Southern Teams Dominate The College World Series

When one looks at the eight teams who are competing in the Men's college World Series in Omaha this year, one is immediately struck by the fact that they are all Southern teams. For the eight teams who are competing in this year's baseball national championship are Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas, Troy, and West Virginia. While West Virginia seceded from Virginia in order to remain in the Union leading up to the War Between the States, it is classified as a Southern state according to the U.S. Census. With the census listing Oklahoma as a Southern state, as well.

During the War Between the States, Oklahoma was known as Native American Territory. With most of the Native American nations there officially aligning with the Confederacy during the War Between the States. While baseball is considered to have officially begun in Cooperstown, New York, it spread nationwide during the War Between the States as captured Union soldiers would play baseball when taken to the Confederate prison camps. With the guards watching and learning while the soldiers played pitch and catch.

In the Major Leagues, close to 75% of all professional baseball players hail from the USA. With the Dominican Republic coming in second with 11%, followed by Venezuela at 7% and Cuba at 3%. Within the USA, the state that produces the most professional baseball players is California. With one-fifth of all American baseball players hailing from The Golden State. Florida then comes in second with Texas rounding out third base in terms of total volume of producing American professional baseball players. The southern state of Georgia rivals California in producing the highest number of baseball players per capita in the USA.

While the Southern teams have sent all of the Yankee teams back home in this year's regionals leading up to the College World Series, now the Southern teams are faced with the task of vying amongst each other to see which players grew up on the best smoked barbecue. As the Men's College World Series opens this Friday in Omaha with Troy set to play West Virginia at 1:00PM on June 12th. Followed by Ole Miss playing North Carolina at 6:00PM on the same day. On Saturday, June 13th, the Oklahoma Sooners play The University of Alabama Crimson Tide at 2:00PM. Followed by Texas playing the Georgia Bulldogs at 7:00PM on the same day. The baseball games will then continue until either Sunday, June 21st, 2026 or Monday, June 22nd, 2026 depending on if a third game is needed. All of the games are set to take place at the Charles Schwab Field Omaha. With the baseball games set to be aired on television on ESPN.

There are different theories as to why the Southern teams are dominating the College World Series this year. With some theories suggesting that the Southern climate allows the aspiring young athletes to play baseball nearly twelve months out of the year. For baseball season begins in February when the northern states are still shoveling snow out of their driveways. Another theory suggests that the youth baseball infrastructure in the South features strong talent and with the youth tournaments running all year around, top recruits are discovered early in their playing careers and stay local.

But those who are in the know, acknowledge an even third theory. Which is that the spirit of "The Yankee Killer", Alabama native, Frank Strong Lary, is alive and well among the college baseball players. Play ball!

Luisa Reyes is a Tuscaloosa attorney, piano instructor, vocalist, poet, reporter, and columnist who writes on current affairs, politics, and the arts.