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19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
40 Best LGBTQ+ Movies To Watch
I'm tired of seeing the same 10 films on every website's LGBTQ+ movie roundup (hey, I still love Call Me By Your Name and Moonlight just as much as the next person, so don't come for me!), so, as a queer person myself, I wanted to shine a light on some underrated movies that simply don't get the attention or credit they deserve. Below are 40 that I genuinely think you'll love, and if you want even more suggestions you can check out my running list on Letterboxd with nearly 250 films. Enjoy! Young Hearts (2024) is a modern coming-of-age story about two 14-year-old boys who fall in love for the first time. This Belgian movie is awkward and sweet and painfully real. I can't rave enough about it, and the only downside is that it wasn't released 20 years ago when I was their age and needed it most. Who's in it: Marius De Saeger, Lou Goossens, and Geert Van Rampelberg Here's the trailer: National Anthem (2024) is one of my favorite movies from the last few years, so I'm sort of hoping (well, demanding) that you watch it. It's a tender, refreshing look at queerness and chosen family and what it means to actually belong. Too many people are sleeping on Charlie Plummer, but I need the world to know that he is, was, and always will be a star. Who's in it: Charlie Plummer, Eve Lindley, Robyn Lively, and Mason Alexander Park Here's the trailer: Other People (2016) is centered around a gay comedy writer (Jesse Plemons) who moves home to take care of his dying mother (Molly Shannon). It was written and directed by Chris Kelly, who co-created The Other Two and was an SNL head writer, and it's equal parts funny, sad, and heartfelt. Who's in it: Molly Shannon, Jesse Plemons, Bradley Whitford, John Early, Maude Apatow, June Squibb, and Zach Woods Here's the trailer: The Wedding Banquet (2025) is a remake of the iconic 1993 film. This one stars all your favorite people (Bowen Yang! Lily Gladstone! Kelly Marie Tran!), and they're all queer but have to fake a straight wedding to appease their traditional family. It's modern and fun and funny and a breath of fresh air. Who's in it: Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-chan, Joan Chen, and Youn Yuh-jung Here's the trailer: A Secret Love (2020) is a documentary about two women who fell in love but kept their lesbian relationship a secret for nearly 70 years. Their names are Pat and Terry, and Terry used to be a pro baseball player in the 1940s, a la A League of Their Own. At one point I was audibly sobbing so hard that I literally had to pause the movie to collect myself, so good luck. Who's in it: Terry Donahue, Pat Henschel, and Diana Bolan Here's the trailer: Deathtrap (1982) is a campy murder mystery about a washed-up playwright (Michael Caine) and his hot, young student (Christopher Reeve). It's twisty and full of surprises and will have you laughing out loud. Ugh, I just love this black comedy so much. Who's in it: Christopher Reeve, Michael Caine, and Dyan Cannon Here's the trailer: Stranger by the Lake (2013) is an erotic French thriller that you should NOT watch with your parents. It's set at a nude beach where men like to cruise, but things get especially intense after a murder occurs. Y'all want to see some penises? Well, this movie is for you! Who's in it: Pierre Deladonchamps, Christophe Paou, and Patrick d'Assumçao Here's the trailer: I Saw the TV Glow (2024) is a surreal movie about queer identity that may leave you with more questions than answers. This one is the ultimate fever dream, and it's probably best if you go into it blindly, so have fun. Who's in it: Justice Smith, Jack Haven, Danielle Deadwyler, and Fred Durst Here's the trailer: All of Us Strangers (2023) is a realllllly tender, emotional story about love, loss, and the ghosts that linger in our lives. Andrew Scott somehow didn't get an Oscar nod for his performance (but he should have won the entire thing!), and I'll never forgive the Academy for not giving Jamie Bell a nomination either. Who's in it: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, and Claire Foy Here's the trailer: Mysterious Skin (2004) stars a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a devastating, raw, and powerful look at how trauma can impact you and your life forever. This one is DARK yet stunning, and it will absolutely wreck you. Who's in it: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brady Corbet, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jeffrey Licon, and Elisabeth Shue Here's the trailer: Passing (2021) is an adaptation of the Nella Larsen novel. It follows two Black women (one who's passing as white) who reunite in 1920s New York. It's tense and haunting but also so gorgeous that you can't help but look away. Who's in it: Ruth Negga, Tessa Thompson, Alexander Skarsgård, and André Holland Here's the trailer: Parting Glances (1986) is a groundbreaking movie because it was one of the first to address AIDS in a realistic way. It features Steve Buscemi in one of his first acting roles ever, and the best part is that this movie treats its gay characters like ~real~ people. This is a tiny film that the general population