OMAHA, Neb. – Getting ready for its second straight appearance in the College World Series, Oregon State’s baseball team arrived in Omaha on Thursday evening after a long day of travel from Corvallis. OSU (44-14 overall) opens the CWS against Miami (Fla.) on Saturday at 4 p.m. PDT at Rosenblatt Stadium.
The Beavers are the only team in the 2006 event who were also in the eight-team field in 2005.
“The second year, that feeling of ‘just happy to be here’ is over,” OSU outfielder Tyler Graham said. “People’s minds are on the games. There are fewer distractions this year than there were last year.”
Added Oregon State second baseman Chris Kunda: “I think we’re more relaxed, just because we’ve got a bunch of guys who have been here. It’s not a new thrill; we know what to expect.”
The Beavers left the OSU campus at about 7:30 a.m. and bussed to Eugene. From there, a charter flight took them to Ontario, Calif., where they were joined on the same plane by the team from Cal State-Fullerton and then headed to Omaha.
On arrival at the Hilton Omaha, the Oregon State contingent was greeted at the main entrance by a gauntlet of hotel staff waving placards that read “GO BEAVERS” and cheering as the players and coaches walked past. The Beavers then headed for a barbecue dinner and then back to the hotel, some with final exams still to take before the CWS gets underway.
On Thursday, OSU’s practice session at Rosenblatt Stadium will be from 3 p.m.-4 p.m. CDT.There will be a press conference for all eight head coaches, including OSU’s Pat Casey, from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. CDT, and the opening ceremony will be from 8:30 p.m.-10 p.m. CDT.
On Friday, the CWS begins but the Beavers - not playing until Saturday - will practice at Bellevue East High School from 10:30 a.m.-12 noon CDT.
