Here’s how it went down:
G-Day Deep in the Hole readers,
For the past four years I have been playing division 1 college baseball for the University of New Mexico. This past week I began my senior year (final season), which marked a very special time in my career. Throughout my time as a Lobo, I have played many great teams and players. One highlight that sticks out above the rest occurred last year, when I hit a triple off the 2009 #1 draft pick, Steven Strasberg. Well one week in to the college baseball season I can put another notch in my belt, as we just knocked of the #1 team in the country, the University of Texas, Longhorns.
For guys playing collegiate baseball in the United States it’s all about rankings. Rankings give your club a certain respect in baseball and Texas was atop of the list. The University of Texas is what you would call a franchise program. Just in the last month UT was awarded the "Team of the Decade" and professional analysts dubbed their pitching staff the best since Roger Clemens.
I would like to share with you Deep in the Hole fans a little about my time.
One of the most enjoyable things about playing college baseball is the traditions the team passes down year to year. For example, the first bus ride of the year, the rookies are informed that it’s a requirement to wear a suit on every trip. Little do they know that the rest of the boys are decked out in sweats (trackies) and t-shirts. Once aboard the bus, they are to sing a song of their choice to the rest of the team until they get a nice clap from the boys. Some other freshman (rookie) duties include, doubling up (sharing a seat), carrying equipment, three to a room and pink batting gloves! With the laughs these boys get they know for the next three years they'll be the ones doing the hazing!
Unlike minor league baseball, division 1 ball I think it’s safe to say you get looked after well. Great equipment, nice hotel rooms and the luxury of flying pretty much everywhere. However like the U.S. economy our baseball budget also took a hit. So what usually would be a nice pleasant hour-long flight to Austin, TX, turned out into a rather long 12hr charter bus ride. With all that time guys tend to study for classes, watch movies or my personal favourite - gamble your meal money!
Travel Day: As we rolled up to our hotel approximately 11pm we took to the sacks for an early 8:30 a.m wake up call.
Day #1: With breakfast in the hotel lobby as a team at 9a.m, a mandatory hour "study hall" took place at 10 a.m. A quick lunch on our own and time to ourselves followed by a 1p.m bus departure for the field. As a usual baseball schedule would entail, stretching, BP and in and out all took place. As it was Texas' home opening series, an informal player introduction and the U.S. national anthem was conducted. A little after 3 p.m. the first pitch had been thrown.
Over my career at UNM I have adapted to the utility role. (I need to pitch and play 1B and I would have played every position as a lobo!) This season I was approached by my coaching staff to play third base/infield, which I have no problem adjusting too. However, coming off shoulder surgery 3 months ago, I was uncertain if I would start in this series.
Approximately 6,000 screaming Texas fans surrounded the beautiful all turf field to support their beloved Longhorns and after a 4-run first inning, their heckling didn’t ease up one bit. Following a solo shot in the 2nd by the horns, we climbed back in the fourth to make it a game, 5-2. Besides facing probably the best RHP in the nation, All-American, Tyler Jungmann, we put up a fight and held our heads high knowing we had missed opportunities to score. Jungmann who sat at 93-95 mph, topped out at 97 closed the gate on a fairytale start. Yet we were not happy with the final outcome.
Day #2
With a similar schedule to Day #1, Day #2 began with a self-imposed morning workout. Even when I’m on the road I try to attend to my workout schedule as if it were just another day in Albuquerque. I tend to work out 3/4 times a week depending how my body reacts to certain exercises. On this morning a little half hour cardio run and shoulder workout had the juices flowing well.
3p.m. came rolling around fairly quickly and in no time we were once again in front of 6,000 beer drinking UT fans. We jumped on the board with a quick 2-run bomb in the first but the Texas bats found their holes, posting a solid 4-run first inning. Little changed throughout the game, just some high quality baseball. By the sixth we had climbed within one run, but Texas once again answered on cue. I entered the game in the eighth as a PH and after a 7 pitch AB struck out on some high heat. By the ninth the game was 5-4 Texas, and with one out and possibly one of the nations best closers, Chance Ruffin on the bump, our 1st baseman, Justin Howard, dropped a yahtzee (home run) into deep right to tie the game at 5 a piece. We scrambled three runners aboard with just one out and managed to get the go ahead run from third in with a perfectly executed sac fly. In the bottom of the ninth, we handed the ball to a freshman RHP with some nasty sinkage, who promptly retired the only three hitters needed to capture a historical win for our program.
Day #3
Today’s game was scheduled for a noon start time.
With word around Austin that the Lobos had come to play, people flocked to the ballpark to watch a third and deciding game. This may perhaps be the first time I have ever seen "tailgaters" (parking lot drinkers) at a baseball game in my life. Commonly tailgating is a way fans get ready at college football games, but this is a funny country with funny people!
Much like the previous two games, little had changed with our pre-game routine. Yet, today I got my first start of the season at 2b. Hitting lead-off for my club in front of a healthy 7,000+ I hit a line drive to center for a single. As all ball players know its a nice feeling getting that first hit and opening the bank account for more to roll in. This wasn’t to be the case however as I ended the game with a respectable 1-4.
Back to the game.
Practically a pitches duel until the 7th as the score was tied 1-1, we score 2-out hits in each of the 8th and 9th to take a valuable 2-run lead into the ninth. As some slight scares came about in the bottom of the ninth, it was kind of ironic we ended the game with a confident glove flip for the final out, SS to 2b.
I couldn’t begin to tell you the odds of us going in to Austin and taking two from the number #1 ranked team in the country, but what I can say, is that it may have been the most enjoyable and exciting baseball series of my life. Heading into the weekend we knew what we were up against. We trusted our abilities to succeed, and we executed the game as we know how. Our blue collar mentality kept the team grounded for this weekend and led many UNM followers to believe "not everything's bigger in Texas".
With a great first weekend of baseball complete, we now head back to the practice field to continue working on getting better. As it is there are still another 53-games to be played!
I hope ya'll enjoy reading about my experiences as a college baseballer and our first road trip. If you have any question please don’t hesitate to pass them on to the Defensive Specialist, as I would be happy to answer them!
Cheers,
Adam Courcha #3
New Mexico Lobos
It’s not often that you walk into the house of a number one team and take a series. The Defensive Specialist applauds the effort and thanks Adam for putting his experience forward for the fans down under.
The Defensive Specialist has been pumped at the quality of information supplied by our lads overseas. Keep the posts coming! Later this week the Defensive Specialist goes one on one with a Deep in the Hole favourite – David Washington…or D Wash as he has become known around Australia. Stay tuned.
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