Super Regional's Decisive Game

The Virginia baseball team squares off with Oklahoma at Davenport Field on Monday night at 7 p.m. in a Super Regional elimination game. The winner will go to the College World Series. The Sooners won Sunday's contest 10-7 to force a decisive Game 3 on Monday night. UVa, which has not lost back-to-back games this season, remains confident despite the high pressure situation.

"I feel really good about going into [Monday night]. I really do. How can you not? Every time we've needed to get a win, this team has responded like champions," Cavalier coach Brian O'Connor said. "They won't hang their heads, they'll keep their heads up, they'll be ready to play. So if we go down [Monday], it won't be for the players having a lack of confidence or belief in themselves. We'll be ready to play, and hopefully we get it done."

"I think we're going to play with a lot of confidence [Monday night] because we've been good all year responding to losses," UVa's John Hicks said. "Oklahoma is going to be tough. They are not going to just come out and give it to us, we are going to have to take it."

The Hoos have been in this position before, needing to win Game 3 of last season's Super Regional at Ole Miss to advance. Virginia won that contest 5-1 and made its first appearance in the College World Series. Interestingly, OU is drawing on that win for motivation.

"I talked about last year and the courage that a team showed in going to Ole Miss and losing the first game 4-3, winning the second game 4-3, and getting to dog-pile on the road," Sooners coach Sunny Golloway said. "So some of our inspiration has come from very close by."

UVa will send freshman Branden Kline to the mound as the starting pitcher to try to prevent Oklahoma from celebrating in Davenport.

"I have a ton of confidence in Branden Kline," O'Connor said. "The kid's pitched his heart out all year long, and so to me it doesn't matter whether he's a freshman or a senior. He's proven to us that he's very consistent and he's capable of doing the job."

The Sabre will have full coverage of Monday's showdown so stay tuned to the EDGE for more.

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

UVa has been on a big roll on the football recruiting front, scoring five commitments since last Sunday's Blue Chip Recruit Day. Those commitments include Good Counsel (Olney, MD) defensive lineman Vincent Croce, Boys' Latin School (Baltimore, MD) defensive end Marco Jones, Norcom (Portsmouth, VA) safety Kameron Mack, H.D. Woodson (Washington, D.C.) tight end Darius Redman and Phoebus (Hampton, VA) linebacker Caleb Taylor.

This week, read more on Virginia's two most recent commits, Mack and Taylor. Mack, a 6-5, 200-pound standout, chose the Cavaliers over an offer from Virginia Tech, while the 6-0, 230-pound Taylor committed to UVa over offers from Louisville, Maryland and West Virginia. Mack is an intriguing prospect with versatility and athleticism. He is being recruited as a safety but could end up as a linebacker, defensive end or tight end potentially. Taylor, a middle linebacker prospect, is looking to regain the form he had in 2008, when he recorded over 120 tackles in helping Phoebus to a Division 5, Group AAA state title. Taylor missed most of last season due to an ACL tear but feels as though he has fully recovered from the injury.

UVa held its first one-day camp this past Saturday. So far, TheSabre.com has learned that 6-2, 200-pound linebacker/safety Michael Cole secured an offer after a good performance on Saturday. The Cave Spring (Roanoke, VA) rising senior now boasts offers from Duke, Maryland, Virginia and Virginia Tech. He has high interest from Penn State and will camp there later this month.

We'll have reaction from Cole this week as well as more from rising junior Win Homer, an offensive lineman prospect out of Christchurch (VA), rising senior WR/TE Michael Mey out of J.R. Tucker (Richmond, VA), Knoxville (TN) Catholic rising senior quarterback Mike Wegzyn and more. Each of these prospects was at camp on Saturday. Homer has a verbal offer from Virginia.

Big basketball week

On Monday and Tuesday this week, Virginia men's basketball will host its Elite Camp. TheSabre.com will provide coverage on prospects in attendance. Christ School (Arden, N.C.) shooting guard Demarcus Harrison, a rising senior, is expected to attend. If Harrison attends, this will be his first visit to UVa. He is considering offers from BYU, College of Charleston, Virginia and Wisconsin.

North Carolina rising senior forward Bernard Sullivan may attend as well. The 6-8, 215-pound prospect is being evaluated by the staff. He will stick around for the NBAPA Top 100 this week as well.

