Omaha Part III Begins For OSU
Then, for many of the Beavers, it was off to study or take exams – this is Finals Week at OSU – while others reacquainted themselves with Omaha or took their first look around the downtown area.
“It doesn’t get old at all,” said OSU pitcher , who is making his second trip to the College World Series with the Beavers. “I’m definitely not as nervous this time around. I was kind of already shaking at this time; this year, I’m more excited and ready to go after it and soak up everything we’re going to do this year.”
For outfielder , who joined the Beavers this season, it’s his first taste of
“I’m still in shock,”
OSU (44-18 overall) opens the tournament against Cal State-Fullerton (38-23) on Saturday at 4 p.m. PDT. The game 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, 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.
On Thursday, the Beavers will practice at Rosenblatt Stadium from 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Prior to its workout, OSU will have its CWS team picture taken at 3 p.m. in front of the ballpark, then have players and coaches interviewed by ESPN from 3:15 p.m.-4 p.m. There’s also a press conference for OSU head coach and the seven other head coaches at 2 p.m. in the Rosenblatt press room.
After practice, there will be an informational presentation by the NCAA and an autograph session with fans at Rosenblatt from 5:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Following the autographs, all eight teams will be guests at a barbecue dinner at the ballpark. The opening ceremonies will then be held from 8:30 p.m.-10 p.m. in Rosenblatt Stadium.
On Friday, OSU will practice at either
In the meantime, the Beavers are hitting the books, not baseballs. Academic counselor Ardell Bailey spent part of Wednesday evening in a meeting room at the Doubletree Downtown hotel proctoring final exams.
“I spent most of the first part of the week communicating with professors, letting them know what was going on with the game (against Michigan) being pushed back to Monday,” Bailey said. “And the professors have been communicating with the players, letting them know when they’ll be available, when they’ll be able to take the exams, whether they can take them on the road or take an ‘incomplete’ until the team returns to take their exams. All the guys have done a great job communicating with their professors and communicating with me.”
Bailey carried with him approximately 35 exams to be administered to OSU players while they’re in
“Hopefully we can get them done by Friday,” Bailey said. “The guys were to be studying on the plane on the way over, and tonight we’re going to have a study hall. Then we’re going to try to have study hall twice Thursday.”
What words of wisdom does Bailey have for the Beavers when it comes to keeping their grades up with these circumstances?
“I tell them to take the same approach as baseball,” Bailey said. “Be comfortable, be calm with it, and communicate – work with each other, work with the professors, and just do the things you would normally do.
“It’s easy if they communicate with the professors and communicate with me so they know what’s going on. So far, they’ve done a good job of that.”
“Last year was a walk in the park compared to this because we were at home for the regionl and at the end (of the regular season) when we played UCLA at home,” said
for photos from the travel to Omaha.
