CWS 2024: Two storied programs vie for first national championship in finals
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Whether it’s top-ranked Tennessee hoisting a trophy above their heads this weekend or No. 3 Texas A&M, history will be made this year in the College World Series finals. 2024 makes the Aggies’ eighth trip to Omaha and the Vols’ seventh, yet neither team has ever secured a title. Both programs hope to end the championship drought over the next three days.
“This is something that we’ve talked about for my five years is trying to win a national championship,” said Tennesse graduate pitcher Kirby Connell. “We get to a three-round fight this weekend. And try to be the first team to win two games.”
”We’ve done a lot of special things for this team and for the University of Tennessee and the state of Tennessee, but job’s not finished in our mind,” said Volunteers outfielder Hunter Ensley. “Just being able to go out there and play in two more games with this group feels pretty good and, you know, I like this group against anybody.”
For Omaha native and Westside High School product Dalton Barg, potentially being a part of Tennessee’s first-ever CWS title would mean even more.
“It’s a blessing and an honor truly,” said Bargo. “I mean especially doing it in front of my friends and family in Omaha and my hometown and it’s exactly why I came to Tennessee-- to win a national championship.”
Tennessee has been to the CWS Finals only one other time: 1951.
Saturday will be Texas A&M’s first CWS Finals appearance.
“To do it for this university, with what I’ve been able to experience this year, would be life-changing,” said Aggies outfielder Hayden Schott. “It makes me cry just thinking about it. It would be so awesome. And obviously to do it for this group of guys and this coaching staff would mean the world.”
“Everybody comes and joins this program because you want to win a championship,” said A&M pitcher Ryan Prager. “You want to be the best. You want to beat the best. You want to play against the best. That’s why you come to a place like this.”
Texas A&M and Tennessee face off Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT in the first game of the best-of-three series. Sunday’s game will be at 1:00 p.m. CT and Monday’s if-necessary game will be held at 6:00 p.m. CT.
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