Brian O'Connor says staying in gaps is key to success at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha

Virginia will kick off its run at the College World Series on Friday at 7 p.m. EST time against Florida, one of the top squads in the country. But Cavaliers head coach Brian O’Connor explained that Charles Schwab Field, where the CWS is played, is almost an opponent unto itself.

With a deep outfield and general dearth of home runs in the ballpark, O’Connor said that staying disciplined with outfield alignments will be critical. Keeping gaps filled and the ball in front of the outfielders can save extra bases and runs.

“Well, I think the key is to stay in the gaps. It really is. You know, it’s a big ballpark. It’s actually very similar to our ballpark in Charlottesville,” O’Connor said. “It’s only 3 feet further in this stadium in left field and right field than it is in our ballpark. We play in a pretty vast ballpark, so our guys are used to that.”

Defense aside, Virginia can also use the larger dimensions of Charles Schwab Field to their advantage.

Virginia leads the nation in doubles, with the Cavaliers lineup smacking 169 this year, 14 more than the next closest team. In a ballpark where a lot of would-be home runs become doubles, Virginia could be well suited to taking extra bases in Omaha.

“That’s a pretty important stat, I believe, in this ballpark because having coached previous teams here and seeing guys like Mike Papi and Derek Fisher and different players over the years that have played for us in this ballpark and see them absolutely crush balls and not get the ball out of the ballpark, so it’s important that you put the ball in play,” O’Connor said. “A good two-strike approach. Certainly the pitching that you face this time of the year is elite, right? That’s a challenge in itself.”

Past Omaha experience will be big for Virginia, too

Key players on the 2023 Virginia squad like catcher Kyle Teel and infielder Jake Gelof were also on the 2021 team that made it to Omaha. Just having them around to explain to younger players what to expect has utility, O’Connor explained.

“I certainly think it helps having players that have played in Omaha before. And the couple of guys that we have had do that were integral in that run in ’21 and our performance in Omaha. And having them understand and be able to share with their teammates about the feelings they’re going to have, standing on that field on Friday night at 6 p.m. when they play the national anthem in front of the largest crowd they’ve ever played in before, having experience doing that and them being able to share it with their teammates is really important,” O’Connor said.