2010 College World Series: The 10 Reasons Why UCLA Could Win It All

The Bruins will be making just their third appearance in the College World Series, and first since 1997. So far UCLA is 0-4 in their previous two appearances.

However, this team has a lot going for it. Fresh off a come-from-behind win in Game Two of the Super Regionals against Cal State Fullerton, and a convincing win in Game Three, the Bruins are riding high and carry plenty of momentum to Omaha.

The Pac-10 Conference has plenty of former champions, so it's no surprise another team from this power conference has risen to the ranks of college baseball's elite.

UCLA will be facing stiff competition from the SEC and ACC. The first opponent standing in the Bruins' way will be the Florida Gators, a school that reached the finals in 2005.

Here are 10 reasons why the Bruins stand a good chance of going all the way to win their first College World Series championship in school history.

10. Battle Tested in Pac-10

The Pac-10 conference has four schools on the top-10 list of most CWS wins. Baseball powerhouses Arizona State, USC, and Stanford are perennial contenders for the main event, and this season UCLA has added its name to the mix.

UCLA has faced the heavily-favored Arizona State Sun Devils several times this season, and has an edge over the Eastern teams should a head-to-head matchup materialize.

The fierce competition within the conference has allowed the team's youngsters to mature quickly and learn the ropes of major college baseball.

There is no comparison to the experience of the College World Series, but coming from a tough conference can't hurt.

9. Coaching and Recruiting

UCLA head coach John Savage has managed to turn around a program in dismay. In six seasons with the Bruins, Savage has taken his teams to three regionals, two super regionals, and now a College World Series appearance in Omaha.

In addition to his coaching skills on the field, Savage has had several recruiting classes ranked in the top 10 by Baseball America.

Savage took over a UCLA squad in tatters in 2005, and with a lack of a strong recruiting class, he and the team finished a dismal 15-41, good for eighth in the Pac-10 Conference.

However, just a year later, the Bruins finished the 2006 season at 33-25, good for third in the Pac-10 and a Malibu Regional appearance.

It is no easy task to turn a team around from 15 wins a season before to 33 and a chance at the big dance.

In Game Two of the Super Regionals in 2010, Savage showed off his ability to inspire his players. Caught on camera in the dugout giving a motivational speech, the skipper lit a fire under his team, and it led to a two-run homer in the top of the ninth, and an eventual extra innings win.

Finally, Savage gave the game ball to Rob Rasmussen for Game Three, a decision that would pay off exponentially as Rasmussen tossed a complete game while allowing just one run.

With an experienced coach and experience against Pac-10 powerhouses, UCLA already has plenty going for them, but there's still more.

8. Draft Pick Plethora

The Bruins bring several draft picks (nine on day two of the draft alone) to the show this season; that's a lot of raw talent which will provide an anchor for the team as the games begin.

UCLA's draft class is led by second round selection Rob Rasmussen, a junior left-hander and leader of the Bruins rotation.

With the amount of attention the team is getting from MLB scouts, UCLA might just have something here...

7. Stellar Upperclassmen Leadership

The UCLA Bruins are still a very young baseball squad, a testament to the aforementioned recruiting talents of John Savage. However, the few seniors on the roster have the knowledge and the leadership skills to protect the roster's inexperience.

Senior pitcher Garett Claypool (pictured) has 20 appearances under his belt in the 2010 season and is second on the team in ERA at 2.05 while collecting eight wins.

Infielders Blair Dunlap, Niko Gallego, and Justin Uribe pace the offense and set an example for their younger teammates.

Finally, outfielders Brett Krill and Chris Giovinazzo mentor their understudies to ensure future Bruins will have the same success their upperclassmen are currently experiencing.

6. Youngsters with Limitless Talent

Heading in to the 2010 College World Series, the Bruins of UCLA have tremendous young talent that has combined well with the upperclassmen.

The most recognizable youngster on the roster has to be freshman outfielder Beau Amaral.

The lefty was drafted in the middle rounds out of high school but elected to take a full ride scholarship in Los Angeles, and the decision has benefited UCLA's baseball program immediately.

Amaral is currently batting .352, good for second on the roster, just a point behind sophomore phenom Dean Espy. Amaral also provides stability and reliability, having appeared in 58 games thus far in 2010.

Another standout in the underclassmen supporting class is sophomore infielder Tyler Rahmatulla. A four-year varsity product of high school juggernaut Mater Dei, Rahmatulla leads the team in runs scored with 52, a clear cut sign of his ability to get on base. He also leads the team in hits, currently at 76.

The unique blend of seasoned veterans and young talent on this UCLA squad is a generally guideline for success used by sports teams of all levels. This Bruins team certainly has the look of a team ready to compete.

5. Unpredictable Offense

The Bruins showed they can break out with offense when needed during the Los Angeles Super Regionals. A late home run in Game Two and an eight-run barrage in Game Three raises eyebrows.

It's obvious batting averages in college baseball are inflated, largely due to metal bats, but you just can't ignore the ability of several UCLA players to make contact.

Seven players on the current roster currently possess a batting average over .300, which translates to base runners and eventually runs.

Coach Savage undoubtedly aids in the development of these young hitters, and it is likely the Bruins' opponents will have to score plenty of runs to beat this team.

4. Stealthy Pitching

Dan Klein, a redshirt sophomore from Los Alamitos, CA currently leads the team in ERA. Kleain is 6-0 with a 1.93 ERA, and is the workhorse of the pitching staff. He has already appeared in 36 games, pitched 46.2 innings, and allowed just 37 hits while only surrendering nine walks.

Klein, Claypool and Rasmussen are holding opponents near a .200 batting average and anchor a very strong pitching staff. It appears the Bruins are strong on both sides of the ball, and the holes in their game are minimal and manageable.

3. Game Smarts and Base-Running Awareness

In addition to his leadership, Niko Gallego has provided his speed all season. He is 26-for-27 in stolen base attempts, and the Bruins are 97-for-128 in stolen base attempts, a 76 percent success rate.

UCLA will not be easy to pick off the base paths in this tournament, so teams will have to rely on solid pitching and defense in order to defeat the powder blue and gold.

The Bruins aren't accustomed to giving their opponents gifts in the form of base-running mistakes, an asset that makes this team very dangerous and unpredictable when given a chance.

2. Stingy Fielding

The team's superb fielding core is led by sophomore catcher Steve Rodriguez. It is extremely difficult to break the .996 fielding percentage mark Rodriguez has set in 2010.

Perhaps the most underrated position in baseball, the catcher must be a magician with the glove. A single can quickly turn in to a double with a passed ball, and that extra run here and there from wild pitches and passed balls can make the difference in close games and clutch situations.

The Bruins' .970 fielding percentage is a full three-hundreds higher than their opponents. It doesn't sound like much, but that is a major advantage for a team over the course of a long season. Expect UCLA to continue their high level of fielding this weekend.

1. The power of the Cinderella Story

For decades, analysts have used statistics, trends, and history to predict champions of today. However, it appears as though fate has a sense of humor when it comes to sports.

Experts can count out the impossible, because that term doesn't exist in sports. The Bruins have only reached the College World Series two times prior to 2010. They are a combined 0-4 and most likely won't be included in serious championship talks.

The lack of publicity in comparison to the other teams in the tournament makes the Bruins a classic Cinderella candidate.

Look out for the UCLA Bruins in the 2010 College World Series. They just might make some noise and make the tournament one for the ages.