The Kent State University Golden Flashes baseball team has done the unthinkable.  Not only did they make it to the College World Series, but they knocked off the top seeded Florida Gators to advance after losing their first game against Arkansas.

The Golden Flashes are playing great team baseball.  They are not a team that is going to hit home runs but they are going to use small ball to take down their opponents.  Kent keeps on finding ways to win games.  They have proved that they belong up there with the big boys and nobody should count these underdogs out.

They have had quite the difficult road to make to the final six teams left in the tournament.  They had a 21 inning thriller against Kentucky in which they came out on top.  They also had to go to Eugene, Oregon to take on the Ducks in a best of three series where they won in game three.

Against Arkansas they looked very nervous, and for good reason being the first ever College World Series game for the Golden Flashes.  They looked more comfortable against Florida and seemed to have gotten the nerves out of the way.

The make up of the team is very interesting as every player on the team is within about a 5 hour drive from the Kent State campus.  There are also a few players who were drafted by MLB teams earlier this June.

One of those draft picks was Nick Hamilton who is the primary designated hitter for the Flashes. Nick was drafted by the Cleveland Indians, who are his favorite and hometown team.  His dad, Tom Hamilton, also happens to be the play-by-play radio announcer for the Tribe and one of the best voices in all of baseball.

Nick Hamilton has an obstacle that not many baseball players have dealt with.  Nick is hard of hearing and uses hearing aids during everyday life and on the field.  He has never let anything get in his way, especially his hearing.

Nick happens to be a very good friend of mine and a former teammate.  His hearing affected nothing on the field. He is a hustle player who only knows one speed, and that is full speed. Nick is an extremely hard worker who deserves every last bit of success that the future holds for him.

You can see Nick Hamilton and the Kent State Golden Flashes play Wednesday night, June 20 at 8pm eastern time on ESPN when they take on the South Carolina Gamecocks.

If they win they advance and if they lose their remarkable season will end.  Win or lose, the Golden Flashes have a lot to be proud of.  I think they have the potential to keep on going in this tournament.  They knocked off the Gators, the top team in the country, so who is to say they can’t go all the way.

After failing miserably in the first two rounds of the tournament, I return to make some more bold predictions. I was pretty successful on the individual game previews from last week’s post, so I examine two of the games that I think will be especially fun to watch.

(1) Ohio State vs. (5) Kentucky
This is a game between two programs that I despise; but I cannot dispute the fact that they are tremendous basketball teams. Ohio State is still my pick to win the national championship because of the vast array of talent on the roster. Jared Sullinger is the name everybody knows, but the player I think could really excel in this game is David Lighty. One of the more versatile players in the nation, Lighty is going to get a chance to shine as he battles the incredibly young and inexperienced Kentucky underclassmen. A fifth-year senior, Lighty knows what to expect, and he will be ready to fight. I also expect a lot of help from Aaron Craft, one of the best defenders the Big Ten has to offer. I think he can really disrupt Brandon Knight, who is the key for Kentucky. Knight has had a nice first two rounds, and he is undoubtedly the engine that makes this Wildcats team run. I believe Lighty will hound Terrence Jones all night, so look for Knight to try and do damage everywhere on the floor. DeAndre Liggins, one of the most experienced Wildcats, will have an impact, as well, but I really don’t see them being able to pull this one out. The Buckeyes just have too much firepower, which is saying a lot when playing against a team as talented as Kentucky.

(3) BYU vs. (2) Florida
This is the game I have been waiting for. Two of the more exciting teams in college basketball match up in what is sure to be a barn-burner. Between Jimmer, Chandler Parsons, and the rest of the high-scoring athletes on both teams, there is sure to be a lot of scoring and a lot of intensity from the start. What intrigues me is what Florida decides to do about guarding the best scorer in college basketball (actually, I think Andrew Goudelock is a better pure scorer, but that’s for another time). Florida has two quick guards in Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker, and I fully expect Boynton to try stopping Jimmer first. Outside of The Jimmer, there are a lot of athletes on Florida’s roster that will have advantages against BYU, but at the same time the Cougars have a slew of shooters that, if left open, will knock down every shot. The Gators are not as disciplined as the Cougars, but they have the athletes and the big bodies to get through to the Elite Eight. Vernon Macklin should have a decent advantage on Noah Hartsock underneath, and I still cannot figure out who is going to guard Parsons; he is so versatile and a threat to hit shots from anywhere on the floor. If BYU can stop the athletes from Gainesville, they may be able to sneak on to the next round. But Florida poses so many mismatches that it will be difficult to win, even with The Jimmer leading the charge. Fredette will have a monster game and will keep it close, but in the end I think BYU will fall just short.