Category Archives: Georgia Tech

For this, the 800th post in Bama Blog history, I take you inside the world famous Atlanta eatery known as “The Varsity.” With time to kill before tonight’s 6 p.m. showdown between Alabama and Georgia Tech for the regional baseball title, the Bama Blog staff of one took the advice it has received all week.

Two chilli dogs later, satisfaction was achieved. According to the brochure, “The Varsity” cooks two miles of hot dogs, a ton of onion and 2,500 pounds of potatoes every day, all from scratch. Enjoy the low quality video captured on the soon-to-be obsolete iPhone.

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FINAL: Alabama 8, Georgia Tech 1

It all comes down to one game Monday night. Alabama’s early-game power forced the rematch at 6 p.m. Monday for a spot in the super regional.

Adam Morgan got the complete game win in a performance the Tide needed to survive. He struck out nine.

UPDATE: Mitch Gaspard could say with certainty who would pitch in Monday’s game, but he said it would likely be another left-hand arm such as Taylor Wolfe, the SEC tournament title game starter. Nathan Kilcrease should also be available for a few relief innings, as will Jake Smith, Gaspard said.

Check back for more details later.

Alabama needs to beat Georgia Tech to force a winner-take-all final at 6 p.m. Monday.

End eighth: Georgia Tech is down to its final three outs with Alabama leading 8-1.

End seventh: Tech is running out of at-bats as Alabama takes 8-1 lead into final two innings after a Ross Wilson RBI single scores Rutledge.

End sixth: Another hitless inning for Alabama who still leads 7-1 in a game that has sped up as the offensive power slowed down.

End fifth: It’s pouring here in Atlanta but it’s dry in the box and this sports writer is fulfilled after they just played Springsteen between innings instead of the usual ballpark music. Alabama still leads 7-1 after stranding runner at third.

End fourth: Tide goes down in order, remains ahead 7-1 with light rain falling.

End third: Alabama leaves one on base, still leads 7-1 after three.

End second: Cumton pulled with no outs and Brock Bennett on second. Freshman Buck Farmer is the new Tech pitcher. Ross Wilson hit the fifth HR of the night, a 2-run shot that put Alabama up 7-1.

Middle second: Tech got one back on a lead off homer by Matt Skole, 5-1 ‘Bama.

End first: Taylor Dugas hit the first pitch he saw over the center field wall Four batters later, Jake Smith does the same with two on. Jon Kelton then crushes one over left field wall for back-to-back homers. 5-0 Tide. Tech pitcher Brandon Cumton threw 39 pitches in the first.

Pitching matchup:
Georgia Tech: Brandon Cumton (9-2) 4.95 ERA
Alabama: Adam Morgan (6-4) 6.04 ERA

It’s a perfect early-June evening in Atlanta. Let’s play ball.

These notes didn’t run in print, so here are a few spare thoughts from Saturday night’s loss to Georgia Tech. And remember, the Tide plays Mercer at 2 p.m. Central in an elimination game.

ATLANTA — Alabama freshman Brett Booth made his 23rd start of the season Saturday and his first as designated hitter.

And he delivered.

He turned in one of the three multi-hit performances Crimson Tide hitters managed in the 5-2 loss to Atlanta Regional top-seed Georgia Tech.

The Tuscaloosa County High School graduate dropped a single into right in the second and another to left in the fifth. Booth then scored on Josh Rutledge’s home run two batters later when the Alabama tied the game at 2-2.

Coach Mitch Gaspard has been trying a few different options at designated hitter after starter David Kindred was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma Tuesday.

Brandt Hendricks and Cody Trotter combined to go 0-for-4 in Friday’s win over Elon making the designated hitter the only spot in the lineup to go hitless.

OVERFLOW CROWD: If there was a view of the Russ Chandler Stadium playing surface, that space was occupied on a perfect Saturday evening in Atlanta.

The announced crowd of 4,157 is the exact capacity of the urban ballpark, but there were several hundred fans occupying standing room sections along the foul lines.

Then there were 30 students perched atop a wall just beyond the right field wall who barely flinched when Yellow Jacket Chase Burnette’s towering home run sailed over their heads.

In contrast, Friday’s Alabama win over Elon was witnessed by just 1,257.

The Tide falls to the loser’s bracket with a 5-2 loss to Georgia Tech in the semifinals of the Atlanta Regional.

Alabama plays Mercer at 2 p.m. (Central) Sunday for the right to play Georgia Tech again at 6 p.m. That means the Tide would need three wins in two days to advance to the super regionals.

That’s it for tonight. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday.

It’s Day 2 in the Atlanta Regional and we’re about to get started in what is close to being the championship game. Top-seeded Georgia Tech hosts No. 2 seed Alabama for the golden ticket into the championship game.

The loser tonight will have to win three games in two days to get the win, so tonight is big to put it bluntly.

The hometown Yellow Jackets have drawn a big crowd but there also appears to be more Alabama fans in the seats tonight.

Stay tuned for a few updates during the game at the Bama Blog’s twitter site.

It wasn’t much of a game after the rain delay as Alabama finished off Elon 11-2.

Clay Jones and Josh Rutledge both went deep in the game that was essentially over before the 1:21 rain day.

The Tide now advances to play either Georgia Tech or Mercer in the 6 p.m. Saturday game.

More details to follow.