At least one College World Series game will feature a significant Ohio presence.

Indiana, the first Big Ten team to qualify for the event since 1984, and Louisville play in an opening round game at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Indiana's roster includes five Ohio players: shortstop Michael Basil (Cincinnati, St. Xavier), pitcher Scott Effross (Twinsburg, Twinsburg), outfielder Tim O'Conner (Cincinnati, Elder), catcher Kyle Schwarber (Middletown, Middletown) and Brian Korte (North Bend, Elder). Schwarber and Basil are starters and they are hitting .376 and .315, respectively. Effross and Korte are key relievers and O'Conner is a late-inning defensive replacement.

Louisville's roster includes three Ohio players: outfielder Anthony Kidston (Defiance, Defiance), outfielder Adam Engel (Cincinnati, Loveland) and pitcher Dace Kime (Defiance, Defiance). Engel is the Cardinals' starting center fielder. Kime, the Indians' third-round draft pick, is 6-1 with a 3.07 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 67 1/3 innings.

If Louisville reaches the 2015 CWS, the Cardinals might have a Northeast Ohio presence. Mentor junior right-hander Kade McClure has committed to Louisville. McClure is one of Ohio's top high school pitchers.

North Carolina freshman Taylore Cherry (Dayton, Bulter) is the only other Ohio player in this year's CWS. It's unlikely Cherry will pitch for the Tar Heels in Omaha.

North Carolina State, UCLA, LSU, Mississippi State and Oregon State are also participating in the CWS which begins Saturday.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy