I am an unabashed fan of College Softball. For some reason 200 foot fences and players high-fiving at the mound after every out is extremely exciting. Anywho, the Women’s College World Series is starting up this Thursday and none other than John Kruk will be an analyst for most of the games on ESPN.
ESPN’s coverage of the entire Women’s College World Series – up to 17 games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN360.com beginning Thursday, May 29 – will feature ESPN’s John Kruk as a game analyst on 10 games, including the best-of-three Championship. Kruk, an analyst on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight studio show and select MLB games, will work with Beth Mowins and analyst Jessica Mendoza, a 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and member of the U.S. team headed for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
ESPN’s 27th consecutive year of televising the event will also include Eric Collins and analyst Michele Smith, a two-time U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist (2000 and 1996), calling games. Smith will work as a field-level pitching reporter on the best-of-three Championship. Holly Rowe will serve as the field reporter on every game.
That’s a very interesting collection of announcers, but it could be pretty fun. Here’s the schedule if you care about that sort of thing…..
Thursday, May 29
1 p.m.- Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Florida- Collins, Smith, Rowe (ESPN)
3 p.m.- Virginia Tech vs. Texas A&M-Collins, Smith, Rowe (ESPN)
7 p.m.- Arizona State vs. Alabama- Mowins, Mendoza, Kruk, Rowe (ESPN)
9 p.m.- Arizona vs. UCLA- Mowins, Mendoza, Kruk, Rowe (ESPN)
Friday, May 30
7 p.m.- Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner- Collins, Smith, Rowe (ESPN2)
9 p.m.- Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner- Mowins, Mendoza, Kruk, Rowe (ESPN2)
Saturday, May 31
Noon- Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser- Collins, Smith, Rowe (ESPN)
2 p.m.- Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser- Collins, Smith, Rowe (ESPN)
7 p.m.- Game 6 loser vs. Game 7 winner- Mowins, Mendoza, Kruk, Rowe (ESPN)
9 p.m.- Game 5 loser vs. Game 8 winner- Mowins, Mendoza, Kruk, Rowe (ESPN)
Sunday, June 1
1 p.m.- Game 5 winner vs. Game 9 winner- Collins, Smith, Rowe (ESPN)
3 p.m.- Game 6 winner vs. Game 10 winner- Mowins, Mendoza, Kruk, Rowe (ESPN)
7 p.m.- Game 13* – If Necessary- Collins, Smith, Rowe (ESPN2)
9 p.m.- Game 14* – If Necessary- Mowins, Mendoza, Kruk, Rowe (ESPN2)
Monday, June 2
8 p.m.- Championship – Game 1- Mowins, Mendoza, Kruk, Smith, Rowe (ESPN2)
Tuesday, June 3
8 p.m.- Championship – Game 2- Mowins, Mendoza, Kruk, Smith, Rowe (ESPN2)
Wednesday, June 4
8 p.m.- Championship – Game 3*- Mowins, Mendoza, Kruk, Smith, Rowe (ESPN2)
* If necessary
(Via ESPN PR)
