Well, I spent my day off watching the first day of the College World Series today, hoping to catch my friends, Cole and Alison, among the crowd (I didn’t). Alison’s brother, Justin Pigott, took the mound tonight for the Mississippi State University Bulldogs on ESPN2, and although they didn’t win, I was extremely proud of Justin.

For one, he outpitched his opposing starting pitcher (who was expected to be dominant). Justin had a great first three innings, ran into some trouble in the fourth but pitched out of it, and had a good fifth. It was the sixth inning when things started to head south, but he left with the game tied at four and his team in position to win. The relief pitcher didn’t come through, however, and the Bulldogs never recovered.

But I was most proud of him for other reasons. It was so neat to hear perennial all-star, Barry Larkin, brag on him, but it was even better to hear broadcaster Sean Macdonough share things like…
* Justin’s 4.0 GPA
* His position on the SEC Good Works team for his service in the community
* The fact that Justin’s the man his teammates want on the mound for big games
* And the fact that he has a “deep religious faith”

Not bad things to be said about you to a worldwide audience, huh?

No matter what the final score…

We’ll keep watching the Dawgs. Big game against Louisville on Sunday now! GO DAWGS!!!