MCWS 2024 in evaluation: Tennessee’s legacy, greatest moments and early 2025 predictions

No. 1 Tennessee and No. 3 Texas A&M went toe-to-toe within the championship collection, with the Vols finally being topped champs after a 6-5 Sport 3 win to cap off a 60-win season Monday in Omaha, Nebraska. However in fact there was loads of drama alongside the way in which on this 12 months’s Males’s School World Collection.

There have been three walk-off wins to open the collection and there was the primary cycle hit since 1956, all of which culminated within the top-ranked staff successful all of it for the primary time since 1999 and for the primary time ever in its program historical past.

Our consultants break down what this championship does for Tennessee’s legacy, recap their favourite moments of the MCWS and provides some early 2025 predictions.

Soar to: Tennessee’s legacy | Getting again to Omaha
Favourite moments of 2024
Who’s making it subsequent 12 months? | Early POY picks

What does this MCWS championship do for Tennessee’s legacy?

Ryan McGee: For the Vols, it is simple. Lastly over the hump when, actually, lots of people had critical doubts about their capacity to shut the deal. And that wasn’t only a baseball factor. Hey, somebody ought to write about that … oh, I did! As for A&M, it is again to the grindstone. The unhealthy information is it misplaced. The excellent news is that historical past says those that get shut normally get again to Omaha hungrier, and faster.

Chris Burke: The Vols can now enter the highest of the sector dialog in faculty baseball. That is the fruits of an extremely profitable four-year run that has seen the Vols make three journeys to Omaha, win the SEC common season and event title twice, and now the nationwide championship. That type of run is a reasonably good indication that the Vols are right here to remain on the prime of the faculty baseball dialog.

Mike Rooney: From 2006 to 2018, Tennessee missed 13 consecutive NCAA baseball tournaments. In a number of of these seasons, the Vols didn’t qualify for the SEC event in Hoover, Alabama. These struggles clarify a few of the edge that fuels Tony Vitello’s groups. This program was sick of getting pushed round. The 2024 staff put an exclamation level on a four-year run that felt inconceivable when Vitello was employed previous to the 2018 season. Over the previous 4 seasons, nobody in faculty baseball has been higher than the Vols. And now there’s a crown confirming that.

Can Texas A&M and Tennessee make it again subsequent season?

McGee: Sure. If A&M can stealthily use the switch portal prefer it did one 12 months in the past to land Braden Montgomery and Tennessee can construct across the newly minted MCWS Most Excellent Participant Dylan Drieling, there is not any motive to consider they can not. Nevertheless it may be just a little harder for A&M since Jim Schlossnagle is leaving to grow to be the subsequent head coach at Texas.

Burke: Getting again to the finals is a tall ask in at this time’s recreation. The variety of groups which can be investing and competing to win the entire thing has by no means been better, and each groups are dropping a whole lot of star energy. With the dedication that these two colleges have made to successful and the recruiting, I would not be shocked to see each groups again within the supers subsequent 12 months knocking on the MCWS door.

Rooney: Texas A&M felt like a simple inclusion for my 2025 “Eight for Omaha.” Middle fielder Jace LaViolette might be a preseason All-American. Third baseman Gavin Grahovac is of the same ilk. Grad switch Wyatt Henseler (Penn) involves School Station because the Ivy League’s all-time dwelling run chief. The Aggie lineup must be ferocious. For Tennessee, there’s a lot to interchange. That mentioned, Vitello could also be the very best recruiting head coach we’ve in faculty baseball. Shortstop Dean Curley ought to graduate to a spot in the course of the order, and that could be a good place to start out.

What was your favourite second of this 12 months’s MCWS?

McGee: As a MCWS historical past junkie, it is exhausting to prime Christian Moore’s cycle. To me, one of many wildest stats within the Omaha document guide was that there had solely been one cycle, and it occurred in 1956! Nevertheless it was additionally the ambiance round these finals. The traces of individuals ready to take photographs with the Highway to Omaha statue was the longest I’ve ever seen, and the road for the standing room solely ticket lottery was the longest I’ve seen since Charles Schwab Discipline opened.

Burke: Lot of nice moments from Omaha this 12 months, however I feel what stands out probably the most is the way in which we began. Three walk-off victories within the first three video games was the kind of ball we will solely dream about when the sector was set. The drama and the clutch performances proper from the soar set the stage for what ended up being top-of-the-line MCWS ever!

Rooney: Dylan Dreiling’s walk-off double in Tennessee’s 12-11 win over Florida State put a capper on the very best recreation of the 2024 Males’s School World Collection. The Vols wanted 5 runs within the ultimate two frames to finish an electrifying comeback. And Dreiling was simply getting began. The sophomore left-handed hitter homered in all three video games of the finals on his method to incomes MCWS Most Excellent Participant honors.

Which staff that missed the 2024 MCWS area will make it subsequent 12 months?

McGee: Arkansas. I nonetheless don’t know the way it wasn’t right here this 12 months.

Burke: I am going to say LSU. Jay Johnson has been crushing it within the portal thus far. The Tigers performed as many freshmen as anybody within the nation this 12 months, and as these items develop and blend with the portal additions, I’d say the Tigers might be proper again within the combine subsequent 12 months.

Rooney: The Clemson Tigers have hosted the one greatest recreation of the NCAA event in every of the previous two seasons. Their epic 14-inning recreation versus Tennessee within the 2023 Clemson Regional led to heartbreak. In 2024, the Tigers exorcised their latest postseason demons by successful their dwelling regional with minimal stress. Sadly, Erik Bakich’s membership misplaced one other all-time thriller in its 13-inning tremendous regional Sport 2 vs. Florida. Middle fielder Cam Cannarella placed on a present on this one, and he is returning for his junior 12 months. Freshman Aidan Knaak was Clemson’s most constant pitcher all through this season, and he ought to lead the rotation as soon as once more in 2025.

Who’s your way-too-early decide for 2025 participant of the 12 months?

McGee: Jace LaViolette. If A&M goes to be again, he’ll be the rationale. He simply grew to become solely the third Aggie ever to hit 50 homers. He is six shy of breaking the TAMU profession homer document. And he is a sophomore.

Burke: Onerous to select this one however I am going to go along with top-of-the-line freshman within the nation from this previous 12 months. Justin Lebron, the shortstop from Alabama, had a breakout season in Yr 1 and initiatives to be top-of-the-line gamers in America over the subsequent two years. As easy as they arrive on protection and a physique that appears like it can make an enormous soar bodily, Lebron is one to look at heading into 2025.

Rooney: Oklahoma State left fielder Nolan Schubart presents a uncommon talent set. The 6-foot-5, 227-pound sophomore hits from the left facet and he’s a daunting mixture of energy and a pure hitter. Schubart enters his junior season as a profession .352 hitter, and he has averaged 20 dwelling runs and 71 RBIs per 12 months by way of his first two seasons. A 30 dwelling run season with 100 RBIs is a lofty achievement, however very a lot on the desk for this uber-talented slugger.