This morning, the Titans are back in Omaha, NE where they feel quite at home, as they prepare to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in game 1 of the College Worlds Series. This is always a wonderful moment. Eight teams, who have battled for the honor of being in Omaha, have all of their expectations and hopes in front of them. No one goes to Omaha thinking that they can’t win. This year should have some good competition, and no one can be said to have an easy time of it. I’ve always said all bets are off once you’re in Omaha. The teams who are expected to win, may not, and the no-hopers can take it all. My examples of this are when the Titans won the College World Series in 2004 after a start on the season of 15-16. Let’s just say that no one except the team themselves expected them to be standing there holding the trophy at the end. We never won big, we just scraped together a win by playing Titan ball and manufacturing a few runs, while the much maligned pitching staff, kept our opponents to fewer runs than we had. The other example of this happened last year, when the Fresno State Bulldogs came out of the woodwork, and won the College World Series from the position of a three seed to start the Regionals. So, it depends on peaking at the right time, and how much heart you play with.
When the Titans crushed the Louisville Cardinals the second game in a row during Super Regional play, led by Noe Ramirez on the mound, it was a very emotional moment to see them all trot out to touch the Omaha sign, which has been a Titan tradition for several years. For those in the stands it is emotional because we have been cheering these young men on the entire season, relishing their triumphs and empathizing in their defeats, both as a team and on a personal level. To add to the emotion of the day for both the fans and the players, former Titan player, Jon Wilhite, the sole survivor in the tragic crash which killed Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson, was able to attend the game. He took the field for batting practice, and gave the team a pep talk before the game. As the fans were all on their feet cheering as the Titans were heading out to the Omaha sign, the announcer came on and said “Ladies and Gentlemen, now taking the field, Mr. Jon Wilhite.” We all watched on with tears in our eyes as Jon walked across the field to join the celebrating Titans.
There is, of course, all sorts of pre-game chatter by all of the fans online about who is the best team, who is going to crush who, and who will be standing at the end of the series. For some reason, which I can not figure out, the Arkansas fans are saying that the Titans are showing the Razorbacks disrespect by starting Noe Ramirez on the mound, since he is a freshman and not the regular Friday starter. Well, here’s what I have to say on that subject. Noe Ramirez received co-pitcher honors for the Big West, along with our other freshman starter, Tyler Pill. Since we have one sophomore starter, Daniel Renken, and two freshman starters, it’s a 66% chance you’ll see a freshman pitcher start. Head coach Dave Serrano is setting the rotation to plan for the entire series and not this one game. By stating that the Titans disrespect the Razorbacks by throwing Noe, the Razorbacks are showing disrespect for our frosh hurler.
At Rosenblatt stadium, the teams are starting to get ready to go into battle once again. The fans are excited and full of hope that they will see their team win. Denny’s folks go to Omaha every year because they have season tickets, and it is always sweeter when Fullerton is there, because they know the team from having watched them throughout the season. One of our section K friends is there for the first time, and absolutely giddy with it. Everyone’s hopes and dreams are at their shiniest point. It is truly a wonderful moment. The series couldn’t start with a better battle – may the best team win, and may they be wearing blue and orange.
Go Titans!
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LK Gardner-Griffie
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