Spring Break
Baseball a destination
Oregon State has become a school high school players want to play for after national titles
Patrick Chabreck
Issue date: 2/17/09 Section: Sports
Pat Casey believes skill is not all that should be recognized when scouting players whom he hopes will lead his team to Omaha again.
In all Division 1 sports, a national championship team must have something better up its sleeves than the competition. In the case of the Beavers baseball program, one advantage is its ability to attract quality ball players.
Casey signed his first group of select individuals after the 2008 postseason National Signing Day last November. Now, it will take time and patience to top off his roster for the 2010 season.
After the Beavers racked up two College World Series titles back to back in '06 and '07, Corvallis became a desirable destination for top tier high school baseball players.
"I knew I wanted to come here before I even thought about professional ball," freshman outfielder Ryan Gorton said. "Oregon State has always rubbed off on me in a positive way. I'm from Oregon, so I follow up on that sort of stuff. How could I say no to a chance like this?"
Since November, the Beavers have picked up several promising new players, including the senior shortstop from West Linn, Ryan Barnes.
"When you lose good leaders, someone has to take their position," Casey said. "Recruiting the right players for the job is important."
Along with others, players (like Barnes) will be expected to fill the shoes of those before him.
The Beavers baseball program believes that it is in the interest of all players that their coaches make an effort to leave a positive impact on them after leaving.
"Hopefully, they look into who they are going to be around, and who is going to guide them in their life," Casey said.
Casey's goal is not only to win games, but he also wants to be a part of his players' lives.
"They're kind of like your kids," Casey said. "They don't ever talk to you, but they talk to everyone else."
Before earning the right to play in Omaha's legendary Rosenblatt Stadium, a team must have the mental toughness to be there in the first place.
In all Division 1 sports, a national championship team must have something better up its sleeves than the competition. In the case of the Beavers baseball program, one advantage is its ability to attract quality ball players.
Casey signed his first group of select individuals after the 2008 postseason National Signing Day last November. Now, it will take time and patience to top off his roster for the 2010 season.
After the Beavers racked up two College World Series titles back to back in '06 and '07, Corvallis became a desirable destination for top tier high school baseball players.
"I knew I wanted to come here before I even thought about professional ball," freshman outfielder Ryan Gorton said. "Oregon State has always rubbed off on me in a positive way. I'm from Oregon, so I follow up on that sort of stuff. How could I say no to a chance like this?"
Since November, the Beavers have picked up several promising new players, including the senior shortstop from West Linn, Ryan Barnes.
"When you lose good leaders, someone has to take their position," Casey said. "Recruiting the right players for the job is important."
Along with others, players (like Barnes) will be expected to fill the shoes of those before him.
The Beavers baseball program believes that it is in the interest of all players that their coaches make an effort to leave a positive impact on them after leaving.
"Hopefully, they look into who they are going to be around, and who is going to guide them in their life," Casey said.
Casey's goal is not only to win games, but he also wants to be a part of his players' lives.
"They're kind of like your kids," Casey said. "They don't ever talk to you, but they talk to everyone else."
Before earning the right to play in Omaha's legendary Rosenblatt Stadium, a team must have the mental toughness to be there in the first place.
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