New: Blueprint Graphics, Use of K Zone, Jason Aldean Music, “Omaha to the Bigs” Vignettes and Sports Science Features
ESPN’s extensive coverage of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship – a record schedule of up to 69 games across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV – will culminate with all 17 possible College World Series games for the ninth straight year Saturday, June 18, through Wednesday, June 29. Telecasts of the event – held at the new TD Ameritrade Park stadium in Omaha, Neb. – will include the use of K Zone, new graphics, music from country artist Jason Aldean, vignettes and more.
The network’s 32nd consecutive year of coverage will feature the entire event on ESPN or ESPN2 with simulcasts on ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV. Every telecast will be offered in high definition on ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD. As part of the production of the telecasts, new elements will be introduced to showcase the quality of play, highlight the new stadium, capture the history and atmosphere of the event, and more. Details:
K Zone 2.0
For the first time, College World Series telecasts will feature “K Zone 2.0,” the enhanced version of ESPN’s Sports Emmy Award-winning K Zone. In addition to identifying the speed and location of a pitch in replays, “K Zone 2.0” is also capable of tracking the path of the ball from the pitcher’s hand through the strike zone and numerically sequencing pitches thrown. ESPN worked with Sportvision to develop the technology that is also featured in the network’s Major League Baseball and, also for the first time, Women’s College World Series telecasts.
X Mo Replays
Telecasts will utilize the X Mo replay system that films more frames per second of action than previous slow motion capabilities. The technology will eliminate motion blur and provide the viewer with clearer images, such as ball rotation, seams on the ball, a slide at the plate and more.
Music from Jason Aldean
//
Every telecast will incorporate songs from country artist Jason Aldean in musical highlight packages that will demonstrate the passion, essence and atmosphere of the College World Series. The video montage will include Aldean concert footage and game and scenic highlights, which will change throughout the event. Overall, ESPN will feature three songs from his current release “My Kinda Party”: “Crazy Town,” “Hicktown,” “My Kinda Party,” “Days Like These” and “Dirt Road Anthem.”
Georgia native Aldean has sold more than five million records and has posted six number one hits. His latest release, “My Kinda Party,” set a record as the highest first-week debut by a male artist in four years.
Blueprint Graphics
//
To signify the change in stadiums, all of the graphics in each telecast will incorporate the appearance of technical drawings similar to blueprints used for architecture or engineering designs. For every graphic, it will begin as a blueprint design that morphs into the actual stadium, team logo, player names, etc.
“Omaha to the Bigs”
//
New “Omaha to Bigs” vignettes will showcase Major League Baseball players discussing their experiences of playing in the College World Series, including: Darwin Barney (Oregon State, Chicago Cubs), Nick Hundley (Arizona, San Diego Padres), Alex Gordon (Nebraska, Kansas Royals) and Matt Wieters (Georgia Tech, Baltimore Orioles).
Sports Science
Telecasts will include several Sports Science segments, including host John Brenkus providing an in-depth analysis of how the location, layout and design of the new TD Ameritrade Park stadium might affect the games compared to Rosenblatt Stadium, which hosted the College World Series from 1950-2010.
Commentators
Commentator teams include Mike Patrick with analysts Orel Hershiser or Robin Ventura and reporters Kyle Peterson or Jenn Brown; Jon Sciambi with analysts Hershiser, Ventura or Nomar Garciaparra and Peterson or Brown; and Dave O’Brien with Garciaparra and Peterson. Patrick will call the Championship Series with Hershiser, Ventura, Peterson and Brown.
Additional Coverage
SportsCenter segments will originate from TD Ameritrade Park from June 20-22 and include analysts Hershiser, Ventura and Garciaparra on-set.
In addition to traditional coverage, ESPN.com and other digital platforms will provide unique, original content of the NCAA Baseball Championship. For the third consecutive year, ESPN will use social networking sites Facebook (ESPNOmaha) and Twitter (@ESPN_Omaha) to provide fans with updates and behind-the-scenes insight into the tournament. ESPN.com content includes a behind-the-scenes look at Oklahoma as it attempts to return to the College World Series, bracket analysis, and writers at many of the Regional and Super Regional sites.