We'll have more with Harrison and Sullivan and other prospects as well from the event.

Beginning Wednesday, the NBAPA Top 100 Camp comes to Charlottesville. A number of Virginia rising senior targets are expected to attend, including Steward School (Richmond, VA) forward/center Adjehi Baru, Norcom (Portsmouth, VA) small forward Dorian Finney-Smith, Dulles (Missouri City, TX) shooting guard DeAngelo Harrison, DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD) forward Mikael Hopkins, New Egypt (Cream Ridge, N.J.) forward/center Desmond Hubert, Milton (Alpharetta, GA) shooting guard Dai-Jon Parker and Christ School (N.C.) center Marshall Plumlee.

Check out the EDGE for more on Finney-Smith, who recently narrowed his list to six - Florida, Maryland, Old Dominion, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. The 6-7, 192-pound prospect has been offered by ODU, UVa and VT from that list.

Chris Horne, our resident recruiting expert, provides updates throughout the week for Edge subscribers about UVa's commitments and recruiting targets in football and men's basketball. To sign up for an Edge subscription, please check out the Sabre Edge Sign Up and Information Page. If you're already on board as an Edge subscriber, click the links below to catch up on recruiting.

Sabre Edge recruiting updates from the past week ...

Taylor Continues UVa's Recruiting Roll
Phoebus (Hampton, VA) linebacker Caleb Taylor didn't feel the need to wait any longer. This afternoon, the 6-0, 230-pound rising senior verbally committed to the University of Virginia, choosing the Cavaliers over offers from Louisville, Maryland, and West Virginia and interest from North Carolina and Virginia Tech.

Mack Becomes #12
The Virginia football program has picked up another verbal commitment and now has 12 commitments in the 2011 recruiting class. Today's commitment - the fourth athlete to pledge to the Cavaliers within the past five days - hails from the Tidewater area.

Virginia's Latest Commit Discusses Decision
Darius Redman didn't tip his hand, but he was leaning to the University of Virginia immediately after an unofficial visit to Charlottesville in late May. Monday night, the H.D. Woodson (Washington, D.C.) standout tight end called primary recruiter Shawn Moore and verbally committed to a Cavaliers program that now has 11 commitments in the 2011 class.

More recent recruiting updates on The Sabre ...

• Taylor Reflects On Visit, Updates Recruitment
• Star Athlete Ready For Busy Summer
• Athletic NJ Tight End Visits Virginia
• DeMatha DT Awaits Word From UVa
• Notes: More From Blue Chip Day
• UVa Scores Commitment #11!
• Good Counsel Star Reflects On Commitment
• Blue Chip Day: Richardson Update And More
• Blue Chip Day: UVa Adds More DL Talent

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Click here to find out more about The "Sabre Rate" for fans of this Web site!

Record Nine Cavaliers Selected in MLB Draft

UVa Athletics Media Relations, Official Release

A school-record nine Virginia baseball players, including three Wednesday, were selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Virginia had six selections on the second day, which equaled the school record of six picks in 2007 and 2008, then added a trio of picks on Wednesday.

Jarrett Parker (Stafford, Va.) was a second-round pick (74th overall) of the San Francisco Giants. Phil Gosselin (West Chester, Pa.) was a fifth-round pick (164th overall) of the Atlanta Braves and Robert Morey (Virginia Beach, Va.) was also a fifth-round pick (167th overall) of the Florida Marlins. Kevin Arico (Flemington, N.J.) was a 10th-round pick (307th overall) of the Cincinnati Reds. Dan Grovatt (Tabernacle, N.J.) was an 11th-round pick (327th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tyler Cannon (Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) was a 12th-round selection (360 overall) by the Cleveland Indians.

Tyler Wilson (Midlothian, Va.) was selected in the 35th round (1,057th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds. Kenny Swab (Kernersville, N.C.) quickly followed as he was picked seven slots later (1,064th overall) by the Atlanta Braves. Neal Davis (Baltimore, Md.) was selected in the 36th round (1,101st overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Read the full news release here.

