Different team, but same goal

Beavers roll over adversity on way to NCAA regional berth

By Kerry Eggers

The Portland Tribune, May 30, 2006, Updated Oct 30, 2009

CORVALLIS Ñ The second time around for Oregon State’s baseball team has been different, for sure.

A year ago, the Beavers shocked the world by winning the Pac-10 championship and reaching the College World Series, the ultimate underdog out of rain country achieving the unthinkable.

Everything changed this season. Despite losing its two best players from the 2005 team Ñ center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and first baseman Andy Jenkins Ñ Oregon State began as a top-10 team and the favorite to successfully defend its conference title. The Beavers went out and did the expected, rolling through their competition and securing the opportunity to host one of 16 four-team regional tournaments beginning Friday at Goss Stadium.

OSU (39-14) opens the NCAA tourney Friday against Wright State (32-25) of Dayton, Ohio. In the other first-round game, Hawaii (43-15) meets Kansas (42-23). OSU, Kansas, Hawaii and Wright State are seeded 1-4, in that order, in the double-elimination regional.

The Beavers probably won’t get to host a super regional this year, if they advance to the next round. That’s because the NCAA selection committee did not make them one of the top eight seeds. Those spots went to Clemson, Rice, Texas, Alabama, Cal State Fullerton, Nebraska, Georgia and Georgia Tech.

The Beavers made it to the postseason despite limited contributions from a duo they expected to be among their leaders this season Ñ center fielder Tyler Graham and second baseman Ryan Gipson. A hamstring injury has laid Graham up much of the season, and Gipson missed much of the first half due to a broken wrist and school suspension.

“That’s the thing that has surprised me, the way the guys have handled the adversity,” coach Pat Casey says.

Here are the five biggest reasons Oregon State is in the position to spend time in Omaha again:

5. Role players rise up: With Gipson out, defensive specialist Chris Kunda, a senior from Philomath, hit .288 to go with the best second-base defense in the league. Senior transfer Bill Rowe filled Jenkins’ spot at first base and hit .323 with five home runs and solid glovework. Freshman John Wallace hit .341 in center in place of Graham. Sophomore Mitch Canham, in his second season as a catcher, threw out 20 of 37 would-be base stealers and hit .302 with seven homers and 43 RBIs.

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