Washington State University Athletics
Washington State Baseball Spring Break Journal
Sunday, March 19, 2000
Pushups Anyone: As part of a Washington State tradition, freshman Nick Kenyon had to do 20 pushups on the airplane as a result of the Cougs first sweep of the year. Although reluctant at first to do the pushups, Kenyon finally agreed and did all 20 while the passengers counted them out.
From 80 to 30 in Six Hours: In a matter of six hours during the flight home from California,, the Cougs went from balmy 80 degree temperatures to a freezing 30 degrees. The bus ride home from Spokane was icy and saw several cars in the ditch between Colfax and Pullman.
A Clean Sweep: The Cougs picked up their first series sweep of the year by finishing off the Cal State Northridge Matadors with a 6-3 come-from-behind win. Zach Fisher picked up the win to improve to 2-0 and Matt O'Brien picked up his second save of 2000. Shawn Stevenson and Steve Curran were both 2-for-4 to lead the Cougs at the plate. Curran added his fifth homer of the year to tie with Stefan Bailie for the team lead.
Happy Birthday Tyson Thompson: One day removed from pitching a fine performance against CSUN, Tyson Thompson celebrated his 20th birthday. While most of the team was unaware of his birthday until it was told to the team on the bus prior to the game, they all wished him a Happy Birthday after the win. Coach Swan treated Thompson to dinner before the Cougs departed for home.
Thanks for the Ride: Dean, the chauffeur for Cougar baseball all week, was a true help and a great presence for the team. Much thanks goes to Dean for all of his kindness and hard work as he took the team around one of the busiest cities in the country.
Shocked by March Madness: The players couldn't believe when they heard the upsets that took place Sunday in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. With Stanford losing to North Carolina and the numerous other upsets, the favorites of several players were left having to wait tell next year. Some players couldn't be happier since Duke and Iowa State are still in it. Relief pitcher Les McTavish declared Iowa State to the team to beat before the tournament even started. A bold pick at the time, but looking better and better as the tournament goes on.
In and Out: The Cougs experienced a California tradition before the departed from LAX. The team stopped at an In and Out Burgers where they all had burgers, fries and some even milkshakes. Designated Hitter Wes Falkenborg was the bravest sole on the team as he tested the 4x4 burger with four patties of beef. He said it was great.
Thanks for all the Support: Several families and WSU fans made the venture to Southern California to root on the Cougs. Much thanks to Chuck Curran and wife, Leia Johnson (Shawn Stevenson's girlfriend), Mike and Nancy Meldahl, and several other families who traveled down to Corvallis as the Cougs started their trip.
Quote of the Day (and trip): Freshman catcher Jon Baeder, who has been known to say several outlandish things, struck again as the team was at the In and Out. The restaurant was just across the street from the airport and several planes flew overhead as the team ate. Then Baeder said, "How far is the airport from here." Needless to say, no one really had an answer because they couldn't believe what he just said. Baeder wasn't kidding either by the way. Baeder's other famous quote happened when he was at the Price is Right. When he was interviewed to try to get on the show, the never bashful freshman from Renton, Wash., told the interviewer that all he simply wanted to do was "meet Bob's (Barker) babes."
What a Long Strange Trip it Was: In all the Cougs spring break trip was 11 days and 10 nights. After starting the trip 1-2 at Oregon State, the team turned it around to win four of their last five and pull out with a 4-3 record on the trip. The crew did it all, from body surfing to getting a tattoo, from swimming to lifting weight, from riding in a limousine to watching movies together. They played solid baseball, enjoyed the sunny Southern California weather and acted like true gentleman as they represented the crimson and gray of WSU.
What's Next for Cougar Baseball: The Cougs will not practice Monday after arriving back at Bohler Gym at 1 a.m. on Monday. Several players will pass schedule posters out in preparation for the first home game of the year Tuesday against Lewis-Clark State. The game is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Wish We Could Just Stay In Southern California: While the players will miss the sun and warmth of Southern California, they won't for very long as they will fly back to the Los Angeles area Thursday to take on Pac-10 rival USC for a three game series starting Friday. The Cougs will stay in Santa Monica at the Doubletree Hotel. In all the Cougs will spend 11 days out of two weeks in Southern California. I guess it is their second home... and not many are complaining about it.
