A lot of schools are cutting sports because of a lack of support- whether its financial or a lack of butts in seats...
The HQ has covered the recent moves at Cal-Berkeley, New Orleans, Cal-Davis, and a bunch of others... Long Beach State and Cal State-Fullerton are two examples of schools that blew up Division 1 football programs in favor of consolidating and trying to be successful in other things- like baseball...
Fullerton had football from 1970 to 1992. There has always been a move to try and restore the program, but they've never been able to pull it off. The team wasn't all that successful, but you can still see the football-now soccer stadium behind the left-field foul line at Goodwin Field ((pictured, thanks Bigger-than-me cousin Erik)). The team, in existence since 1975, has never had a losing season, 16 College World Series appearances, and 4 national titles.
Augie Garrido has been there twice as head coach, and he's responsible for three of the four- George Horton got the fourth one. Dave Serrano is there now and is in his third year of not losing...
43 major leaguers have gone from Goodwin to the bigs like Phil Nevin, Tim Wallach, and Mark Kotsay. Tim's kid now plays third base and the bats that DeMarini makes for the program can now be bought by us commoners...
It's another year in the top ten- currently sixth in the national polls. And you wonder sometimes, much like big boy baseball, how you get through the season without losing your mind or keeping your interest.
Kinda like when you play UC-Santa Barbara...
They're hovering around .500 in Big West play, and it kinda personifies their life in college baseball. Close enough to keep your interest and close enough to make you pay attention, but something always eventually goes wrong at the worst time and they lose games against ranked teams.
They jumped out to a shocking 4-1 lead off starter Jake Floethe- who only lasted an inning and two-thirds. The Titans had their chances early, considering Gauchos starter Greg Davis threw 90 pitches in five innings, but seemed to wriggle off the hook when necessary. He was up 4-3 after three...
Colin O'Connell gets yeoman's duty for going 5-plus in long relief- striking out nine along the way as he faced only 20 batters. Fullerton got two in the bottom of the fifth- chasing Davis ((pictured again, thanks Bigger-than-me cousin Erik)), but they had to hold on at the end...
And it took a hell of a throw in the top of the ninth to keep the lead...
Nick Ramirez, who had DH'ed most of the game, was called on to get a two-out save. He gave up a single to right to the first batter he faced, Brandon Trinkwon, but on the hit, Derek Eligio, who doubled off Dylan Floro to start the inning, was waved to the plate.
One of the nastiest 275-foot ropes from Michael Lorenzen cut down the run at the plate to preserve the one-run lead. Sean Williams popped out to third for the final out of the game.
And that was the easy part...
The Gauchos were pulling out all the stops to keep this game from getting away from them- sending eight guys down to the bullpen at one point for relief and security duty.
But it was good to get out... it was a chance for the resident picture-taker to see what college baseball is all about since they really don't have it in his native Norway. And my other brother just got the chance to get out for some peace and quiet for a change...
It was good to see a little strategy since the bats aren't what they used to be...
Thank ((insert divine being here)) for the lack of a ping...
Carry on...
