The Cinderella Story of The College World Series

OMAHA, June 15, 2025 — In a storybook journey straight out of northern Kentucky, Murray State University a school of just under 10,000 students with an 800-seat stadium, has captured America’s hearts by clinching its first-ever berth in the College World Series.

With odds of +5000, the Racers were every definition of a long shot—yet they roared through the NCAA tournament, toppling No. 15 Ole Miss, No. 18 Georgia Tech, and staging a pivotal 5–4 upset over Duke in the Durham Super Regionals.

That Super Regional victory came down to drama, clutch hitting and late-inning ice-cold relief from Graham Kelham, who delivered 2.2 shutout innings despite a late-game scramble.

Nestled in Murray, Ky., the Coach Dan Skirka–led Racers are a fusion of grit and unity. Coach Skirka, known for even mowing the field himself at Johnny Reagan Field, which he later debunked as false, but does teach a class there called Coaching Baseball II (there is no Coaching Baseball I), assembled a roster of 37 players via the transfer portal from 15 different states.

That depth became their signature asset, as Skirka emphasized: “Momentum, people, relationships”—and those bonds propelled them through the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, regionals, and beyond.

Third baseman Carson Garner noted, “There’s not a bad apple in this bunch,” underscoring the team’s chemistry. Center fielder Jonathan Hogart recounted his own journey a comeback from injury and uncertainty, crediting Skirka’s timing in the transfer portal with reviving his career.

Outfielder Dan Tauken captured the team’s excitement: after a humble bus schedule with no cup holders, the Racers flew via private jet to Omaha. Finally, they felt “like people are acknowledging the work we’ve been putting in”.

The stage grew massive when Murray State paraded into the 24,000-seat Charles Schwab Field—their first time in a venue so grand, Skirka’s 9-year-old son even marveled, “This is pretty cool, Dad”.

But the narrative turned on Saturday when No. 15 UCLA’s power prevailed in a tight 6–4 affair, halting the Cinderella run, for now.

Still, the Racers leave Omaha glowing brighter than most stories this tournament. As CBS Sports put it, they’re “a legitimate Cinderella story… threatening to derail the SEC’s reign”.

Murray State’s rise is emblematic of college baseball’s evolving landscape, where talent from the portal, smaller conferences and mid-major programs is no longer overlooked. They are the fourth 4-seed (regional) to reach Omaha since the field expanded in 1999, a club that also includes Fresno State (2008), Stony Brook (2012), and Oral Roberts (2023).

Coach Skirka, recently crowned Missouri Valley Coach of the Year, reflected: “I wanted to earn it,” a testament to the belief and work ethic that propelled the Racers. After playing a game in Omaha and falling to UCLA in a 6-4 score, the Racers will take on Arkansas on Monday afternoon.