St. John’s is confident that it’s not over yet with a chance for a College World Series spot.

Excitement and Determination for St. John’s

They’re feeling thrilled but not fully satisfied yet.

“I’m excited to still be here, but I can’t say I’m satisfied,” one player expressed.

Cinderella St. John’s, one of the two fourth-seeded teams to advance past the initial weekend of the NCAA Tournament, is aiming for another surprise this weekend. They’ll face No. 7 seed Alabama in the Super Regional, with hopes of reaching the College World Series for the first time since 1980.

“It all happened so fast. I told them afterward, ‘Have fun, we’re still in it, but we’re not done yet,’” Coach Mike Hampton commented in a phone interview leading up to the Super Regional semifinal. “This is just where we wanted to be. We always emphasize staying calm and focused on our goal—making it to the World Series.”

St. John’s (36-24) has crafted a compelling story, rising from a tough start of 1-10 to being among the final 16 teams.

They’ve surged with eight straight wins since March 6 and are 35-14 overall, standing out as one of the only three teams in the country left undefeated in the postseason, alongside SEC champion Georgia and Big 12 champion Kansas State.

The Red Storm faced challenges in all three games at the Tallahassee Regional but showed resilience, defeating No. 10 Florida State twice.

This weekend will be another tough challenge.

Alabama (40-19) is a formidable opponent, boasting top MLB prospects like shortstop Justin LeBron and ace Tyler Fey, both predicted to be drafted in the first five rounds.

“My message is simple: the pressure isn’t on us; it’s on them to win,” Hampton remarked, mentioning the support he has received from alumni like John Franco and Rich Aurilia since St. John’s advancement. “Many people expect Alabama to win. We just need to play our game and embrace the excitement. Instead of feeling pressure, enjoy the journey.”

Clearly, St. John’s is the underdog, just as they were last weekend.

“We believe we can compete with anyone,” said Evan Chaffee, the No. 2 starter and a transfer from the University of Alabama, who is set to pitch in Sunday’s Game 2.