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Two years ago, Shocker Nation was abuzz with the Men's Basketball team making it to the Sweet Sixteen and the whole city was energized with Shocker Mania.
Now, the Baseball program has done it for the second consecutive season, and folks, there aren't all tham many programs out there that can say that. There were doubts, with the departure of Travis Banwart, a host of top-notch relievers, and a few key starters, that this team could repeat the feat. As the season ebbed and flowed, many doubted that this team could put together enough wins to extend its season.
Well, the winning streak has reached 9 games and the bandwagon will start to bulge once again. Why has this team, which just a couple weeks ago had embarrassing losses to Evansville, ORU, Arizone State, and Central Arkansas been able to suddenly pull itself together and advance?
Well folks, it's called Grit and Determination.
Guys like Andy Dirks, Conor Gillaspie, Rob Musgrave, and Aaron Shafer have hoisted this team on their backs and taken a never say die attitude into the post season. Guys like Tyler Hill, Kevin Hall, Logan Hoch, Clint McKeever, Dusty Coleman, Kenny Williams, and Tyler Weber pick their spots for key contributions to pull games out of the fire.
Can you win with just 2 ace starters and a marginal (at best) bull pen. We all know the answer is a resounding "yes", and the scenarios from here on out make that even more possible.
This team believes in itself and each other and has a very real chance to advance to Omaha. In my eyes, they look a whole lot like the UC-Irvine team of '07. Two guys who take the bump and win games, some pesky hitters who don't launch home runs all over the place, just when they need them and can score enough runs to win games.
Enjoy the ride, Shocker Fans. This is a good team, and a fun team to watch. They will get your blood pumping and they're, at times, hard on your heart. But, winning at this level is never easy.
Sweet Sixteen - Again. Hell ya!
--'85.
Now, the Baseball program has done it for the second consecutive season, and folks, there aren't all tham many programs out there that can say that. There were doubts, with the departure of Travis Banwart, a host of top-notch relievers, and a few key starters, that this team could repeat the feat. As the season ebbed and flowed, many doubted that this team could put together enough wins to extend its season.
Well, the winning streak has reached 9 games and the bandwagon will start to bulge once again. Why has this team, which just a couple weeks ago had embarrassing losses to Evansville, ORU, Arizone State, and Central Arkansas been able to suddenly pull itself together and advance?
Well folks, it's called Grit and Determination.
Guys like Andy Dirks, Conor Gillaspie, Rob Musgrave, and Aaron Shafer have hoisted this team on their backs and taken a never say die attitude into the post season. Guys like Tyler Hill, Kevin Hall, Logan Hoch, Clint McKeever, Dusty Coleman, Kenny Williams, and Tyler Weber pick their spots for key contributions to pull games out of the fire.
Can you win with just 2 ace starters and a marginal (at best) bull pen. We all know the answer is a resounding "yes", and the scenarios from here on out make that even more possible.
This team believes in itself and each other and has a very real chance to advance to Omaha. In my eyes, they look a whole lot like the UC-Irvine team of '07. Two guys who take the bump and win games, some pesky hitters who don't launch home runs all over the place, just when they need them and can score enough runs to win games.
Enjoy the ride, Shocker Fans. This is a good team, and a fun team to watch. They will get your blood pumping and they're, at times, hard on your heart. But, winning at this level is never easy.
Sweet Sixteen - Again. Hell ya!
--'85.
McKeever has found his swing
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