Saddle Up: The Journey To The 2011 NCAA Austin Regional - Back Home Entry
6/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Kent State baseball sports information director Mike Ashcraft live blogs from the road at the 2011 NCAA Championship Austin Regional.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8
Tonight's entry marks my final one for my Saddle Up blog. I appreciate you all following along with this little venture and for following the baseball team and all of our other teams all year on KentStateSports.com.
As you know, the team pulled off the biggest victory in program history last Saturday, a 7-5 win over No. 5-ranked Texas on its home turf in the 2011 NCAA Championship Austion Regional winner's bracket final, to advance to the regional final for the second time in program history. That performance proved that the Golden Flashes belong among collegiate baseball's elite and will go down as one of my personal favorite sports moments I've ever been a part of.
Texas proved why its a top-five team, though, by working its way back through the loser's bracket and beating us in two straight games to advance to the best-of-three-games Super Regional against Arizona State this weekend.
I would just like to say how impressed I am with the University of Texas and the people of Austin. Everyone we encountered in Austin was very friendly, and the city was awesome. The University of Texas is first-class and I would like to personally thank Scott McConnell, Thomas Dick, Spencer Kitley and Ashley Cushman of the Texas athletic communications office for their hospitality and all of their help and hard work all weekend. It was also very nice to see the class and professionalism head coach Augie Garrido and the Longhorns carried themselves with all weekend. As simply a fan of college sports, it was great to see the highly competitive level both teams played at and the sportsmanship they both displayed in both victory and defeat. The Texas fans are also awesome and a classy bunch.
After Monday's game ended, Ty and I began to make the long trek back to northeast Ohio. We left with a much lighter load than we came to the Lone Star State with, as Dan (aka Benedict Arnold) bailed on us and took the team charter flight home. Pretty much all you need to know about that guy. While driving through Dallas, Ty and I visited the iconic Cotton Bowl.
We stayed in Arkadelphia, Arkansas (not kidding) on Monday night, then got up early (10:30 a.m.) Tuesday and punched it the whole back to Ohio, arriving in Kent around 3 a.m. on Wednesday. It's safe to say that, after this trip, I will most likely never complain about any car ride being "too long" again. It might have caused me to stop being afraid of flying, too. Air travel = efficient.
During a car ride that long, there's a lot of time for reflection. I was able to think about all of David Starn's amazing pitching performances, highlighted by his MAC Championship Game gem. I thought about Andrew Chafin leaving no doubt about his recovery from his elbow injury and him dominating Louisville, Coastal Carolina, Toledo, Eastern Michigan and Texas, among others. I thought about Kyle Hallock stepping up like the senior captain that he was and simply mystifying the rest of the MAC with his pitching performances and becoming the conference's Pitcher of the Year and a Louisville Slugger Third Team All-America pick. I thought about Kyle McMillen trotting to the mound with games hanging in the balance and sealing victories with his nation-leading and school and conference-record 18 saves. I thought about the emotion and intensity Justin Gill pitched with all season. I thought about Ryan Mace and Brennen Glass and their work on the mound that allowed us to dominate our midweek games. I thought about Ben Klafczynski's huge day at the plate at Xavier and his equally impressive display all throughout the Austin Regional that capped off his career as one of the most prolific hitters in school history. I thought about David Lyon's leadership behind the plate, his walk-off home run against Akron and his amazing grand slam in the win over Texas. I thought about Travis Shaw's majestic home run power and his outstanding defense at the hot corner. I thought about Jimmy Rider's consistency all season long and how he will be a rock for our team next season. I thought about Evan Campbell making a highly successful transition from second base to center field and his huge grand slam in the MAC semifinal win over Eastern Michigan. I thought about guys like Nick Hamilton and Joe Koch sparking that win over the Eagles, and Koch's stellar play in left field all season. I thought about young guys like George Roberts, Cody Koch, Derek Toadvine, T.J. Sutton, Troy Summers, Jason Bagoly, Casey Wilson, Dan Slavik and Spencer Bryant showing the promise that will help this team be championship-caliber for years to come. I thought about all I'd learned about the game of baseball from Coach Stricklin, Coach Birkbeck, Coach Daeley and Coach Sanders and how their leadership has created a first-class program that is admired by many around the country.
It has been a privilege to work with this team all season. As talented they are on the field, they're 10 times better people off it. I'd like to give special thanks to equipment manager Candace Olczak, athletic trainer Chris Wells strength & conditioning coach Chad Palmer and team photographer Matt Bliss for all their hard work behind the scenes and for their friendship. I'd also like to thank my press box crew of Ty, Dan, Rob Polinsky, Melanie Spiroff, Tom Kresch, Katie Goldring, Dominic Laveglia, Tori Kohl and Nick Kane for making the Olga A. Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium press box the best in the business.
And finally, thanks to you for your support of the Golden Flashes. I'm already looking forward to another great season next spring. Thank you...and saddle up!
Mash