doesn't even know exists, but, wow, it sure does pack a punch. Who's in it: Steve buscemi, Kathy Kinney, Richar Ganoung, and Adam Nathan Here's the trailer: Tragedy Girls (2017) is a campy slasher film about two death-obsessed teenagers who become serial killers in an effort to boost their social media following. It's super fun and funny, and I'm mad that more people haven't heard of it. Who's in it: Alexandra Shipp, Brianna Hildebrand, Josh Hutcherson, Jack Quaid, Austin Abrams, and Craig Robinson Here's the trailer: Tea and Sympathy (1956) follows a "sensitive" prep school teen who's bullied by the other students and teachers for being different. He finds solace in an older woman, played by Deborah Kerr, and the whole thing is just sooooo pretty to look at. Who's in it: Deborah Kerr, Leif Erickson, John Kerr, and Edward Andrews Here's the trailer: Beach Rats (2017) stars my king, Harris Dickinson, in an intimate, messy look at what it's like to grow up and struggle to find your place in the world. He plays a closeted teen in Brooklyn who hangs out with his friends during the day but cruises older men online at night. If you want something quiet yet hypnotic then this is for you. Who's in it: Harris Dickinson, Madeline Weinstein, and Kate Hodge Here's the trailer: The Gospel According to André (2017) is a documentary about André Leon Talley, the larger-than-life Vogue editor who helped shape (and redefine) the fashion industry. The whole thing is a celebration of excellence and style and being unapologetically yourself. Who's in it: André Leon Talley, Anna Wintour, Whopi Goldberg, Fran Lebowitz, and Tom Ford Here's the trailer: Passages (2023) is easily one of the spiciest movies from the last few years. It's about toxic love (one of the men in a gay relationship has an affair with a woman!), and things get wilddddddddd. You will see every single inch of Ben Whishaw in this film, and, wow, I'm still so mad that he didn't get an Oscar nomination for his performance. Who's in it: Ben Whishaw, Franz Rogowski, and Adèle Exarchopoulos Here's the trailer: Flee (2021) is a breathtaking animated documentary about a gay Afghan refugee who's telling his story for the first time. This movie has so much emotional depth, and it was actually nominated for three Oscars (Best Animated Feature, Best Documentary, and Best International Film). It's a must-watch. Who's in it: Amin Nawabi and Jonas Poher Rasmussen Here's the trailer: Torch Song Trilogy (1988) is an unapologetically queer story about a gay drag performer in New York City. This one will make you want to beg Harvey Fierstein to write more movies. It also stars Anne Bancroft and a young Matthew Broderick, so I guess dreams really do come true. Who's in it: Harvey Fierstein, Anne Bancroft, and Matthew Broderick Here's the trailer: Of an Age (2022) is a romantic drama that's centered around a young guy who has an unexpected hookup with his best friend's older brother. There are a bunch of cool twists that occur, and I promise they'll make you feel every emotion possible. Who's in it: Elias Anton, Thom Green, and Hattie Hook Here's the trailer: Love Lies Bleeding (2024) is a super intense rom-thriller (I'm coining that term) starring Kristen Stewart as a gym manager, and her character gets involved with a female bodybuilder who's trying to go pro. There's murder and sex and drugs, and the movie was made by A24, so that should be convincing enough for you. Who's in it: Kristen Stewart, Katy M. O'Brian, Ed Harris, Dave Franco, and Jena Malone Here's the trailer: Femme (2023) is centered around a drag performer who tries to get revenge on the closeted man who attacks them. The acting in it is fantastic, though the subject matter is pretty heavy, so consider this your warning because the film deals with some pretty traumatic subject matters. Who's in it: Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, George MacKay, and John McCrea Here's the trailer: Compulsion (1959) follows two hot, wealthy, and secretly queer college boys who commit a murder and think they're too smart to get away with it. It's loosely based on a real-life murder trial, and it's a lot of fun, so just trust me on this one. Who's in it: Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, Diane Varsi, and Richard Anderson Here's the trailer: Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (2017) is a scandalous documentary that follows Scotty Bowers, the real-life man who basically served as a pimp for every secretly gay celeb from the '40–'80s. The stories in it are so freaking wild, and if you love Old Hollywood or celebrity gossip then you need to watch this. Who's in it: Scotty Bowers and Stephen Fry Here's the trailer: The Dreamers (2003) is about an American in 1960s Paris who becomes extremely close with a brother-sister duo. It's rated NC-17 for a reason, and you'll see why. Again, don't watch this one with your parents. Who's in it: Michael Pitt, Louis Garrel, and Eva Green Here's the trailer: The Pass (2016) stars Russell Tovey as a closeted pro soccer player who hooks up with his teammate, and we see how their relationship changes over the years. They're basically shirtless for most of the movie, so you're welcome. Who's in it: Russell Tovey, Arinze