Cal Baseball: The Golden Team

It’s been said many times by many people: this is the ultimate story book season for the University of California baseball team. With the win over Texas A&M yesterday, the Bears stayed alive to be in the final six spots in the College World Series. The heroes? Not Pac-10 Player of the Year Tony Renda. Not junior standouts Chadd Krist or Marcus Semien. A couple of freshmen did the Aggies in. Kyle Porter pitched six outstanding innings in his fourth career start as a college pitcher, and held one of the most potent offenses in the nation to only three runs. Derek Campbell, only starting at second base because of a quad injury suffered by Renda, had clutch hits and clutch plays at second in the winning effort.

Every game a different player steps up. Every game a new hero rises. The Golden Bears are a team that finally believes in itself. Manager David Esquer has had great talent before, but it has never translated into a College World Series appearance until this year. This year, faced with adversity and uncertainty, California has everything to prove, and the desire to win is palpable. They wanted this last season to be the best they’ve ever had, and it shows on the field. Especially now, that the donors have shown their support and belief, this team plays like the champions they are. They don’t look like they’re just happy to be in Omaha. They’re playing with fire in their eyes and hearts, and the enthusiasm is proving to be contagious.

Will they win the whole thing? That’s still left to be seen. However, they’re still alive, and that’s more that can be said of all but five other programs. On Thursday afternoon in Omaha, the Bears get to have a rematch against number one seed Virginia, who defeated them in the first game of this double elimination round. I’m sure the game will be hard fought, as this Golden Bear baseball team embodies the spirit of the timeless quote, “The Bear will not quit. The Bear will not die.” If Disney doesn’t pick this up as a family film in the next five years, I’d be utterly stunned. But I encourage all of you to watch the game Thursday, as I’m pretty sure the real thing is going to be even better than a movie could possibly be.