Spring Break
Beavers host Golden Bears
No. 19 OSU baseball plays first home conference series of year against Cal beginning tonight
Matt Wilhelmsen
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: Sports
The No. 19 Oregon State baseball team will open up its home to Pac-10 play tonight at Goss Stadium against a tough opponent: the California Golden Bears.
Coming off a huge series against the University of Oregon in which the Beavers (15-6, 2-1 Pac-10) took two out of three, expectations seem higher then ever for the team to continue its on-field dominance this weekend against Cal (15-11, 3-3).
"Starting off with Oregon was both a big series and a great rivalry that drew tons of moral support from the fans," sophomore infielder Stefen Romero said. "Starting Pac-10 play against the Ducks, who have a fairly good pitching staff, we thought we did a pretty good job, but will have to do better against teams like Cal and the rest of the Pac-10."
Romero has done everything the team has asked of him this year and more. The junior college transfer from Tucson, Ariz., is leading the Beavers offensively in the categories of hits, runs, doubles, home runs, RBIs and total bases.
"We feel extremely confident right now," Romero said. "The first couple of series we were adjusting to the Division One level while trying to mesh and unify with the guys around us. Ten games in, we started to realize how good we really were and have stuck with the same game plan since."
Romero enters tonight's game with four-game hitting streak and a batting average of .333. Splitting time between first and third base, Romero is one of multiple utility players the Beavers have utilized early in the season. With a lineup that seems to have more depth then ever in years past, head coach Pat Casey is reluctant to have his biggest assets play more than one position.
"Having the depth that we do on this team makes every time you go out there not quite nerve racking, but helps you do your job," sophomore starting pitcher Tyler Waldron said. "You got someone right behind you that can do everything you can do. Knowing that keeps us motivated everyday we come out here."
Coming off a huge series against the University of Oregon in which the Beavers (15-6, 2-1 Pac-10) took two out of three, expectations seem higher then ever for the team to continue its on-field dominance this weekend against Cal (15-11, 3-3).
"Starting off with Oregon was both a big series and a great rivalry that drew tons of moral support from the fans," sophomore infielder Stefen Romero said. "Starting Pac-10 play against the Ducks, who have a fairly good pitching staff, we thought we did a pretty good job, but will have to do better against teams like Cal and the rest of the Pac-10."
Romero has done everything the team has asked of him this year and more. The junior college transfer from Tucson, Ariz., is leading the Beavers offensively in the categories of hits, runs, doubles, home runs, RBIs and total bases.
"We feel extremely confident right now," Romero said. "The first couple of series we were adjusting to the Division One level while trying to mesh and unify with the guys around us. Ten games in, we started to realize how good we really were and have stuck with the same game plan since."
Romero enters tonight's game with four-game hitting streak and a batting average of .333. Splitting time between first and third base, Romero is one of multiple utility players the Beavers have utilized early in the season. With a lineup that seems to have more depth then ever in years past, head coach Pat Casey is reluctant to have his biggest assets play more than one position.
"Having the depth that we do on this team makes every time you go out there not quite nerve racking, but helps you do your job," sophomore starting pitcher Tyler Waldron said. "You got someone right behind you that can do everything you can do. Knowing that keeps us motivated everyday we come out here."
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.