Kene, and Lisa McGrillis Here's the trailer: The Way He Looks (2014) is a Brazilian coming-of-age movie that follows a blind teenager and a school's new student as they try to navigate life, love, and independence. It'll genuinely have you smiling sooooo much. Who's in it: Fábio Audi, Ghilherme Lobo, and Tess Amorim Here's the trailer: Handsome Devil (2016) is a coming-of-age film that stars Nicholas Galitzine as a school's secretly gay rugby star. It's just super heartfelt, and Andrew Scott is also in it, so I promise you'll like it. Who's in it: Nicholas Galitzine, Fionn O'Shea, and Andrew Scott Here's the trailer: Another Country (1984) is a drama where Rupert Everett and Colin Firth play outsiders at a boarding school in 1930s England. It's beautiful, smart, and an instant classic. If you like Maurice or Call Me by Your Name then you'll love this one. Who's in it: Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, and Cary Elwes Here's the trailer: Crush (2022) is a really cute teen rom-com about a high-schooler who joins the track team to get closer to her crush. The best part is that all of the characters are already out and proud, and there's no trauma or anything involved, which is so rare in YA queer movies. Who's in it: Rowan Blanchard, Auli'i Cravalho, Tyler Alvarez, Isabella Ferreira, and Megan Mullally Here's the trailer: Tangerine (2015) is so chaotic in the best way possible. It follows two trans sex workers on Christmas Eve in Hollywood, and things get so overwhelming and hectic. The movie was actually shot entirely on an iPhone by Sean Baker, the four-time Oscar winner who made Anora and The Florida Project, in case you needed yet another reason to watch. Who's in it: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, James Ransone, and Karren Karagulian Here's the trailer: Edge of the City (1957) is a gritty drama about the friendship between Sidney Poitier and John Cassavetes' characters. It's rough and tough and has a lotttt of queer subtext. Ruby Dee is also in this movie, and she's especially fantastic. Who's in it: Sidney Poitier, John Cassavetes, Ruby Dee, and Jack Warden Here's the trailer: Closet Monster (2015) is centered around a graduating senior who desperately wants to escape his small town and his family's complicated dynamics. It stars Connor Jessup, who I have SUCH a crush on, so back off!!! Also, Isabella Rossellini voices his hamster's imaginary thoughts, so, like, what the heck are you waiting for? Who's in it: Connor Jessup, Isabella Rossellini, Aliocha Schneider, and Aaron Abrams Here's the trailer: Taekwondo (2016) is a sleeper hit, and by that I mean not much actually happens in the movie (but the payoff is incredible!). Go into it blindly, and just know that all of Marco Berger's films are queer and spicy. Who's in it: Lucas Papa, Gabriel Epstein, Gaston Re, and Francisco Bertín Here's the trailer: Sauvage (2018) is a super raw movie that follows a twentysomething sex worker on the streets of Paris who really just wants to find love. Some scenes are especially intense and NSFW, so you've been warned. Who's in it: Félix Maritaud, Éric Bernard, Philippe Ohrel, and Nicolas Dibla Here's the trailer: Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) is a French period drama about forbidden love, and it's so hot that it'll melt your face off. I randomly think about the ending at least once a month. Like, please just watch it. Who's in it: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, and Luàna Bajrami Here's the trailer: Disclosure (2020) is a fascinating documentary that examines how Hollywood has depicted trans people in TV and movies throughout the years. Via interviews with experts and celebrities, it uncovers what sort of impact that portrayal has had on society and American culture. This one should be required viewing for everyone. Who's in it: Laverne Cox, Brian Michael Smith, Jen Richards, and Alexandra Billings Here's the trailer: I Am Jonas (2018) is a French drama that's centered around a queer man at two key points in his life: first as a teen and then in his 30s. There are some wild plot twists that might emotionally wreck you, so just get ready. Who's in it: Félix Maritaud, Nicolas Bauwens, Tommy-Lee Baïk, and Aure Atika Here's the trailer: The Haunting (1963) is a revolutionary horror movie that features one of the only lesbian characters of its time to be feminine and not predatory. The film is based on the book The Haunting of Hill House, which was ultimately turned into a hugely popular Netflix series, so if you like either of them then you should watch this too. Who's in it: Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, and Russ Tamblyn Here's the trailer: And finally, Fire Island (2022) is basically a gay, modern remake of Pride and Prejudice, and it'll star all your new favorite people. We all need more fun movies in our lives, so what more could you want? Who's in it: Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers, Margaret Cho, Conrad Ricamora, Zane Phillips, and James Scully Here's the trailer: Do you have any favorite LGBTQ+ movies that didn't make the list? Feel free to share them in the comments below! Looking for more LGBTQ+ content? Check out all of BuzzFeed's posts celebrating Pride 2025!