Saturday, March 18, 2000
Cougars catch March Madness: The Cougs have caught March Madness as they have spent much of their afternoons following the NCAA Basketball Tournament. While every player has their favorite and their favorite team, all were pulling for the Gonzaga Bulldogs as they upset No. 2 seed St. Johns. The team has also caught March Madness on the baseball field as they are 5-4 during the month.
Movie Night: Several players used their last night in Woodland Hills to take in a movie. Garrett Alwert and Sean Donlin watched "Final Destination", while Reggie Rivard and WSU pitching coach Russ Swan watched the Boiler Room. Donlin, Lanakila Niles, baseball SID Jeff Evans, Todd Meldahl and Nick Kenyon all ordered the movie Final Destination in their room at night.
A Northwest Favorite for Coach Johnson and Walker: While Stuart Anderson's Black Angus is a Washington original with their cattle ranch just outside of Ellensburg, coach Johnson and coach Walker sat down for a nice steak and dinner.
Touring the City: Baseball SID Jeff Evans got a grand tour of the LA hotspots last night from his sister Julie. After dinner on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, the two drove down Sunset Blvd, Rodeo Drive, Melrose and Hollywood.
Notre Dame Tennis Loves WSU Baseball: Matt O'Brien, Tyson Thompson and Jon Baeder were all courted by several members of the Notre Dame women's tennis team last night. The crew hung out with the girls tell curfew and later exchanged phone numbers. They are baseball players, but also 21-year-old males!!!!
Pack em' up: It was packing night for several of the team members as they packed their bags in preparation for their departure Sunday evening. Their night at the Woodland Hills Marriott was their 10th night in a hotel. Stefan Bailie was busy all night packing his gear.
Get that Homework Done: While it is still spring break, there was still homework to be done. Garrett Alwert, Les McTavish and Zach Bode all worked on school home work and prepared for tests when they get back to Pullman. Zach Fisher was also diligently working on his political science homework and preparing for several tests (and played gameboy with teammate Stefan Bailie)
Going for the Sweep: After consecutive wins against the Cal State Northridge Matadors, the Cougars will go for their first sweep of the year today. The current two-game winning streak is only the second time WSU has won consecutive games this year. A win today would make the Cougars 4-3 on their spring break roadtrip.
Keeping an eye on Willie Bloomquist: The team has been keeping a watchful eye on Seattle Mariner and former Arizona State star Willie Bloomquist as he continues to tear the Cactus League apart. Bloomquist, who was the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 1999 and a graduate of South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard, Wash., has an outside chance of making the Mariner squad. Bloomquist is hitting nearly .400 and has played the most games out of any Mariner in camp. Steve Curran, Zach Bode, Nick Kenyon, Ryan Smith and Wes Falkenborg all played with Bloomquist on the Chaffey Construction summer league team. Zach Fisher and Kenyon also grew up with Bloomquist and played at SKHS. Fisher and Kenyon have also been following another Mariner, Sean Spencer, who is expected to start the year at Triple-A Tacoma.
What's on tap tomorrow: Sleep, sleep, school and more sleep. The team departs LAX at 6:50 with a stop over in Seattle. The squad will fly into Spokane International Airport around 10:30 p.m., and arrive back in Pullman anywhere from 12 a.m. to 1 a.m. After a day off Monday, the Cougs will play their first home game at the newly renamed Bailey-Brayton Field Tuesday vs. local rival Lewis-Clark State.
Friday, March 17, 2000
Cougs Pick Up a Win: After the loss to UC Santa Barbara, the Cougs jumped back on the winning track Friday with a 6-2 win over Cal State Northridge. Lanakila Niles picked up the win out of the bullpen, while Shawn Stevenson provided the game winning heroics with a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning.
Going Deep: While Matador Field isn't the biggest ballpark in collegiate baseball, few fields would have held some of the balls the Cougars hit Friday. Shawn Stevenson hit a ball deep over the left field fence to give the Cougs a 4-2 lead in the ninth inning. Stefan Bailie hit two balls that would have left any ballpark in America. His first homer was a line drive that was still rising as it left the field in center, and his second homer was a shot that not only cleared the left field wall, but also the trees that lined the outfield wall.
