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.

Kent State senior Eugene Jarvis is coming back. The running back was granted a medical sixth season after lacerating his kidney against Boston College last season.

Jarvis will bring the leadership and explosion to the backfield once again. The Golden Flashes struggled at times with sophomore Jacquies Terry and freshman Dri Archer. With quarterback Spencer Keith’s emergence as the Golden Flashes’ number one, the offense has the chance to be one of the best, if not the best in the MAC.

Jarvis’ 3,426 rushing yards ranks fourth in Kent State history. The Pittsburgh native’s career totals in touchdowns (27), rushing attempts (666), rushing touchdowns (23) and points (164) add to a great career Jarvis has solidified.

Even though the Golden Flashes finished the season 5-7, the season was a success. The team showed a lot of heart and hustle. Jarvis has the “big play” capability and is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball.

Surely Coach Doug Martin will use Jarvis as a punt/kick returner again this season. Special teams were a weakness the team showed throughout the season.

The team has a big future with a strong offensive look and a stout defense returning. Linebacker Cobrani Mixon and free safety Brian Lainhart lead a defense that is only losing four players.

Kent State does need to work on not playing down to their opponents. The Golden Flashes lost to Akron. The Zips were considered by many to be under-achieving in the 2009 campaign. If the Golden Flashes want to become a MAC powerhouse, they need to be able to beat the lesser opponents.

The Golden Flashes open their season in Dix Stadium Sept. 2 against Murray State.

Written by Brad Tansey

By: Eddie Kilroy Jr

Since the return of students to the classrooms on January 19th, 2009, the combined record for the men’s and women’s basketball teams is a perfect record of 6-0. Another observation that can be made is that the combined 6 wins are against MAC opponents (3 victories each). What may go unnoticed, however, is that both the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams have respectively moved into 1st and 2nd place in their divisions.The question for debate: Who is on the hotter streak: Men’s or Women’s basketball?

Being a sports reporter for the student media at Kent State allows me to examine each game thoroughly with the least amount of biased that I can possibly give. And although my heart will always go out to the Golden Flashes in hopes for another NCAA run like in 2002, it is difficult for me to truly find any doubt that both teams would not be successful as we approach the MAC tournaments. That’s why I’m leaving the choice up to you bloggers; in hopes you can determine who is more successful.

Of course we do have to breakdown the success of both teams in order to be fair.

First argument: What has the Men’s basketball team done the past 3 games? Aside from being on a 3-game win streak, the Men’s Basketball team seems to have everything clicking on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The Men’s Golden Flashes offensively average a whopping 81.6 points per game (high of 89), while holding their opponents to an average of 57.6 points per game (low of 49). Also, at least 7 men have scored double digits at least once in the three game stretch. Justin Greene and Tyree Evans have scored double digits in all three games. If that’s not impressive, the Golden Flashes dominated on the boards with a total of 112 rebounds, compared to the opponents 78. One more thing to add, they pummeled, not beat, pummeled their conference rivals Akron by 17 points and are now tied for first place in their division.

Second argument: What has the Women’s team done the past 3 games? Aside from winning their 3 games, the women’s basketball is on the ultimate rebound from a disappointing Christmas break. The offense is slowly but surely proving to be the pacemaker of the team, as they average shooting a team field goal percentage of 46.6%. Meanwhile, the defense of the Lady Flashes is recapturing its “enforcer” identity, holding opponents to shooting 41.9% on the field. While Senior Guard Rachel Bennett is leading the team emotionally on and off the court, Junior Forward Taisja Jones is leading by example averaging 18 points per game. Although they did lose to rival Akron on the road, the Lady Flashes have silently crept their way back into second-place in the MAC-East standings for women’s basketball.

It’s your call now sports fans, who is playing better now that school is back in session?