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I just rediscovered this powerful film with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams — stream it before it leaves Netflix
Some movies leave a lasting impression on you thanks to one memorable scene. In 'Awakenings,' the 1990 Robin Williams-Robert De Niro acting tour de force, that scene is when Williams, playing the Bronx neurologist Dr. Malcolm Sayer, throws tennis balls to wheelchair-bound patients of a hospital housing victims of the encephalitis epidemic. Mute and barely able to move, these patients instinctively react to catch the balls, inspiring Dr. Sayer to believe these patients had sparks of life inside their incapacitated bodies. Now that I've seen 'Awakenings' for the third time, it's the kind of film that stays with you beyond just a critical scene I remembered from my first viewing. It's a poignant, powerful and endearing film you can't help but adore. But you have to act fast to catch it before it leaves Netflix's streaming library on July 1. Directed by Penny Marshal (best known for 'Big' and 'A League of Their Own'), the film riffs off the real-life work of Dr. Oliver Sacks, a trailblazing doctor who wrote the book 'Awakenings' about his clinical research into helping encephalitis sufferers who were frozen in various stances, their nurses seeing them more as plants to water and feed than humans, as one stand-out quote tells us. Dr. Sayer seeks to crack the block of ice caging these patients, and later discovers the drug L-DOPA to administer to these patients and help them find their true self, as if they were waking up from a decades-long dream. The patients' story is focused on Leonard (De Niro), and his frozen position gradually eases into an active and charming man who recognizes the beauty of living life, even flirting with a female staffer for the first time. It's hard to forget the heart-breaking scene where he is so desperate to go for a walk on his own, he tries to leave the hospital and is restrained by security guards, his tears coursing down onto the floor. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. De Niro's acting is entrancing to watch, such as how his eyes 'speak' to Sayer during his mute state, and the passion brimming in him once the new drug gives him a voice to express his deep frustration with not being allowed to roam free on his own. I will unequivocally state that De Niro got robbed of an Academy Award in 1992 after Jeremy Irons won for "Reversal of Fortune." Williams sheds his manic vaudevillian personality for a toned-down performance unlike anything he had taken on then. Fresh off his charged role in 'Dead Poets Society,' Williams invokes a curious intelligence that he must've seen in Dr. Sacks when he shadowed him prior to playing a version of him for 'Awakenings.' He wants to do good so badly, he's open to trying anything, even opting for an experimental drug known to elevate the mind and body movement of Parkinson's sufferers. As much as his patients 'wake up' thanks to the drugs, so too does Dr. Sayer when he shifts his research focus from insects to people after he takes on the job at the hospital, and Williams doesn't overplay his hand here. He lets the character gradually see the humanity in patients who have been left to wither and die. A single guy who prefers playing piano solo to getting a coffee with colleagues, Sayer also reflects on what he finds personally fulfilling beyond the satisfaction of drug experiments gone right. In 'Awakenings,' we are treated to a Williams performance that surpasses the 'serious' roles we have seen other comedians take when they're done with slapstick and goofy faces. When we think about Williams and his suicide in 2014, a wave of sadness may wash over us as we wonder what could've been. But we should be overjoyed to still have available to us the work of an actor who gave us so many hilarious and inspiring films, and whose own research into playing Dr. Sayer offers a peek into his unique approach to entertaining us. When he was speaking to people with Tourette's to prep for his role as Sayer, who also worked with patients with various neurological disorders, Williams said in the documentary "Come Inside My Mind": 'Here's a disease that basically makes you do, physically, things you have no control over. Along with it comes this incredible mental exhilaration that you think faster than most people.' Faster than most people could describe the exhilarating stage performances we saw in Williams during his stand-up shows, or in interviews with Letterman or Leno. But when he slows down in a role like Dr. Sayer in 'Awakenings,' we glimpse a side of the legendary actor we don't often see, and we treasure how he was able to give us a nuanced portrayal of a doctor who wanted to turn up the dial on the life still lit within the chests of patients who had been cast away by society.