Two-Hit Cougs: Ryan Smith, Bookie Gates, Stevenson and Bailie all notched three-hit games Friday.
Can the Weather Get Any Nicer: Game time temperature was 77 degrees and absolutely beautiful. Coach Farrington worked up a sweat by pitching batting practice and couldn't have loved the weather any more.
Parents Arrive In Northridge: While the trip to Northridge isn't local for many of the Cougar parents, a couple made the trip. Mr. and Mrs. Meldahl made the trip for Butte, Mont., to see their son Todd pitch, and Mr. Cougar himself, Chuck Curran, was in the stands to cheer on his favorite team once again. Shawn Stevenson's girlfriend was also in attendance Friday to see her boyfriend hit his first home run since March 27, 1999.
TGI Friday's Is Good, But Three Times As Good: Everyone will agree TGI Friday's is a great restaurant to eat at, but three days in a row. Garrett Alwert, Wes Falkenborg, Nick Kenyon, Zach Fisher and Stefan Bailie all made the trip to the restaurant for the third day in a row. Alwert couldn't get enough of the chicken fingers as he had the entree for the third consecutive night.
Lets Get Some Good Food After That Win: Several players took in a good dinner after the big win against Cal State Northridge. Some players accompanied Chuck Curran to the Cheesecake Factory. David Perreira, Lanakila Niles, Coach Walker, and Coach Johnson all went to a Japanese restaurant for some sushi.
Shine Them Up Real Nice: Coach Johnson always stresses that the team must shine their cleats before going out to play. All the players had their shoes looking real nice, especially Garrett Alwert who did a military job on his cleats and even got a "nice looking shoes" out of Coach J.
FYI: Just some small tidbits about Cal State Northridge for those that are not in attendance at the series. The area was decimated by a huge earthquake four or so years ago and is just now getting back to the old look. Several buildings on campus are still in portables, while one of the libraries is in a temporary dome just beyond the center field fence. There are scattered orange groves around the campus, showing small hints of the area that was predominately orange orchards prior to the 1950's. The neatest feature of the CSUN campus the Cougs have seen so far is the monument at the front of the campus that displays the letters CSUN. No matter what angle you look at the art piece, you can still see the school letters.
Pinch-Hit Man: While Wes Falkenborg is a proven hitter for the Cougs, he has been uncanny in pinch-hitting opportunities. The redshirt freshman from Redmond struck again in the pinch-hitting position, as he clubbed a single in the late innings. Falkenborg is now 5-for-6 with three doubles as a pinch hitter.
What's On Tap Tomorrow: The Cougs will play their second of the three game series vs. the Matadors. Tyson Thompson will get the start for WSU. The team will depart the hotel at 10:30, take batting practice around 11 a.m., and then aim to beat CSUN at 1 p.m.
Thursday, March 16, 2000
Practice Day: After the day off Wednesday, the Cougs traveled to Cal State Northridge to work out. Under beautiful sunny skies, the team ran through offensive and defensive drills for a great two-hour workout. The Cougs will get back in action with their fifth game of their seven-game spring break roadtrip tomorrow with a 2:30 game against the CSUN Matadors.
Five-Hundred: While the position players were taking batting practice, the pitchers participated in a game that brought back memories of almost every ones childhood, 500. The game, where you get points for catching fly balls, was won by Les McTavish.
Stevenson Feeling Better: After being bed ridden for three days with the flu, starting shortstop Shawn Stevenson felt well enough to practice. Stevenson, who missed only is third game in the last three years against Santa Barbara on Tuesday, is expected to play Friday.
Taking in a movie: Several players used the afternoon to rest, relax, take in the sun by the pool and even watch a movie. Todd Meldahl, Tyson Thompson, Reggie Rivard, Ray Hattenburg, and Garrett Alwert all saw "The Whole Nine Yard."
What's on tap tomorrow: The Cougs will put on their game faces for their first game since losing to UC Santa Barbara 7-4 on Tuesday. Lefty Todd Meldahl will start on the mound for the Cougs. Game time is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. at Matador Field on the campus of Cal State University at Northridge.
Wednesday, March 15, 2000
Beach Boys: The whole team, minus a few players, spent four hours at Venice Beach. The crew played beach volleyball ate lunch, body surfed, toured Muscle Beach and one even got a tattoo.
