Cal Baseball Foundation

January 2015 Newsletter

Cal Baseball Foundation Golden Bear News & Notes

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The 1980 Cal Bears team from left back row: Lyle Brackenridge, Chuck Hensley, Bob Melvin, Chuck Cary, Brian Guinn, Rob Jessen, Dave Granger, Rod Booker; 3rd row: Tom Colburn, John Carson, Glenn Prater, Glenn Newton, Jim Selvitella, Michael Buggs, Jeff Ronk, Dan McInerny; 2nd row: Bruce Johnson, Kelly Wood, Don Driscoll, Bill Hawkins, Tim Gerlach, Greg Zunino, John House, Brian Duffy; front row: Steve Conroy, John Hughes (Asst. Coach), Bob Milano (Head Coach), Greg Warzecka (Asst. Coach), Mitch Hawley Baseball Foundation 2 T he 2015 Cal Baseball season marks its 35th anniversary as one of Cal's best teams. The 1980 squad compiled a program-best 44 win season (still a record), won a share of the 6-Pac (Southern Division) title, and crafted an epic post-season run that took them to the semi-finals of the College World Series. The 1980 team of veteran players, led by ten seniors and nine juniors, holds Cal's single-season records for games played, wins, AB's, fielding chances, put- outs, DP's and DP's in a single game. The team's ERA of 3.13 is the 3rd best in the aluminum bat era and 2nd best since 1976. The 1980 trip to Omaha was the first trip by Cal to the CWS since the 1957 team's championship. The team's No. 3 national ranking is Cal's highest since 1957 and signaled the Bears' return to the national stage. THE ROAD TO OMAHA Despite a strong 17-13 record in 6-Pac play, the Bears lost the regular season series against co- champions Arizona and faced the Pac-10 North winner, Washington State, in a three-game "play- in" to earn a berth in the Midwest Regional in Tulsa. Hosting the Cougars at Evans Diamond, the Bears dominated in Game 1 (6-0) and sent the Cougars back to the "Palouse" with a 3-1 victory in Game 2. One game into the Midwest Regional, however, the Bears found themselves behind the proverbial eight-ball falling 3-2 to UNLV. From here on, it was "win or go home." And win these Bears did! Game 2 pitted the Bears against Wichita State with their .400 team batting average and future big-league sluggers Joe Carter and Phil Stephenson. No problem—final score: Bears 5, Shockers 1. In Game 3 the Bears faced Arkansas and their slugger Kevin McReynolds: TEAM wins out over star: Cal 7, Arkansas 1. On to Game 4: Cal versus Missouri and Phil Bradley. Those who played that day will never forget a single pitch of those 14 innings! The first seven innings flew by, as Brian Duffy battled the Missouri hitters to a 1-1 tie. Then time slowed to a crawl in the 9th when Missouri loaded the bases with no outs. No problem for this close-knit team. With closer Mitch Hawley on the mound and the infield in, a grounder to Rod Booker at short led to a 6-2 putout at home: 1 out. With the bags still loaded, Coach Milano kept the infield back. Great call! Grounder to short, 6-4-3 double play, inning over! The score remained tied 1-1 until the 14th inning with Greg Zunino scoring what would be the winning run on a wild pitch, and Mitch Hawley getting the win throwing 7 scoreless innings in relief. Talent, courage, and a bit of gamesmanship carried the Bears to the Midwest title over UNLV. Needing to win two against the Rebels in the double-elimination format, Cal cruised to a 6-2 victory in Game 1. Just one win away from a trip to Omaha, the Bears feigned exhaustion by taking a "silent" and intentionally sloppy pre- game warm-up, only to explode in "chatter" as the Vegas pitcher readied to deliver the game's first pitch. So unexpected was this uproar that the Vegas pitcher stepped off the rubber to stare in disbelief at the Bears dugout. Game Over! Scoring three first-inning runs, the boys never looked back on their way to a 12-0 rout. In inspiring fashion, the '80 squad had survived five elimination games to win the Midwest Regional and punch their ticket to the College World Series. The 1980 CWS at Rosenblatt Stadium was the first ever broadcast on ESPN. Knowing how to position themselves to play their best ball, the Bears began their familiar uphill march following (Left) Cal Catcher Tom Colburn tags out Steven Scafa, St. John's University, as Cal hangs on to win 8-5. (Right) Shortstop Rod Booker turns a double play against Arizona. Booker was Team Co-Captain, All American, Pac 10 Player of the Year & Major Leaguer. 35TH ANNIVERSARY: CAL BASEBALL'S RETURN

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