UVa Football TV Series Continues

The "Virginia Football: The Building of a Program" television show's next episode airs tonight at 9 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. It also will be posted online at VirginiaSportsTV.com and VirginiaFootball2010.com. The show airs each Monday on Comcast Sportsnet at 9 p.m. and is available online at VirginiaSportsTV.com on Tuesdays at 8 a.m. For more information, click here.

Gooooaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllll!

The World Cup takes center stage this month as soccer teams from around the globe compete in Germany. Want to discuss the action with fellow futbol fanactics? We've got you covered! The Sabre's Soccer Message Board is the perfect place to rant and rave about the World Cup.

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Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

• Cavaliers Wrap Up Competition at NCAA Championships: Senior All-American Meghan Briggs and sophomore Tara Karin wrapped up competition for the Cavaliers on the final day of the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Oregon's Hayward Field on Saturday. Briggs, making her third-straight appearance at NCAAs, wrapped up her collegiate career with a 14th-place finish, throwing 155 7". She won her third-straight ACC title in the javelin this year and finished runner-up at the prestigious Penn Relays. Karin also competed in the javelin competition - marking her first-ever NCAA Championship - taking 18th by throwing 151' 2".
• Collins and Fahringer Conclude Seasons at NCAAs: Virginia juniors Ryan Collins and Andy Fahringer concluded their seasons Thursday on the second day of the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field. Fahringer, making his first appearance at the national meet, started the day for Virginia by finishing 18th in the javelin with a throw of 209' 4". Collins, also competing in his first NCAA Outdoor meet, took 19th in the 10,000m. He finished with a time of 29:48.76.
• Andrews and Roller Earn All-America Honors at NCAA Championships: Freshman Robby Andrews used a runner-up finish and sophomore Lance Roller grabbed a sixth-place finish in the 800m to each earn All-America honors on the third day of competition at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field. Junior Steve Finley also competed on Friday, wrapping up his season with an 11th-place finish in the steeplechase.
• Five Cavaliers Earn All-America Honors; UVa Sweeps National Coach of the Year Awards: Five Cavaliers were named to the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) 2010 All-America teams and head coach Kevin Sauer and associate head coach Steve Pritzker were named National Coach and Assistant Coach of the Year, the organization announced. Desiree Burns, Jennifer Cromwell and Katrin Reinert were named first-team selections, while Helen Tompkins and coxswain Sidney Thorsten were named to the second team.
• Kohles Named Honorable Mention All-American: Virginia sophomore men's golfer Ben Kohles has been named an honorable mention selection to the 2010 PING All-America team the Golf Coaches Association of America announced. Kohles led UVa and the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 71.32 stroke average this year.
• Cipolloni Invited to USA Softball Junior National Team Tryouts: Erica Cipolloni, an incoming student-athlete who will join the Virginia program in 2010-11, was recently named one of 42 participants invited to try out for the USA Softball Junior Women's National Team.

For more Hoo news or to read full releases, check out Virginiasports.com.

Uva Women's Rowing National Champions T-Shirt

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Issue No. 192 - June 3, 2005

When I went to UVa, I spoke briefly to Kevin Sauer about competing on the men's crew club team. As soon as he told me the practice schedule, I decided my college athletic career would consist of pickup basketball at Slaughter and Mem Gym.

What college rowers do is ridiculous. Get up around 5 a.m. Be at the river by 5:45. Go through a grueling practice. Attend class all day. Study, do homework and go to bed by 10. It's not a normal experience for a college student. It's not even normal for a college student-athlete. (Only swimmers have comparable schedules.) That's why rowers often socialize only with other rowers. They don't stay up late enough to socialize with anyone else. Plus no one understands them.

I sure don't. In college, I often went to bed about the same time the sun was coming up - the same time rowers were waking up. They're nuts. Rowing isn't exactly a "fun" sport - it's exhausting and painful. They don't get much glory - media and fans generally ignore the sport. But the Cavalier crew members are a devoted bunch, not to mention extremely successful. Virginia has never finished lower than seventh in the nine-year history of the NCAA women's rowing championships, and the 'Hoos came in second last weekend in Rancho Cordova, Calif., matching their best result. Two seniors, Margaret Matia and Carolyn McMillan, were named first-team All-Americans.

So even if I don't understand them, I respect the heck out of them. I respect all the Cavalier women who have excelled in a tough sport over the years and competed at such a high level. I respect all the men who have rowed their hearts out despite receiving no scholarships and no NCAA support, thanks to Title IX. I also have great respect for Sauer, who has been UVa's only coach since women's crew gained varsity status in 1995. Before that, he used to coach the women's and men's club teams at Virginia.

Just don't expect me to get up at dawn and cheer. Good night, you wacky rowers. I mean good morning.

John Galinsky
Then-Editor
TheSabre.com

Check Out SabreMail #192.

Coming Soon

The Sabre has you covered when it comes to Hoo news. Here are a few of the articles to expect on the site soon:

• Omaha? The Virginia baseball team plays in a decisive Super Regional game on Monday night and The Sabre will be there to cover the action.
• JHoo's Summer Reading: JHoo is taking a position by position look at the Virginia football team and the third article is due out this week!

In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles since the last SabreMail

Omaha On The Line
Strong pitching and airtight defense, which have epitomized Virginia baseball under Brian O'Connor, went AWOL on Sunday afternoon as Oklahoma bested the Cavaliers 10-7, knotting their best-of-three Charlottesville Super Regional at one game apiece.

Hultzen, Hoos Take Command
With 93 home runs on the season, the Oklahoma Sooners rolled into Charlottesville boasting some big sticks but it was the Cavalier boomers, along with a command performance by hurler Danny Hultzen, that was the difference in the Charlottesville Super Regional opener Saturday.

Grovatt, Cavaliers Show Mettle
When Oklahoma took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning on Saturday, there may have been a few concerned gasps among the Virginia faithful at Davenport Field. Rest assured, none of them came from the home dugout. The coolly confident Cavaliers flashed their season-long resilience instead, as did a slump-busting Dan Grovatt, and immediately retook the lead to prevail with a 3-2 win in NCAA Tournament Super Regional action.

Photo Gallery: Virginia Tops VCU
The Virginia baseball team opened NCAA Tournament play with a convincing 15-4 victory against VCU at Davenport Field. Can the Cavaliers keep the stellar play going in the Super Regional round this weekend against Oklahoma? Get ready for the showdown with the Sooners with this photo gallery that features 93 images of the Hoos, including Jarrett Parker, Tyler Cannon, Cody Winiarski, and more.

Sabre Roundtable: A Home Super Regional
The Virginia baseball program is set to host a Super Regional at Davenport Field for the first time this weekend when Oklahoma comes to town. The first game kicks off the best-of-three series at 3 p.m. on Saturday. To get everyone ready for the big showdown, The Sabre put together a roundtable with Sabre baseball guru Greg Waters and three former Cavalier players. So check out five questions and answers about the UVa program, the coaches, and Oklahoma.

Wilson A Cavalier To Count On
"Pressure is a privilege." That's a saying Virginia players have heard from assistant coach Kevin McMullan. One that pitcher Tyler Wilson fully embraces. That's one reason - of many mind you - that Wilson has emerged as one star among the Cavaliers' relief pitchers. He's not afraid to take the mound in any situation in any game and accept the results. That's why fans are almost certain to see Wilson in action this weekend as the Hoos host their first ever Super Regional at Davenport Field.

JHoo's Summer Reading 2010: Running Backs
If there is a unit that I find hard to evaluate right now, it is the running backs. (OK, there are a few such units, but I digress.) What I know: we have a fullback again, which brings me great joy, and we have a ton of tailbacks. But as for the pecking order of the tailbacks, and the upside they represent, and the way things will play out over the summer and early fall practices, and ... well, let's discuss.

Field Report: A History Of UVa's Football Fields
Visitors to the University of Virginia in 1877 were amazed at the 16-foot-tall, life-sized replica of a woolly mammoth displayed in one of its buildings on Grounds. The "Lewis Brooks Hall of Natural Science," now known simply as Brooks Hall, opened in 1877 as one of the few museums of natural history in the United States and its main hall included a included a Siberian mammoth. A more curious sight, however, may have been just outside the building where groups of students chased after an odd-shaped leather ball.

Hoos Advance With Nifty Fifty
The Cavaliers played old style small ball and two pitchers shut down a potent St John's offense as UVa earned a 5-3 victory over the Red Storm in the championship game of the Charlottesville Regional. Virginia posted a single-season record 50th win and advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals for the second consecutive season.

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