Lanakila Shows his American pride: Relief pitcher Lanakila Niles showed his true pride for the red, white and blue Wednesday afternoon as he donned an American Flag designed Speedo as he toured Venice Beach. Niles was dared by teammate Les McTavish to wear the bikini style swimsuit all day as he walked down the beach, and he did. Needless to say all eyes were on Lanakila Niles as the native Hawaiian walked down the street. First baseman/Designated Hitter Steve Curran proclaimed the act by Niles to be one of the funniest things he has ever seen. It was truly a Kodak moment to see Niles walk around with his Speedo, fitting right into the Venice culture.
Beach Volleyball Anyone: With a beautiful sunny day and the surf crashing into the sand, what more fitting place to break out a volleyball and start playing. Several of the players, including pitching coach Russ Swan played for nearly two hours in the soft California sand. Les McTavish and Reggie Rivard, both high school volleyball players, had several nice spikes.
Tattoo Me: Sophomore infielder Bookie Gates visited one of the several tattoo parlors along Venice Beach and decided to get one. The art was a great drawing of an alligator flexing in a standing position. The tattoo is symbolic of his last name, Gates, as some call him little Gator.
The Price is Right: Manger Andy Weaver, catcher Jon Baeder and Kelly Farrington all left the hotel at 2:30 a.m. to try to get on The Price is Right gameshow. The trio did get into the show, but none were selected to "come on down." Weaver wore the extra jersey #46 in the crowd and along with Baeder was very vocal throughout the show. The tape-delayed telecast will be shown on March 31.
Mall Rats Part II: With the long day at the sunny beach, several players crashed when they got back to the hotel and eventually ended up at one of the two malls within walking distance of the hotel. Most spent the day relaxing gearing up for the big weekend of baseball coming up this weekend with three games against Cal State Northridge.
Weather: The Cougars were treated to a typical Los Angeles day, with sun, a small breeze, and a marine layer that covered the skyline of the city. The temperatures were in the 60-70s and made all forget of the nasty weather up on the Palouse.
Coach J takes a look at the Matadors: Mr. Baseball, a.k.a. Coach Ken Johnson, spent his off day at none other than a baseball field. Johnson took in a game between Portland and the Cougs next opponent Cal State Northridge.
What's on tap tomorrow: The Cougs will practice at Cal State Northridge from 10:30-12:30 and then have the rest of the day off. While most were glad to have a day off to relax, several of the players are eager to get back on the field playing baseball. With the loss to UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday, all are focused on the series against the Matadors and know they must win two games.
Tuesday, March 14, 2000
Game Day at UCSB: The Cougs lost their third game of the spring break roadtrip by falling to UC Santa Barbara 7-4. WSU jumped to an early 4-0 lead after two innings, but did not score the rest of the game. Ray Hattenburg and David Perreira were both 2-for-5.
Rain Man: You wouldn't be in LA if you didn't see someone famous. As coach Farrington and his family were eating Monday night at the mall across the street from the Marriott, they saw Dustin Hoffman and his wife.
Cougar Soccer in the House: Beth Childs, a sophomore on the WSU soccer team, took in the Cougar baseball game Tuesday in Santa Barbara.
Coach J Returns to Familiar Territory: Assistant coach Ken Johnson felt more at home when the team played in Santa Barbara. Johnson attended college just up the coast at Cal Poly San Luis Obisbo.
What a Beautiful Day: With temperatures in the mid 60s and lots of sunshine, the Cougars were treated to an absolutely beautiful day in Santa Barbara. The only thing the great day couldn't provide was a win.
What's a Gaucho? Several people asked, what is a Gaucho, the mascot of UC Santa Barbara. A Gaucho is a Spanish cowboy.
Get in line for your tickets: While the women's NCAA tournament doesn't start tell Friday, around 20 patrons were already in line for tickets to see their No. 8 ranked Lady Gauchos. Tickets were to go on sale Wednesday morning starting at 10 a.m. University officials expect a hundred or more fans to camp overnight to get tickets.
Eno Arrives in Santa Barbara: Dave Eno, a 2000 team member who did not make the travel squad, was in attendance at the game Tuesday as he is a native of Southern California. Eno is from El Segundo, Calif.
