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Florida Gators vs LSU Tigers MCWS Finals Preview: Star-studded teams meet in all-SEC Finals

Author psheppard

The final two teams standing in the Men’s College World Series are both from the SEC as No. 2 Florida faces No. 5 LSU in the best-of-3 Finals starting on Saturday (7 ET on ESPN).

Florida is looking for its second baseball title; the Gators swept LSU in the MCWS Finals in 2017. LSU is looking for its seventh title but first since 2009.

The Tigers six titles are tied with Texas for the second-most by any school behind USC (12).

This is the seventh time that teams from the same conference have met in the championship round of the Men’s College World Series and the fifth time those teams have been from the SEC.

The winner will claim the conference’s 15th baseball title and ninth since 2009.

Florida and LSU Have Lots of Firepower

There will be plenty of star power on the field as all three Golden Spikes Award finalists are from these two teams. Jac Caglianone is a sophomore and not eligible to be drafted this season but the other two finalists – LSU’s Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes – and Florida’s Wyatt Langford are all projected to be Top-5 picks in next month’s MLB Draft.

There has never been a championship round at the Men’s College World Series that featured three players selected among the first 10 picks in that year’s MLB Draft.

MCWS Finals Fun Facts

This year’s MCWS Finals feature a pair of schools from the SEC. This is the seventh time in Men’s College World Series history that the championship round has been contested between teams from the same conference and the fifth time that those two teams have been from the SEC.

Despite both being from the same conference, the Gators and Tigers didn’t meet this season. LSU took two of three meetings when the teams met in Gainesville last season and has won five of the eight meetings since they met in the 2017 MCWS Finals.

The Battle of the Jell-O Shots

If you have been listening to the Shemon and Sheppard Show this week, you know that we have been giving you constant updates about the ongoing Jello-O shot competition going on.

It’s happening at Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina in Omaha during the MCWS.  You can catch up on all the details here.  However, LSU is absolutely running away with it!  By the way, Florida Gators in 3!

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The 15 Best Minor League Baseball Team Names - Ranked

Minor League Baseball is always looking for ways to put fans in the stands. From fun promotions during the game, to discount nights. For instance, the Sioux City Iowa Explorers do a ‘Pack The Park Night’ where everyone gets in free. The Dayton Ohio Dragons let scouts camp out on the field after some games. Our very own Fort Myers Mighty Mussels have a special promotion just about every single game. The big one is the July 3rd fireworks show after the game. This looks to be the biggest fireworks show ever held at Hammond Stadium with a 12 minute display.  But the Explorers and Dragons lack what Fort Myers has. A name on this list.

Having a truly unique Minor League Baseball team name makes them more memorable. Which can attract crowds. And sell more merchandise. It’s why Florida’s very own Fort Myers Miracle changed their name to the Mighty Mussels. They can name the team anything they want as long as we can do the Festival Of Beers and I can bring my pretzel necklace. But this isn’t a ranking of promotions, it’s about team names.

Since I’m a Fort Myers resident and totally biased, we need to keep this impartial. Casino.org surveyed 4,000 baseball fans across the nation to find out the ranking for the most outrageous Minor League Baseball team name and here’s what they decided.

  • 15. Toledo Mud Hens

    Toledo’s team name became nationally famous due the tv “MASH”. The character “Klinger” in the show mentioned the Mud Hens quite often. The name dates back to 1896.

     

  • 14. Beloit Sky Carp

    This Wisconsin team is the High-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. According to their website, a Sky Carp is  “A slang term for a goose that does not migrate in the winter, instead preferring to stay in its home city, ” 

  • 13. El Paso Chihuahuas

    The have the cutest little mascot!

  • 12. Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

    There’s our Fort Myers team coming in at number 12. You didn’t honestly think I’d do this list if we weren’t on it?

     

  • 11. Montgomery Biscuits

    This is a weird one. Their mascots are “Big Mo”, an orange beast that loves biscuits, and “Monty”, an anthropomorphized buttermilk biscuit. The ‘Butter and Blue’ beat the Trash Pandas last night. We’ll get to them, later.

  • 10. Biloxi Shuckers

    Getting into the top 10, this team is all about the experience. Casinos and seafood. And baseball.

  • 9. Hartford Yard Goats

    Lol. Yard Goat.

  • 8. Lansing Lugnuts

    Their logo appears to be a distressed bolt. And their mascot – a big purple dinosaur. It doesn’t have to make sense to be fun.

  • 7. Sugar Land Space Cowboys

    In to the top part of the list is the Space Cowboys. The Triple A affiliate of the Astros is based in Sugar Land Texas. And now that old song is stuck in my head.

  • 6. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

    Certainly an odd animal to name your team after. I do love that they have a Hawaiian Shirt Night.

  • 5. Albuquerque Isotopes

    Yes, they are named after radioactive material. But they do have great merch. And the name does indeed come from the Simpsons “Springfield Isotopes.”

  • 4. Akron Rubber Ducks

    A fun name, and the ‘rubber’ part ties into their hometown of Akron. I get it!

  • 3. Binghamton Rumble Ponies

    According to their website, Rumble Ponies are a “fierce horse that no carousel can contain.” K. It must be weird for the players trying to explain to their families. A what? They actually let the fans choose the name. ‘Stud Muffins” came in second. 

  • 2. Amarillo Sod Poodles

    A sod poodle is essentially a prairie dog. But sod poodle sounds a lot more fun. And it looks good on the uniform.

  • 1. Rocket City Trash Pandas

    This Madison, Alabama team name is the one everyone has heard about. It takes the number one spot. Who wouldn’t want to play for the Trash Pandas?

  • minor league baseball

    Thanks to Casino.org for their help on this list.

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