San Francisco Chronicle
17-06-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
No-hit loss won't erase the lifetime memories made by Murray State during its improbable run
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The stands at Charles Schwab Field were emptying, and Murray State players wanted to savor their program's first College World Series as long as they could. Never mind the Racers had just been no-hit by Arkansas' Gage Wood in a 3-0 loss that will send them home to southwestern Kentucky on Tuesday. Some of the players filled jars with infield dirt, a keepsake from their improbable journey to the city where every college baseball team wants to be in June. Some milled about with family and friends. 'One of my wife's favorite movies is 'A League of Their Own,' and they said there's no crying in baseball,' an emotional coach Dan Skirka said to open his postgame news conference with 9-year-old son Keegan on his knee. 'Well, throw that out the window. There's no way I'm making it through this right here.' The Racers were the first Missouri Valley Conference team to make the CWS since 2003 and only the fourth No. 4 regional seed to get to Omaha since the NCAA Tournament went to its current format in 1999. They swept conference regular-season and tournament championships, beat No. 10 national seed Mississippi of the SEC twice on its home field and Georgia Tech of the ACC once en route to a regional title. Then the Racers went to Duke of the ACC for super regionals and lost the opener before winning two straight to punch their ticket to Omaha. Murray State overcame early jitters in its CWS opener against UCLA, falling behind 6-0, and lost 6-4. As for their game against Arkansas, the Racers just happened to run into a pitcher who threw one of the greatest games in college baseball history — a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts, a record in a nine-inning CWS game and tied for most by a Division I pitcher this season. 'We never lost faith. Haven't all year. We're not about to start now," third baseman Carson Garner said. 'About halfway through the game, I think we realized that, 'Hey, this guy's, he's dealing, he's throwing a perfect game.' ' Murray State finished 44-17 to set a program record for wins, ending the season with only its second shutout loss. 'The wins are phenomenal. We had a lot of them,' said Jonathan Hogart, who led the Racers with 22 homers. 'You just can't match the culture we have here. I'm going to miss Coach, I'm going to miss these two (Garner and Dustin Mercer). I'm going to miss every one of these guys. Strap on the cleats to go to war with these guys was such a blessing this year, and I'll never take it for granted.' Skirka, who finished his seventh season at the Racers' coach, put together a roster made up of eight Division I transfers, 14 from junior colleges and 14 high school recruits. Skirka said no one on his team was making money from endorsements or other name, image and likeness opportunities. 'You say at the end of the year only one team's happy,' Skirka said. 'That ain't the case this year. There's definitely more than one because these guys, the run they went on, you're not going to be able to wipe the smile off their face for a really long time. That's what I told them. They're going to share this for ages and people are going to ask them about it for ages, and that's really the cool thing.'