Scouting Report: Senior pitchers Todd Meldahl and Matt O'Brien did not make the trip up Highway 101 to Santa Barbara, instead they headed south to San Diego. Meldahl and O'Brien spent the afternoon scouting the USC Trojans as they played a doubleheader against the University of San Diego.
What's on tap tomorrow: The Cougars will enjoy their first true day off tomorrow. While several of the team members are going to take in the Santa Monica pier and the beaches, a select few including Jon Baeder, manager Andy Weaver and Mrs. Farrington are going to go to the Price is Right at 4 a.m. to try to get on the show.
Monday, March 13, 2000
Happy Birthday Reggie Rivard: Cougar starting pitcher Reggie Rivard celebrated his 22nd birthday Monday in style. After going on a 30-minute jog in the morning, Rivard took a limousine to Santa Monica with the rest of the relievers where he played volleyball and walked the beach. When he got back several players, including Tyson Thompson and Matt O'Brien treated him to a good dinner at Houston's, which is located right next to the hotel.
The Beach Boys: With the pitchers taking a morning run at 11 a.m., the Cougar pitching staff and pitching coach Russ Swan took an adventure to the beach to enjoy the California sun. After driving by Pepperdine University and Malibu in a Limousine, they continued on to Santa Monica where they played in the sand and toured the famous Santa Monica pier.
Nice to see you sister: While several players took in the California sun on their first day in the Golden State, Baseball SID Jeff Evans reunited with his sister, Julie, a 1997 grad of WSU. The two went out to dinner and toured Julie's work just up the Ventura Highway in Thousand Oaks.
Just a small practice: With Monday being a semi-day off before the Cougs game vs. UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday, the pitchers took just a lengthy run in the morning and the position players went to a local park to get loose and throw the ball around.
Mall Rats: Several of the players took in the two local malls in the area for dinner and shopping, and several also saw movies at the nearby AMC 16-screen theater. Steve Curran and Justin Williams took in the "Boiler Room" and Garrett Alwert saw the Academy Award winning "American Beauty."
College Sports Central: While the Woodland Hills Marriott is the home-away-from-home for Cougar baseball for the remainder of spring break, several other college teams are also staying at the hotel. University of Portland baseball, Duke men's tennis, Weber State men's tennis and Notre Dame women's tennis are also staying at the Marriott. With Portland being a local college baseball team to the Cougars, several players on the Cougars have played against the Pilots and know several of the team members.
What's on Tap Tomorrow: The Cougars will board their charter bus at 10 a.m. for a one-hour bus ride to Santa Barbara for their 2 p.m. game against the UCSB Gauchos. Normal reliever Donny Davis will start on the mound for the Cougs with Garrett Alwert, Nick Kenyon, Sean Donlin and Les McTavish also expected to get mound action.
Sunday, March 12, 2000
A big win at OSU: The Cougs clubbed 14 hits and 11 runs in a 11-6 win over Oregon State. Evan Hecker was 2-for-2, Justin Williams (2x5) and Steve Curran (2x5). WSU is now 8-12 for the year.
Touring OSU: While the team arrived early at the ballpark for batting practice, the voice of WSU Baseball Alex Webster and Baseball SID Jeff Evans took in a brief tour of the OSU campus. A bright sunny day made the walk around campus to the student union building enjoyable.
Bring on the sunshine: After two days of rainy and overcast conditions, the Cougs finally got some nice weather. Sunny skies, a near cloudless horizon and temperatures in the mid 50's made for a beautiful, spring-like afternoon of baseball.
Glad to see Corvallis in the rear view mirror: A large group of Cougar seniors, including Shawn Stevenson, Steve Curran, Zach Bode, Ray Hattenburg, Les McTavish, Todd Meldahl and Ryan Smith, will be more than glad to see Corvallis and Coleman Field left in the rear view mirror when they depart for California. With the win 11-6 win Sunday, the group of seniors were a combined 3-11 at Coleman Field at Goss Stadium since 1997.
Curran getting ready for his big performance: Steve Curran was sighted in the bullpen working on his pitching mechanics. While Curran will not see time on the mound in a game for the Cougs, he is challenging the WSU pitchers and support staff to batting practice on the off day in California. Curran has raved for days how the pitchers won't be able to handle his fastball and breaking ball.
