The University of Virginia came into the 2011 College World Series as the No. 1 team in the Country, and one of the legitimate favorites to win the National Championship. But they lost a very early game, and now their season is on the ropes.
On Thursday, they face the re-upstart Cal Bears at 7 on ESPN2 for a the ability to continue on in the tournament. Cal has become somewhat of a feel-good story in this tournament. Their team was actually disbanded by the UNiversity due to budget cuts, but after alumni (led by Jeff Kent) raised $9 million, the team was able to play this year. And of course, because you couldn't write this stuff, they made it all the way to the College World Series.
Virginia has to be the favorite in this game, but they are playing a team that already knows what it feels like to be eliminated, quite literally actually, so I wouldn't count the Bears out.
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