Sports

O'Connor is hoping to do home folks proud as his Virginia team faces Vanderbilt in CWS finals

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Virginia coach Brian O'Connor speaks to reporters at a news conference, Sunday, June 22, 2014, in Omaha, Neb. The NCAA baseball College World Series finals between Virginia and Vanderbilt begin on Monday. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (The Associated Press)

Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin speaks at a news conference, Sunday, June 22, 2014, in Omaha, Neb. The NCAA baseball College World Series finals between Virginia and Vanderbilt begin on Monday. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (The Associated Press)

Virginia coach Brian O'Connor is the hometown favorite when his Cavaliers meet Vanderbilt in the College World Series finals starting Monday night.

O'Connor was born in Omaha, grew up in neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa, and pitched in the CWS in 1991 for Omaha's Creighton University.

O'Connor said he would prefer to downplay his background, but knows that is unlikely. He said he wants to keep the focus on the players and their experience.

Virginia (52-14) and Vanderbilt (49-20) both are in the finals for the first time. The Cavaliers went 3-0 in bracket play. The Commodores went 3-1 in their bracket. They've never played each other in baseball.