaha since 2008, Thursday’s 50 minutes on the field was part practice, part soaking in the atmosphere.
“Just watching the plays, watching these games, you know growing up watching the College World Series, actually being here is great,” freshman pitcher Joe Nottingham said.
Rylan Lujo, Brennan Hudson, Ryan Black, Kenny Ishikawa and Volchko were among players signing autographs to kids reaching over the railing during practice.
“Haven't been to Omaha before,” shortstop Kolby Branch said. “It's a good feeling to be out there, be out there with the guys you got here with, bringing the squad to Omaha and going out there to practice. I thought we had a good practice. Thought it went well. Besides Danny's round, of course, I guess. But, yeah, we had a good time out there. It was good.”
Coach Wes Johnson, making his first trip as head coach to Omaha but third in his coaching career, sounded ready for the games to arrive.
“Kind of feels awkward that even though it's still just one week between games, sometimes it feels like an eternity, and our guys are champing at the bit,” Johnson said. “And we just want to get out there and start playing and continue what we've been doing all year.”
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia baseball practice gives it a feel for College World Series park