Winning On and Off the Field

The Toreros are continuing to do things right on the field, and it’s showing. This week the Toreros return from a three-game sweep of the Portland Pilots on the road and a significant 7-1 victory over a more favorably ranked opponent in UC Irvine. Beating Irvine, especially in the middle of the week, can be quite a daunting task given their run as of late. But with arguably the best midweek starter in the country, a defense that is flashing errorless contests, and a lineup reaching its potential, I don’t think we could have lost to anyone.

Ricardo Pecina has looked like the filthy starter he is as of late and it really manifested itself Tuesday. He mixed all the way through using two arm angles, a cutter, a slider, a curveball, a change-up, and not to mention being able to throw his fastball to both sides of the plate. Without a doubt he is the hardest pitcher to catch on our staff, so hitting off him isn’t the most comforting idea either.

The most excitement within the group came out the following evening, however, when senior reliever Luke Roniger took the crown in a Mr. University contest put on by an on-campus sorority. When Steve Tuttle of Lambda Chi Alpha was announced as the 2008 Mr. University runner-up, the rush for the stage ensued, ending in a dogpile as “Mr. Baseball” stole the show from Mr. Ambassador’s Club, Mr. Black Student Union, Mr. Rugby, and five other representatives from fraternities on campus.

The baseball team was represented well and without a shadow of a doubt took over the room with unrelenting cheers for Luke, heckling of the competition and other civilian passerby, dancing, and outlandish antics of all sorts. Many times, the lifestyles of those who participate in Greek life don’t mesh well with those of college athletes so we saw it as an opportunity to compete.

Roniger’s arsenal included a good showing in the opening dance where he was given last choice in the costume selection and was forced to be dressed as “Felicity Shagwell” from Austin Powers, a quality swimwear performance, a sharp formal wear ensemble, and a witty question-and-answer portion. But the meat of the contest was in the talent performance, where Luke nailed a perfect rendition of the Evolution of Dance (Orange Crush t-shirt included). The performance that took hours to master and countless late-night practice sessions in our living room and locker room included important additions of the bay area prided “Thizz Dance” and the all too familiar “Crank That (Soulja Boy).” Luke ended the melody of dance with a member from each sorority on stage with a sign indicating their affiliation to take part in a rendition of their sorority’s official dance to their respective official song, which drew screams from each group around the crowd.

Tonight we’re heading into the weekend poised for another chance to compete, this time against other baseball players, however. This week I learned that both we are starting to take shape on the mound and in the box and that I am an embarrassingly critical coach when it comes to choreography.

Logan Gelbrich 

(action photo by Brock Scott)