The Kent State Golden Flashes are in Omaha preparing for their first College World Series game on Saturday against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Head coach Scott Stricklin admitted to the Akron Beacon Journal that, after losing four players to the MLB draft, he didn't expect them to be here:
"I'd like to say I did, but we lost so much talent," Stricklin said by phone Tuesday, less than 24 hours after the Flashes beat host Oregon 3-2 in the deciding Game 3 in Eugene, Ore. "I felt confident we'd compete for the (Mid-American Conference) title. But no, I can't say I saw this coming."
Stricklin went on to say that "it just hasn't settled in quite yet" that his team is on this stage. On Wednesday night, Kent State is practicing at Creighton University. On Thursday, it will have an open practice at the 24,505-seated TD Ameritrade Park from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET, via recordpub.com.
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