What's a Gorlok?
Well, the Webster University Gorloks of St. Louis, Mo., and the Wheaton (Mass.) Lyons are scheduled to open up NCAA Division III World Series play at 11 a.m. Friday at Fox Cities Stadium in Grande Chute, Wis.
Later that evening at 8:45 p.m., defending national champion Marietta College will face Whitworth (Wa.) University.
And, yes, it's possible the Pioneers could hook with the Gorloks at some point and time during the tournament.
Can you imagine the sports headlines the next day, "Gorlok out of luck," or "Gorlok over there."
Briefly, according to the Internet, the Gorlok, a mythical creature with the paws of a cheetah, the horns of a Buffalo and the face of a St. Bernard, is Webster's school mascot.
The school's colors are navy and gold.
I kind of like that a canine is in the mix. My neighbor had a St. Bernard named Cleo, who had pups not too long ago, and she was a big, friendly, beautiful dog.
Anyways, I guess Gorlok really comes from the combining of two streets in Webster, Gore and Lockwood Avenues.
Makes sense, now, doesn't it?
Webster apparently has been nicknamed that ever since a contest in the 1980s.
Nickname aside, Bill Kurich-coached Webster has a pretty good baseball program as it is a three-peat winner of the SLIAC.
The Gorloks will be making their first appearance in the World Series.
Wouldn't it be cool if the Pioneers and the Gorloks met in the championship round?
I can see it now, "Pios vs. Gorloks in a War of the World (series)." Sounds more like a Hollywood horror movie, doesn't it?
Now, what's a Lyon?
On the subject of school nicknames in the World Series, Wheaton's is Lyons, and its mascot is a lion.
So is Lyons misspelled?
Sorry, but no, it's not, and I'm not lying, either. (Get it?)
Briefly, according to the school's website, the moniker "honors Mary Lyons, a pioneer in American education."
Incidentally, Marietta and Wheaton are no strangers to each other on the World Series diamond. In 2006, the Pioneers beat the Lyons to claim the national title.
As for other 2012 World Series nicknames, there's the St. Thomas Tommies, Kean Cougars, Cortland State Red Dragons, Christopher Newport Captains, and the Whitworth University Pirates.
Gorloks, though, has to be the most original.
Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor and can be reached at 376-5441 or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com.
