Even though it’s been nearly seven years since the Oregon State Beavers’ baseball team last hoisted the College World Series trophy in Omaha, Nebraska, the expectation to win it all is tied to the team each and every year.
With this season being no different, Pat Casey and company are seeming to pick right up where they left off at the end of last season where they got to the semifinals of the CWS, only to be turned back by Mississippi State (for the second time in the tournament).
This year, the Beavers found themselves entering the season sitting at 3rd (according to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America) in the country in the way-too-early poll, and after a strong start to the season, has seen that ranking improve to #1. Needless to say, this year’s Beavers team is primed, and ready, to make a strong run at Omaha glory yet again.
Behind the hot bat of left fielder Michael Conforto (he’s hitting .500 on the year with 11 RBIs), the Beavers have proven that their offense should be regarded as one of the best in the nation. Granted they’ve only played the likes of Gonzaga, Nebraska and Pacific (twice), but the Beavers have put up 40 total runs over their first four games. While they won’t average 10 runs/game for the entire season, seeing the bats as hot as they are to start the season is a promising sign.
Offense won’t be OSU’s only calling card this season, either; the pitching, led by Ben Wetzler, Jace Fry, and Scott Schultz, has the ability to shut down any offense. That is, when any of those three happen to be pitching. As seen a couple times this season, the middle relief can be a bit shaky, and if the games are close when the starters come out, the opportunity is there for the opponent to tack on runs late in the game.
With just four games complete so far on the year, the sample size is very small, and doesn’t provide a clear enough picture for how this team will fare as the long season progresses. One thing is for certain, however, Oregon State will see some stiff competition come PAC-12 play, which should ultimately benefit them in the long run.
With the likes of Oregon (#8), UCLA (#10) and Arizona State (#19, all according to the NCBWA) among the teams Oregon State will see at least three times in conference (they’ll play Oregon four times), the PAC-12 won’t be a cakewalk.
There’s no question it’s much more advantageous to have multiple top-30 teams in your conference, as you’d like to work out the inevitable kinks against top tier talent throughout the year.
Oregon State will get its first crack at that top tier talent March 21st when Arizona State travels to Corvallis to take on the Beavers at Goss Stadium for a three game series.
Until then, the Beavers will continue to trudge on through their fairly mediocre preseason schedule, looking to continue to beat up on their opponents.
Although it’s certainly too early to predict any championship worthy-ness out of Pat Casey’s crew, its undeniable the level of excitement that surrounds the Beavers baseball team this year. With their rival Oregon Ducks hot on their heels, and looking to pounce if Oregon State slips up at all, expect a hotly contested race for the PAC-12 title and the hype for Omaha to continue to grow.
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