Fresno State's championship a great underdog story
One of the biggest Cinderella stories in baseball history took place on Wednesday night, as Fresno State won its first national championship with a 6-1 victory over Georgia, winning the College World Series in a battle of Bulldogs in Omaha, Neb.
Fresno State (47-31) hardly looked of championship caliber at any point this season. The Bulldogs started 8-12 and had to win the Western Athletic Conference title just to make the tournament. Once they got there, they were a No. 4 seed, the lowest possible. Statistically, Fresno State was 102nd in the country in offense and 60th in pitching.
Fresno State then went on an incredible upset run, winning at Long Beach State in the first round of regionals, then winning at national power Arizona State in the super-regional round. Fresno State lost two games in Omaha, to North Carolina and to Georgia in the first game of the championship series, but came through on Wednesday.
The star was right fielder Steve Detwiler, a sophomore who needs surgery on his hand. He drove in all six runs, hitting two home runs and a double.
Fresno State is the lowest-seeeded team to win a championship in any NCAA sport. Fresno State's accomplishment would be the equivalent of a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament winning the whole thing in basketball.
The title stays on the West Coast as well, as Oregon State had won the previous two years.
Photo: Steve Detwiler of Fresno State celebrates hitting a two-run homer in the second inning against Georgia during Game 3 of the 2008 College World Series championship series on June 25, 2008 at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Comments
HIS NAME IS STEVE NOT MIKE> FIGURE IT OUT
Fixed - thanks. An early report I read had it incorrect.