Congratulations to the UCLA Bruins. They became the 2013 NCAA Men’s College Baseball Champions. The Bruins did so in dominating fashion and won their first ever championship in baseball. (Bold Prediction Correct!)

The Bruins were under the radar a bit for much of the season and at the beginning of the tournament. They were a number one seed in the Regional round and went 3-0 to advance. In the Super Regionals they beat a good Cal State Fullerton team 2-0. Then in Omaha, went an impressive 5-0 to capture the crown. They picked a pretty good time to get hot and go 10-0 over the last couple of weeks. In Omaha, they defeated the #1 and #4 ranked teams in the nation in North Carolina and LSU respectively then beat Mississippi State twice. The eye popping stat, in those five games, they allowed a total of four runs. Allowing four runs in 45 innings is an attention grabber at any level.

The title was the 109^th overall title for the university and the first on the diamond.

Aside from College World Series action, for baseball fans who like long games that extend into the early hours of the morning, this season as been a good year thus far. The season has not even reached the All Star break yet, but lately fans have been getting much, much more then they are bargaining for.

So far in 2013, 10.6 percent of MLB games have gone into extra innings. Currently, that is the highest rate of extra inning games since 1965 when 11.0 percent of games went past nine innings.

It is not just at the Major League level either as the NCAA tournament saw its fare share of free baseball as well. The most recent marathon was a game between Rice and North Carolina State. With many rain delays mixed in, the outcome was decided in the 17^th inning with NC State winning 5-4 and advancing to the College World Series.

At the pro level, 17 innings was nothing as the Mets and Marlins played a whopping 20 inning affair. The Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners played 13 scoreless innings before both teams’ tallied 5 runs in the 14^th and the Sox finally winning in 16.

Additionally, there have been eight games of 15 or more innings. Only one season in the past six have had more such games for the entire season and that was in 2012. At the current pace, that number would reach 17 games of 15 plus innings. That number has not been reached since 1976 when there were 19 marathons of that length.

As the calendar is about to change, schools are officially out and summer is in full effect. It is a great time of year to catch a ball game, and likely a ball game that will last hours on end.

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (February 15, 2013) – Today, Cardinals Care, the charitable foundation of the St.  Louis Cardinals, announced the start of a ten-day online auction of commemorative “Musial 6” jerseys worn and autographed by St. Louis Blues hockey players.

The auction, which begins today at noon and continues through Monday, February 25 at 3 p.m., features five one-of-a-kind jerseys worn when the St. Louis Blues honored Stan “The Man” Musial before the January 27 game at Scottrade Center. Musial’s grandson dropped the ceremonial first puck, and all Blues players wore jerseys with “Musial” and “No. 6” during pregame warmups.

The Cardinals’ auction includes the autographed jerseys belonging to Blues players David Perron, Brian Elliott, Kris Russell, Ian Cole and Jamie Langenbrunner. Proceeds from the jersey auction will benefit Cardinals Care in their mission to help kids throughout the Cardinals’ community. Those wishing to bid on the rare jerseys can do so by visiting the Cardinals’ website at cardinals.com/musialauction.

“We are extremely grateful to the St. Louis Blues,” said Michael Hall, Vice President of Cardinals Care and Community Relations. “The Blues supported the Cardinals family during our time of need and are making it possible for Cardinals Care to help kids in our community, a cause close to the heart of Stan Musial.”

Cardinals Care was established to give fans a way of teaming up with Cardinals players and the Cardinals organization to help children in our community – both on and off the baseball field. Since it was established 16 years ago, Cardinals Care has invested nearly $18 million in helping children, including providing nearly $11 million in grants to over 800 non-profit youth organizations, and building 19 youth ball fields in neighborhoods in both Missouri and Illinois. For nearly a decade, Cardinals Care has run the innovative Redbird Rookies program, a free baseball league for kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity to play. In addition to providing all the uniforms, gloves, bats, balls and other equipment needed for each team, Redbird Rookies also provides extensive off-field support in the areas of health, education, mentoring and the cultural arts for each of the nearly 4,500 kids who participate in the program each year.

ST. LOUIS – October 3, 2012 - The St. Louis Cardinals are encouraging local businesses, schools and other organizations to help kids in our community while supporting the team’s quest for a 12^th World Championship (#12in12) by participating in Cardinals RED for Kids (#RED4kids).

RED stands for Rally Everyone Day.  Piloted during the 2011 postseason, Cardinals RED for Kids is the team’s version of an office “dress down” day in which participating organizations make a donation to Cardinals Care in exchange for the opportunity to sport their Cardinals clothes at work or school. Since last year, Cardinals Care has raised nearly $15,000 through RED for Kids.

“This is a great way to show your support for the team and help kids in our community,” said Michael Hall, Vice President of Community Relations and Executive Director of Cardinals Care. “We hope to rally everyone to support the Cardinals as we look for our 12^th World Championship in 2012.”

To participate, fans should go to cardinals.com/red to register their organization.  While the Cardinals would like businesses to help raise money while showing their team spirit, schools are not required to make a donation to get involved.  Participating schools, businesses and organizations are also encouraged to submit photos via the team’s website and social media showing their Rally Everyone Day (#RED4kids) spirit.

Cardinals Care is celebrating 15 years of “Caring for Kids” both on and off the baseball field. Cardinals Care has invested nearly $18 million in helping children, including providing nearly $11 million in grants to over 800 non-profit youth organizations, and building 19 youth ball fields in disadvantaged neighborhoods in Missouri and Illinois.  For nearly a decade, Cardinals Care has run the innovative Redbird Rookies program, a free baseball league for kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity to play. In addition to providing all the uniforms, gloves, bats, balls and other equipment needed for each team, Redbird Rookies also provides extensive off-field support in the areas of health, education, mentoring and the cultural arts for each of the nearly 4,500 kids who participate in the program each year. For more information about Cardinals Care, or to sign up for Cardinals RED for Kids, visitcardinals.com/red.