Paging Jordan Nilsen: Pranksters Donny Davis, Mike Knight and Bookie Gates decided to play a practical joke on Jordan Nilsen at the Portland Airport. The paging system at the airport echoed, "Will Jordan Nilsen please report to gate C5." Nilsen looked surprised when he heard his name called over the PA system and immediately took a double-take. It wasn't long before the laughter of Knight, Davis and Gates made Nilsen know it was simply a practical joke.
Thanks for the good luck wish Alaska Airlines: As the Cougs left the plane at the Los Angeles International Airport, the crew on the Alaska Airlines flight wished the Cougar baseball team good luck for their games vs. UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge.
The Miracle M's of 1990: On the bus ride en route to Woodland Hills (temporary home of Cougar baseball), the team watched a highlight tape of the 1990 Seattle Mariners. Several great moments, including Randy Johnson's no-hitter and the back-to-back home runs from Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. were shown. Also on that 1990 Seattle team was WSU pitching coach Russ Swan. Swan was called up to the majors the night Johnson threw the no-hitter.
Oops, wrong hotel: Being unfamiliar with the LA area, the Cougs made a stop at what they thought was their hotel at the Woodland Hills Hilton. After unpacking the bus, the staff realized they were supposed to be at the Woodland Hills Marriott. So they packed back up and made their way to the hotel.
The Cougs Spring Break Home: While it isn't Pullman, the Woodland Hills Marriott will fair just fine for the Cougar team. A huge mall with 15 movie theaters is just across the street to occupy the team during the two off days. The Cougs are staying in Woodland Hills because it is a central location between Northridge and Santa Barbara.
What on tap tomorrow: The Cougar pitching staff, and baseball SID Jeff Evans, will go for a light jog at 11 a.m. The team will practice in the afternoon at a local high school to prepare for their Tuesday game at UC Santa Barbara. Several players have talked of going to the mall across the street and taking in a movie tomorrow night.
Saturday, March 11, 2000
Lets Play Two, Sort of: With the rain delay that ended up suspending Friday's game in the third inning, the Cougars and Beavers played one and two-thirds games Saturday. Unfortunatley for the Crimson and gray faithful in attendance Saturday, the Cougars dropped both games, 8-3 and 14-2.
Curran Leading Off? With the Friday's game suspended in the third inning, the Cougs led the game off in the fourth inning with no other than speedy Steve Curran leading off for WSU. While it was not a true leadoff position, it was a career first for Curran to lead off a game.
Families Travel to Corvallis: With several of the Cougar players hailing from Western Washington, several families of the players drove down to see the Cougs in Corvallis. Parents of Nick Kenyon, Tyson Thompson, Garrett Alwert, Justin Williams, Steve Curran, Shawn Stevenson, Zach Fisher, and Evan Hecker were in attendance at Goss Stadium Saturday.
Was that Nick Kenyon in the outfield: Freshman pitcher Nick Kenyon has seen sparse action as a pinch runner in 2000 and Saturday was no exception as he entered the game to run for David Perreira. What was different this time was that Kenyon stayed in the game in right field and had two balls hit at him. While the outfield was new territory for Kenyon in his short Cougar career, he did roam the outfield as a center fielder for the South Kitsap High Wolves during his prep career.
McTavish inches up career list in appearances: With his two appearances Saturday, reliever Les McTavish made his 61st and 62nd appearance in his Cougar career. With his 62 games pitched, McTavish moved into fifth place in the Cougar record books past Guy Normand (1983-86).
Alumni Weekend Continues: Friday's game brought former Cougar infielder Boyd Robertson out to the ballpark to cheer on the Cougs. Saturday also brought back a former Coug as reliever Marcus Glaze (1996-98) came out to the game. Glaze is a Oregon native.
Pinch-Hitting Heroics: With pinch-hit singles from David Perreira and Jon Baeder, and a run-scoring double from Wes Falkenborg in Saturday's first game, the Cougars are now hitting .500 (12x24) in pinch-hitting opportunities. Falkenborg is 4-for-5 with three doubles and four RBI as a pinch-hitter.
