On the diamond and on the race track

College World Series

As of press time, North Carolina was one game away from being in really good shape to make the CWS finals. UNC beat the two-time champs, Oregon State 8-6 in the opening game for the Tarheels. They had Mississippi State, but I have a feeling that Oregon State will not go down without a fight and have to play them again if not twice more coming up. Oregon State has the most elite hitting lineup left in the CWS. If there is anything that UNC can hang their hat on, it is pitching.

The Tarheels have the most emotional reason to win now since a former player from last season's team and his dad were killed a car crash on Friday.

Sonoma

It's the first road course of the season for the NASCAR boys as they end up at Sonoma this weekend. For me, this is a wild card event since all the drivers are now at least decent road course racers. A.J. Allmendinger has the advantage as far as experience is concerned.

Sonoma is usually an interesting place for a race since there are a lot of spots that cars can run off the road. The esses are narrow and there are only three or four good places to pass. The hairpin turn is the kicker. It's the slowest turn on the circuit, but it never fails to see cars get run over since they are going from 150mph to 35mph in just seconds.

Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, and Martin Truex Jr. are all solid picks this weekend. If I was a betting man, I would pick Kyle Busch for the win.

I give Jimmie Johnson and A.J. Allmendinger and Denny Hamlin to be major threats as well. Johnson hasn't won in 38 races.

Forest City Owls

The Owls are tied for the lead in the CPL West, but only with a .500 record, There are only four teams that have better records with just 14 games in. However, the playoffs are a little different this season since the CPL is broke up into four divisions. If Forest City is leading the West at the end of the first half of the season, they would get an automatic playoff berth.