Oregon State Goes Back in `Blatt

You can hear the game live in the Salem-area on KBZY 1490 AM.

The 2007 Oregon State Beavers in front of Rosenblatt before afternoon practice. Photo: OSU Athletics

OMAHA, Neb. - Oregon State returned to Rosenblatt Stadium on Thursday, revisiting the site that many of the Beavers had last seen during the celebration of their 2006 national championship last June 26.

OSU, which opens the 2007 College World Series against Cal State-Fullerton on Saturday at 4 p.m. PDT, went through a workout and participated in an autograph session during the afternoon, then attended the opening ceremonies in the evening.

“It never gets old,” said OSU outfielder John Wallace, who was on OSU’s title team last season. “It’s still like the first time, pulling up to the stadium and seeing it again, remembering all the good memories from last year. It’s a blast to see all the new guys and how excited they were to be here.”

On Friday, the Beavers will practice from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. at Bellevue East High School.

Oregon State will then be treated to a steak feed, a few players will finish up final exams, and players and coaches may watch the opening-day games that match Rice against Louisville and Mississippi State against North Carolina.

Saturday’s game between OSU (44-18 overall) and Cal State-Fullerton (38-23) will be televised on ESPN, and all of the Beavers’ CWS games can be heard on KEJO-AM (1240) in the Corvallis area, KUIK-AM (1360) in the Portland area, KKNX-AM (840) in the Eugene area, KBZY-AM (1490) in the Salem area, KICE-AM (940) in the Bend area, KMED-AM (1440) in the Medford area, KRNR-AM (1490) in the Roseburg area, KNPT-AM (1310) in the Newport area, KAGO-AM (1150) in the Klamath Falls area and KODL-AM (1440) in The Dalles area, and KTIX-AM (1240) in the Pendleton area.

One Beaver received an honor during the day.

Catcher Mitch Canham was announced as OSU’s male winner of the 2006-07 Pacific-10 Medal; the award is given each year to one male and one female athlete at each conference school for their combination of athletic ability, academics, community service and character.

Canham is a third-team All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball newspaper, a first-round draft choice of the San Diego Padres, an Academic All-America first team selection, and has been active in community events.

Later, during the opening ceremonies, Canham was honored as the Beaver with the highest grade point average.

OSU head coach Pat Casey was asked about the Beavers’ familiarity with Omaha during an afternoon press conference for the eight head coaches.

“We have so many new kids,” Casey said. “We’re playing so many kids who haven’t been here. Our guys are pretty much energized by the weekend; it’s another opportunity for us.”

For many Beavers like Canham, this is their third trip to the College World Series.

Several juniors who were recently taken in the Major League Baseball draft and may sign pro contracts – such as shortstop Darwin Barney – could wind up playing in Omaha every season of their college careers.

“I guess I made the right decision coming to Oregon State,” Barney said as the Beavers wrapped up their practice Thursday. “It’s something you’ll never forget. The first time was sweet, the national title was sweeter, but this is a great way to end my career if I do end up going (to professional baseball). It just doesn’t lose its edge – there’s something special about this place. The ball bounces funny in a mystical way; it’s almost like there’s a script every year, and I’m very excited to be here.”

Like Wallace, Barney has enjoyed watching teammates making their first CWS trip get a taste of the atmosphere in Omaha.

“I look back on it and I remember my first time, and I’m hoping we can give them a better experience than I had when we were two-and-barbecue,” Barney said, recalling OSU’s defeats by Tulane and Baylor in 2005. “We have some real men who are young here, so I’m real excited about how it’s going to be. I think they’re really going to respond well.”

Freshman pitcher Jorge Reyes, who may get the nod to start the Beavers’ CWS opener, is one of those experiencing the hoopla for the first time.

“It’s fun,” Reyes said. “It’s really nice. I don’t know about these guys, but this is exactly what I played for – to see all these little kids running around and seeing us as role models was really cool. When I first got here, it was like ... I went to a couple of Babe Ruth World Series, but nothing like this at all. What’s the sign say? ‘The Greatest Show On Dirt’ – it really is.”

It lived up to what Reyes’ teammates told him to expect.

“It’s everything they (his teammates) were saying – that we’d come out here and it would be crowded. They said get your wrist ready, because you’re going to sign a million autographs. I’ve probably signed about 200 already, but it’s really fun. They do a great job here, it’s really cool.”

The opening ceremonies began with highlights from the 2006 CWS on the videoboard; the presentation ended with footage of Oregon State hoisting its national championship trophy, followed by the words: “Dreams Really Do Come True.”

The event included the eight teams marching onto the field one at a time as highlights of their season played on the video screen; the Beavers entered to the tune of “Standing On Top Of The World.” The Navy Leap Frogs skydiving team descended with a flag of each team, and the diver carrying OSU’s flag presented it to pitcher Eddie Kunz.

There was also the introduction of a group of special guests. The Bluffton Beavers, the NCAA Division III team that had five members killed in a bus crash on March 2, were introduced to the crowd and received a standing ovation. The head coaches of each of the eight teams then presented Bluffton with a signed bat from their team.

And, finally, there was the massive fireworks show that ends every year’s opening ceremonies.

“It’s amazing,” said infielder Drew George, one of the Beavers making their first trip to the CWS. “The atmosphere ... no one is even playing right now and the crowd is going crazy as we’re walking in. All the stories the old guys were telling us – it’s even more than I imagined. That’s the best fireworks show I’ve ever seen.

“It was cool just to be on the field with the eight best teams in college right now. It was sweet.”

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