Six college baseball teams are playing at Minute Maid Park this weekend, each expecting to qualify for the postseason. They all have their sights on getting to regionals, then super regionals, and hopefully a spot in Omaha for the College World Series in June.
It’s another star-studded field for the 2022 Shriners Children’s College Classic. The lineup consists of top-ranked Texas, No. 8 LSU, 16th-ranked Tennessee, No. 23 UCLA, as well as Oklahoma and Baylor.
“Some people feel pretty good about their clubs until you come here,” UCLA coach John Savage said. “To win a national championship, you;ve got to go through all of them. We want to play the game at the highest level.”
Savage’s Bruins (6-3), the only West Coast team here, will get tested over the three-day, nine-game tournament that the Astros Foundation operates.
UCLA, as well as Tennessee and LSU, will get its shot at unbeaten Texas (9-0), which has outscored the opposition 72-10 and allowed only six earned runs in 81 innings.
“We know we’re a pretty good team, but we also know there’s a lot of really good teams across the country,” Longhorns coach David Pierce said.
One of the more interesting matchups will be Texas versus LSU (8-1) on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Both teams have enthusiastic fan bases and should keep Minute Maid Park lively. The Tigers edged the Longhorns 4-3 in the 2020 College Classic.
“I have a lot of respect for LSU baseball, their history,” Pierce said. “And when Texas and LSU play, it’s pretty much a crazy environment. I expect it to be off the charts with energy levels from the fan base and both teams.”
LSU and Texas don’t have a monopoly on fan participation. Oklahoma (5-2) will have a large following as well. Sooners coach Skip Johnson said there’s just something about college sports that gets players and fans pumped.
“Our kids aspire to be major leaguers, but there’s something different about March Madness, NCAA regionals, the super regionals or Omaha,” Johnson said. “And you hear Boomer Sooner. That’s the spirit of the game. It makes you want to compete and go after it. It’s more like a football game on a baseball field at times.”
Same as Texas, Tennessee (8-0) under coach Tony Vitello is undefeated. The Volunteers, making their fourth appearance here and first since 2012, lead the nation in eight offensive categories. Tennessee and Texas face off Friday in the prime-time game at 7:05 p.m. The Longhorns defeated Tennessee 8-4 at the College World Series last season.
Texas is scheduled to throw lefthander Pete Hansen (1-0) against Tennessee righthander Chase Burns (2-0). Against LSU, the Longhorns will go with righty Tristan Stevens (2-0). On Sunday versus UCLA, Texas will throw righthander Tanner Witt (2-0) against righty Kelly Austin (0-0).
SHRINERS CHILDREN’S CLASSIC
All games at Minute Maid Park
Friday
UCLA vs. Baylor. 11:05 a.m.
Oklahoma vs. LSU, 3:05 p.m.
Tennessee vs. Texas, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday
Oklahoma vs. UCLA, 11:05 a.m.
Baylor vs. Tennessee, 3:05 p.m.
Texas vs. LSU, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday
Tennessee vs. Oklahoma, 11:05 a.m.
UCLA vs. Texas, 3:05 p.m.
LSU vs. Baylor, 7:05 p.m.
LSU, which hasn’t announced Saturday’s starter against Texas, will go with ace righthander Blake Money (2-0) on the bump Friday against Oklahoma.
Baylor (4-4), which plays Tennessee on Saturday, opens the tournament Friday with UCLA and concludes the event Sunday against Jay Johnson’s LSU Tigers.
“The biggest challenge is preparing for all three,” Baylor coach Steve Rodriguez said. “Typically, with a three-game series, you can see how the game is developing and what to expect the next couple of days. Here, you got to make those adjustments really quick.”
Texas is making its 10th appearance in the College Classic, having last appeared in 2020 when LSU edged the Longhorns 4-3.
“The energy just kicks up another level, and potentially 25,000 people in it,” said Pierce, describing playing at the home of the Astros. “It’s just exciting.
“We have a great venue at home, but to be able to come in Minute Maid, being a hometown kid, and then we have so many kids from the city, it’s just a special return for them. But playing in a big league ballpark, and a great ballpark, it’s special for our team.”
Baylor is returning to Minute Maid Park for the fourth time since 2016 and 13th overall. In their last appearance in 2020 under Rodriguez, the Bears swept three SEC opponents (Missouri, Arkansas, LSU).
“I believe in bringing our guys to games in big league stadiums,” said Rodriguez, in his seventh season leading the team. “I want them to experience what’s it like. I think any time you can be in a situation like this, it heightens their awareness of what is expected.”
All nine games will be televised by AT&T SportsNet Southwest and MLB Network.
Besides the baseball, the weekend is also about Shriners Children’s health care system that provides pediatric specialty care.
“This venue here is about Shriners Hospital, but we’re also getting the opportunity to play teams like UCLA, LSU and Tennessee, some of the best teams historically in the country,” Skip Johnson said.