Hamilton Spectator
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
No-hit loss won't erase the lifetime memories made by Murray State during its improbable run
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The stands at Charles Schwab Field were emptying, and Murray State players wanted to savor their program's first College World Series as long as they could. Never mind the Racers had just been no-hit by Arkansas' Gage Wood in a 3-0 loss that will send them home to southwestern Kentucky on Tuesday. Some of the players filled jars with infield dirt, a keepsake from their improbable journey to the city where every college baseball team wants to be in June. Some milled about with family and friends. 'One of my wife's favorite movies is 'A League of Their Own,' and they said there's no crying in baseball,' an emotional coach Dan Skirka said to open his postgame news conference with 9-year-old son Keegan on his knee. 'Well, throw that out the window. There's no way I'm making it through this right here.' The Racers were the first Missouri Valley Conference team to make the CWS since 2003 and only the fourth No. 4 regional seed to get to Omaha since the NCAA Tournament went to its current format in 1999. They swept conference regular-season and tournament championships, beat No. 10 national seed Mississippi of the SEC twice on its home field and Georgia Tech of the ACC once en route to a regional title. Then the Racers went to Duke of the ACC for super regionals and lost the opener before winning two straight to punch their ticket to Omaha. Murray State overcame early jitters in its CWS opener against UCLA, falling behind 6-0, and lost 6-4. As for their game against Arkansas, the Racers just happened to run into a pitcher who threw one of the greatest games in college baseball history — a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts, a record in a nine-inning CWS game and tied for most by a Division I pitcher this season. 'We never lost faith. Haven't all year. We're not about to start now,' third baseman Carson Garner said. 'About halfway through the game, I think we realized that, 'Hey, this guy's, he's dealing, he's throwing a perfect game.' ' Murray State finished 44-17 to set a program record for wins, ending the season with only its second shutout loss. 'The wins are phenomenal. We had a lot of them,' said Jonathan Hogart, who led the Racers with 22 homers. 'You just can't match the culture we have here. I'm going to miss Coach, I'm going to miss these two (Garner and Dustin Mercer). I'm going to miss every one of these guys. Strap on the cleats to go to war with these guys was such a blessing this year, and I'll never take it for granted.' Skirka, who finished his seventh season at the Racers' coach, put together a roster made up of eight Division I transfers, 14 from junior colleges and 14 high school recruits. Skirka said no one on his team was making money from endorsements or other name, image and likeness opportunities. 'You say at the end of the year only one team's happy,' Skirka said. 'That ain't the case this year. There's definitely more than one because these guys, the run they went on, you're not going to be able to wipe the smile off their face for a really long time. That's what I told them. They're going to share this for ages and people are going to ask them about it for ages, and that's really the cool thing.' ___ AP college sports:
Fox Sports
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
No-hit loss won't erase the lifetime memories made by Murray State during its improbable run
Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The stands at Charles Schwab Field were emptying, and Murray State players wanted to savor their program's first College World Series as long as they could. Never mind the Racers had just been no-hit by Arkansas' Gage Wood in a 3-0 loss that will send them home to southwestern Kentucky on Tuesday. Some of the players filled jars with infield dirt, a keepsake from their improbable journey to the city where every college baseball team wants to be in June. Some milled about with family and friends. 'One of my wife's favorite movies is 'A League of Their Own,' and they said there's no crying in baseball,' an emotional coach Dan Skirka said to open his postgame news conference with 9-year-old son Keegan on his knee. 'Well, throw that out the window. There's no way I'm making it through this right here.' The Racers were the first Missouri Valley Conference team to make the CWS since 2003 and only the fourth No. 4 regional seed to get to Omaha since the NCAA Tournament went to its current format in 1999. They swept conference regular-season and tournament championships, beat No. 10 national seed Mississippi of the SEC twice on its home field and Georgia Tech of the ACC once en route to a regional title. Then the Racers went to Duke of the ACC for super regionals and lost the opener before winning two straight to punch their ticket to Omaha. Murray State overcame early jitters in its CWS opener against UCLA, falling behind 6-0, and lost 6-4. As for their game against Arkansas, the Racers just happened to run into a pitcher who threw one of the greatest games in college baseball history — a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts, a record in a nine-inning CWS game and tied for most by a Division I pitcher this season. 'We never lost faith. Haven't all year. We're not about to start now," third baseman Carson Garner said. 'About halfway through the game, I think we realized that, 'Hey, this guy's, he's dealing, he's throwing a perfect game.' ' Murray State finished 44-17 to set a program record for wins, ending the season with only its second shutout loss. 'The wins are phenomenal. We had a lot of them,' said Jonathan Hogart, who led the Racers with 22 homers. 'You just can't match the culture we have here. I'm going to miss Coach, I'm going to miss these two (Garner and Dustin Mercer). I'm going to miss every one of these guys. Strap on the cleats to go to war with these guys was such a blessing this year, and I'll never take it for granted.' Skirka, who finished his seventh season at the Racers' coach, put together a roster made up of eight Division I transfers, 14 from junior colleges and 14 high school recruits. Skirka said no one on his team was making money from endorsements or other name, image and likeness opportunities. 'You say at the end of the year only one team's happy,' Skirka said. 'That ain't the case this year. There's definitely more than one because these guys, the run they went on, you're not going to be able to wipe the smile off their face for a really long time. That's what I told them. They're going to share this for ages and people are going to ask them about it for ages, and that's really the cool thing.' ___ AP college sports: recommended in this topic
