I love underdog stories. The 2008 Fresno State University Diamond Dogs are as good as they get. Going into the NCAA play-off season they were ranked #89. Nobody ever thought that this team would even make it to the College World Series so if you had said they would be playing for the championships people would have called you crazy. But that is what makes for a great story. This scrappy little team from the Central Valley in the heart of California played as a team. They don't have a bunch of big name players that you will read about in the sporting magazines or hear a lot about on ESPN.
When the college World Series started it was funny to watch the ads play and see pictures of the big name schools players in the ads but see very little if any of Fresno State. No one thought they would make it out of the first round. Surly this little team from the valley would lose their first two games and go on home just happy to have made it to the Series. But no first they destroyed Rice 17 - 5 and people went wait a minute this team game to play.
Next up was North Carolina and in their first meeting Fresno State won 5-3.
But North Carolina is no stranger to the College World Series having been in the finals the last few years and they would be back to face Fresno State a few days later and this time North Carolina would come out on top 4-3.
The next night those scrappy dogs came out ready to play and they took the Tar Heels to the Dog house with a final score Fresno State 6 - North Carolina 1.
Fresno State had done what no thought they could do they were going to the finals of the College World Series to face those east coast Bulldogs from the University of Georgia. One thing was for sure the winner of the 2008 College World Series was going to be a Bulldog the only question was would it be one from Georgia a scrappy dog from California. If you asked the experts they all said it the Bulldogs from UGA had more talent on the team. But the thing is those Bulldogs from Fresno State play with heart and they play as a team. There in lies the difference between the two teams. Talent does not mean every thing and it can only get you so far.
The first game between these two teams went to UGA 7-6. Fresno State lead most of the game but fell behind late in the game and last in a close one. For many teams that could have been a crushing blow and they could have fallen apart then next night. They are a young team than UGA. They don't have the depth in the pitching line-up. At this point they were tired questions were being raised who would pitched the next night? Would there only be one more game?
Tuesday night Fresno State came out with bats blazing. They scored more runs this night than any team has every scored in College World Series game 19. Which was enough that even though the pitching staff was tired and they gave up 10 runs in the game they still came out on top and there would be one more game.
It's what so great about College sports. To see the excitement on the boys faces before the game starts. Watching them cheer each other on in moments of victory. Near the end of the final game when the sure handed infielder muffed a ball and did not get the out the pitcher smiled at him as if to say that's okay we will get the next one and they did. These kids were having fun, it is what sports should be about. Not about some million dollar salary.
Final score of the last game Fresno State 6 UGA 1. The underdog did what no thought they could do - oh and those ads that when the series started did not show Fresno State well tonight they hardly showed UGA.
Fresno State like so many underdog miracle teams before them played as a team. That is what won this World Series for them. Mike Batesole was Named the National Coach of the Year a title he well deserves for molding this group of scrappy young men into such a fine team.
Fresno State Coach Mike Batesole
giving the official a piece of his mind
Tommy Mendonca tags a player out
Steve Detwiler had the hot bat in the final game
National Champions Fresno State Bulldogs!
D' oh!
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