NCAA College World Series Presented by Capital One
Two of the eight qualifying teams are making consecutive College World Series appearances, including defending National Champion South Carolina and Florida. No team has won the national championship back-to-back in over five decades. The first four matchups:
- First-time College World Series participant Vanderbilt will take on North Carolina, playing in its fifth College World Series in the past six years.
- Texas will play in its record 34th College World Series, taking on Florida which is making its second since 2005.
- California, making its first College World Series appearance in 19 years, will take on Virginia, which earned its second berth in the event ever and finished the season with the best record in college baseball.
- Defending Champion South Carolina will take on Texas A&M, playing in its first College World Series since 1999.
* If necessary
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Matchups / Commentators | Network |
| Sat, Jun 18 | 2 p.m. | 1 | Vanderbilt vs. North Carolina Mike Patrick, Robin Ventura & Jenn Brown |
ESPN HD/ESPN3.com/ ESPN Mobile TV |
| 7 p.m. | 2 | Texas vs. Florida Dave O’Brien, Nomar Garciaparra & Kyle Peterson |
ESPN HD/ESPN3.com/ ESPN Mobile TV | |
| Sun, Jun 19 | 2 p.m. | 3 | California vs. Virginia Mike Patrick, Robin Ventura & Jenn Brown |
ESPN HD/ESPN3.com/ ESPN Mobile TV |
| 7 p.m. | 4 | Texas A&M vs. South Carolina Dave O’Brien, Nomar Garciaparra & Kyle Peterson |
ESPN2 HD/ESPN3.com/ ESPN Mobile TV | |
| Mon, Jun 20 | 2 p.m. | 5 | Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 Mike Patrick, Robin Ventura & Jenn Brown |
ESPN HD/ESPN3.com/ ESPN Mobile TV |
| 7 p.m. | 6 | Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 Jon Sciambi, Orel Hershiser & Kyle Peterson |
ESPN2 HD/ESPN3.com | |
| Tue, Jun 21 | 2 p.m. | 7 | Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 Jon Sciambi, Nomar Garciaparra & Jenn Brown |
ESPN HD/ESPN3.com |
| 7 p.m. | 8 | Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 Mike Patrick, Orel Hershiser & Kyle Peterson |
ESPN HD/ESPN3.com/ ESPN Mobile TV | |
| Wed, Jun 22 | 7 p.m. | 9 | Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5 Jon Sciambi, Robin Ventura & Kyle Peterson |
ESPN2 HD/ESPN3.com |
| Thu, Jun 23 | 7 p.m. | 10 | Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 7 Mike Patrick, Orel Hershiser & Kyle Peterson |
ESPN2 HD/ESPN3.com |
| Fri, Jun 24 | 2 p.m. | 11 | Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 9 Jon Sciambi, Orel Hershiser, Nomar Garciaparra & Jenn Brown |
ESPN HD/ESPN3.com |
| 7 p.m. | 12 | Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10 Mike Patrick, Robin Ventura & Kyle Peterson |
ESPN HD/ESPN3.com/ ESPN Mobile TV | |
| Sat, Jun 25 | 2 p.m. | 13 ** | If necessary Jon Sciambi, Nomar Garciaparra & Jenn Brown |
ESPN HD/ESPN3.com/ ESPN Mobile TV |
| 7 p.m. | 14 ** | If necessary Mike Patrick, Robin Ventura & Kyle Peterson |
ESPN2 HD/ESPN3.com/ ESPN Mobile TV | |
| Mon, Jun 27 | 8 p.m. | 1 | Series Final Mike Patrick, Orel Hershiser, Robin Ventura, Kyle Peterson & Jenn Brown |
ESPN HD/ESPN3.com/ ESPN Mobile TV |
| Tue, Jun 28 | 8 p.m. | 2 | Series Final Mike Patrick, Orel Hershiser, Robin Ventura, Kyle Peterson & Jenn Brown |
ESPN HD/ESPN3.com/ ESPN Mobile TV |
| Wed, Jun 29 | 8 p.m. | 3 * | Series Final Mike Patrick, Orel Hershiser, Robin Ventura, Kyle Peterson & Jenn Brown |
ESPN HD/ESPN3.com/ ESPN Mobile TV |
** If only Game 13 is necessary, it will be played at 7 p.m. on ESPN2
-30-
