I wasn’t there to see it, but my good friend was in the crowd. We had gone to Omaha together, but a rain delay moved the final game back a day, and I simply couldn’t stay. I watched the game on my I-phone at 30,000 feet, in the terminal, at baggage claim, on the parking shuttle, and in the parking lot. I also listened to the radio broadcast on the way home from the airport and watched the replay of a stunning 5-0 win over Arkansas and their “Pig Sooie” shenanigans. I couldn’t have been more pleased with the victory, having suffered for 6 days in Omaha as a major minority. There were Omahogs everywhere, and they were confident that they would finally win the College World Series on their ninth attempt. They almost did! Some divine intervention changed the course of history as a catch-able foul ball that would have ended the game in their favor dropped harmlessly to the ground. The rest was history.

Oregon State won their 6th consecutive elimination game, tying their own College World Series record. In the process, they handed the Hogs their first shutout of the season. Freshman pitcher Kevin Able went a record 4-0 in the World Series tournament with 23 strikeouts and 2 runs allowed in 21 innings of work. His battery mate, Adley Rutschman, responded with a record 17 CWS hits, 13 RBIs and the Most Outstanding Player Award. The resilient Beavers came back the night before in the top of the ninth on a Razorback team that was 44-0 when leading after eight innings. They did it despite the injury to center fielder, Steven Kwan, and without a single hit in Omaha from their Senior leader, Nick Madrigal, who will go on to make millions in the pros. The traditional season-ending dog pile was exactly what the Arkansas’ fans were anticipating the night before for their team….but the ball somehow eluded three players rushing to catch it.

I’d like to write more but I’m headed to Crater Lake. A hard-to-get reservation was the reason that I had to leave Omaha and miss the dog pile. I also had to take the dog to the vet. I’m glad it worked out for my travel companion, who was able to get me one of the first National Championship t-shirts. GO BEAVS….Au revoir Omahogs!