Bailie wearing #46: Someone forgot to tell Cougar infielder Stefan Bailie the Cougs would be wearing the crimson jersey in the second game, so Bailie resulted to wearing the only available jersey in manager Andy Weaver's equipment bag, #46.
Friday, March 10, 2000
Scouting the Cougs: Friday's series opening game brought out several professional scouts to watch the game. Scouts from the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks. Former Coug Jason Gologoski, an area scout for the Diamondbacks, was also in attendance to evaluate the talent of the 2000 Cougar nine.
Hoop it up: The Cougars aren't the only athletes staying at the Ramada Inn in Corvallis, as several participants of the AAA Oregon State Girls and Boys Basketball Championships are also staying at the hotel. The state competitions are being played at Gill Coliseum on the Oregon State University campus. Teams were seen practicing plays in the hotel parking lot, dribbling balls through the halls and showing their school spirit in every way possible.
Blame it on the rain: After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, the Cougs boarded their charter bus at 11:45 a.m., departing for Coleman Field at Goss Stadium. After OSU took batting practice, WSU got a few swings in before the rains came. Both teams helped pull the "beaver orange" tarp over the field. The game was delayed one hour before the start of the game. The game was once again delayed after the third inning with the Cougars up 1-0 and eventually postponed tell Saturday. Several players kept themselves entertained in the dugout by playing various games, while others visited the concession stand for an all-American favorite, a hot dog.
Fore: With the rain delay, the Cougs had to keep entertained in the dugout. While several Cougs sat in the dugout, some braved the wet elements by playing fungo golf in the outfield. Jordan Nilsen and Stefan Bailie took on two Beavers in the golf style game. Bookie Gates and Donny Davis also challenged Tyler and Brady Farrington in a game of whiffel ball.
The sweet sound of Louisville Slugger: The biggest smile of the day came from first baseman Steve Curran after swinging his brand new Louisville Slugger "Omaha 2000" bat. The shiny blue 34-inch bat lifted several balls out of Coleman Field and brought a smile to Curran's face. "It's awesome," Curran said about his new arsenal. Several other players swung the TPX model bat in the game vs. OSU.
Boyd Robertson returns: Former WSU baseball player Boyd Robertson (1998-99) was in attendance at Friday's game. Robertson, who was a two-year starter for the Cougs at second base, attends Pacific College in Forest Grove, Ore., where he is attending optometry school.
Just like Safeco Field: While not having the same amenities as Safeco Field in Seattle, Coleman Field at Goss Stadium has some of the name sounds. Every few innings a train passes beyond the left field fence and blows its whistle much like trains do at the new home of the Seattle Mariners.
Family Reunion: After the suspension of the game tell Saturday, several players took in a good dinner. Head Coach Steve Farrington was no exception as him and several members of his family, including his brother and even one of his best friends, dined at McGrath's Fish House in Corvallis.
Thursday, March 09, 2000
Travel Day: Thursday is travel day for the Cougar baseball team as they embarked on their 10-day, seven game roadtrip to Oregon and Southern California. The 26-man travel squad, plus support staff departed from Bohler Gym at 4 p.m. for a 7 p.m. flight at Spokane International Airport.
The Waterboy: While bus rides in the past have shown movies such as Caddyshack, Slap Shot, Billy Madison and Varsity Blues, Thursday's movie of choice for the bus ride to Spokane was "The Waterboy."
Meet the Press: As the Cougars arrived at Spokane International Airport, reporters from KHQ (Channel 6) greeted the team. Several players, including pitchers Matt O'Brien and Todd Meldahl, shortstop Shawn Stevenson, and Head Coach Steve Farrington were interviewed. The feature on the Cougar baseball team will air at 6 p.m. on Monday.
On to Corvallis: The Cougs boarded a 7 p.m. flight to Portland via Horizon Air, and then bused to Corvallis. The Cougars will take on the Oregon State Beavers in a three-game non-conference series at Coleman Field at Goss Stadium.
Welcome Home Coach Farrington: While no players on the Cougar roster are from the state of Oregon, head coach Steve Farrington grew up on the coast of Oregon in Newport. In his prep days at Newport High (Class of '70), Farrington was a three-sport star in football, basketball and baseball, earning 12 varsity letters. Farrington's return to Corvallis is also the place where he played American Legion baseball for three years.
