ACC Baseball "Tournament"

It's not really a tournament at all, but more of a two-pod round robin with the winner of each pod playing in the championship game on Sunday.

We're in the "pod" with #4-seed UNC, #5-seed Miami, and #8-seed Wake Forest.  The other pod is #2-seed FSU, #3-seed Georgia Tech, #6-seed Clemson, and #7-seed NC State.  Despite being swept at Carolina this past weekend, I'm happy with the draw.  the other pod is a murderer's row of good baseball teams.  Even the Wolfpack is highly dangerous.

Anyway, here is Virginia's draw as the #1-seed for this event:

Wednesday, May 25th, 3pm -- vs. Wake Forest
Friday, May 27th, 11am -- vs. Miami
Saturday, May 28, 7pm -- vs. North Carolina
[Sunday, May 29th, 1pm -- ACC Championship Game]

Getting a Wednesday game is big, because it means the Wednesday starter would be available for pitching on Sunday.

As per our m/o, we've stumbled out of the exam break, going 2-4 against Miami and UNC after starting the season 43-5.  The pitching has been great, but the hitting has gone cold.  This weekend's event will be crucial for the Hoos to regain some of that lost momentum if we want to make a serious run at Omaha this year. 

Remember, in 2009 we won the ACC Tournament before cruising through the "region of death" and past Ole Miss at their place in the super regional to make it to the College World Series.  That team had a bit more pop on offense, but this year's team has better pitching, top to bottom.  Look for Brian O'Connor to really work that "small ball" approach this weekend and moving forward.

I'm optimistic, though admittedly worried about the late-season cold streak.  A national top-8 seed (and hosting a regional and super regional if we advance that far) should be a lock, but I'd feel better if we won at least a game or two this weekend.  I never underestimate the NCAA's propensity to screw Virginia over whenever possible.

GO HOOS!