Oregon State Players and Families Enjoy Fathers Day in Omaha

You can hear Monday's game in the Salem-area on 1490 KBZY AM.

OSU team members and family enjoyed the lake beach front and delicious food on Sunday afternoon. Some of the Beavers enjoyed interviewing one another, while others just relaxed and enjoyed some good conversation and nice weather. Photo: OSU Athletics

OMAHA, Neb. - Oregon State’s baseball team spent Sunday getting in a brief practice, being feted and feasted by their College World Series hosts, and enjoying some free time with family on Fathers Day.

Oregon State plays fellow Pacific-10 member Arizona State on Monday at 6 p.m. in the winners’ bracket game of their pool. The Sun Devils have taken three of the four meetings between the teams this season.

Monday’s game will be televised on ESPN2, 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.

On Sunday, OSU went through a quick late-morning workout at Bellevue East High School.

Several dozen fans were on hand and the Beavers obliged by signing autographs and posing for pictures; OSU assistant coach Marty Lees even knocked a few ground balls to eager youngsters as Oregon State went through its stretching period before taking batting practice.

Oregon State head coach Pat Casey was able to observe Fathers Day two ways – with his own children and with his father, Fred Casey.

“This is great – it’s awesome,” Pat Casey said. “We got to do this last year, and go get to do it again this year and spend Fathers Day here, and being with your own kids and your dad ... there’s no better place to go play baseball in June than in Omaha. We’re thankful to be here and it’s just a great environment.”

OSU volunteer assistant coach David Wong awoke Sunday morning to pick up the Omaha World-Herald’s CWS section and find a poster-size photo of his son Joey, OSU’s second baseman, turning a spectacular double play in the Beavers’ 3-2 win over Cal State-Fullerton on Saturday night.

“Outside of the absolute first Fathers Day, there’s nothing better than this,” David Wong said of spending the day with his son on the same CWS team. As for the double play, “That’s something we expect, but the style and the quickness of it all was amazing to watch.”

Later, the Omaha Kiwanis Club – which is Oregon State’s host during the College World Series – treated the Beavers to a steak feed at the lakefront home of Don and Barb Story. The event included the families of OSU’s players, coaches and staff that are at the CWS, allowing for some father-son time.

One of those on hand was Jorge Reyes Sr.; his son Jorge pitched six innings to earn the win in OSU’s victory over Cal State-Fullerton the night before.

“We’ll never forget that,” Reyes Sr. said. “It’s a really special time to be here at the College World Series with him. This is all unbelievable, for him to be here is freshman year and pitch in the first World Series game, to have the coaches believe in him.”

After the meal, OSU returned to its downtown hotel and the players had the rest of the day free to relax before turning their attention to ASU on Monday.

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