May 10, 2012

California Love

Finals week has come to a close for many schools in Division I baseball. While newly-minted sophomores (we’re not freshmen anymore…) and the rest of campus is moving home for the summer, the Boilermaker Dreamteam was preparing for a weekend showdown garnishing national recognition. This weekend was our B1G bye weekend and the #11 Purdue Dreamteam was going… going… back… back to Cali… Cali for the first time since 2002 to face the #14 UCLA Bruins. No better location than Beverly Hills could serve as the background for the Dreamteam to showcase its own cavalcade of stars. The two schools have little history on the diamond as they’ve only faced each other once prior (2001), but they both share a connection in the late, great John Wooden. Coach Wooden was a three-time All-American at Purdue from 1929-30 through 1931-32 and later went on to coach UCLA to 10 NCAA titles in 12 years, while amassing an incredible 88-game win streak in the process. (Photo: David Miller & Tyler Spillner on the beach...)

Saturday’s doubleheader saw a shell of the Boilermaker Dreamteam play at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Five of the nine losses this season have come from doubleheader drops (the last being the series finale against the Wheat Shockers). This doubleheader contributed two losses to that total as we would drop both games, even as the Lance Breedlove fan club tried to will us to victory. In the two games, we had managed to dig ourselves into a 15-2 free-base deficit. Any difference that large makes it hard to compete against any team. In combination to the free passes, “The Pack” took the “dip in drive” approach to hitting that did little to pressure the UCLA defense. Only three runs in the twin billing is something that even California Girls could manage. The Boilermakers would need a good night’s sleep to prepare for the Sunday finale, but in true Cinco de Mayo fashion, a live mariachi band was performing outside the hotel-a far cry from your mother’s favorite lullaby…. unless you are “El Conquistador.”

Sunday saw the jet-lagged Dreamteam arrive to the ballpark to an early 3-0 deficit; perhaps the 70° and sunny weather threw Purdue off its game (#PAC12problems)? This was hardly the 52° and cloudy with hurricane-force winds (in or out) we are accustomed playing in during B1G play. “The Pack” was quick to fight back with a three-spot in the top of the fourth. The Bruins were not impressed as they dropped another four-spot in the fourth, stealing any momentum we tried to gather. Frustration seemed to be coming from all locations, as inconsistent strike zones, talkative first base coaches, and a tough opponent left us grasping for answers. With only three outs left and a 10-5 deficit to overcome, the unthinkable happened.

Let’s begin by saying that no one really knows exactly what happened. Official scorers attempted to capture the magic of the ninth inning, but along the lines of the Bermuda Triangle, the Grassy Knoll, and the real location of Carmen San Diego… it will forever remain a mystery. What we can tell you is that in the 45 minutes that was the ninth inning, the gates opened and what emerged were angry Avengers (opening this weekend) carrying Evo Shields and TPX bats. Some have even claimed that they saw the aforementioned angels move from DeAno’s shoulder to Sean “Polar Bear” McHugh’s bat as he both walked, but more importantly, singled in the go-ahead run. When we emerged from the blackout, the scoreboard showed we had gained a 15-10 lead. Every player in the lineup recorded an RBI, and the lineup nearly batted around twice. Again this is all speculative as the scoreboard was even confused as it showed a “0” in the top-of-the-ninth slot. UCLA would scratch a run across in the bottom half, but Los Boilers would hold on for a 15-11 victory, snapping a three-game skid and allowing for a much-needed “happy” red-eye flight (if that’s at all possible) with bellies full of In-n-Out.

The virgin journey for many Dreamteamers to the City of Angels will be remembered for quite some time along with the historic comeback as many family members, friends and alumni were able to attend the weekend games. Nothing could make the Boilers feel any more at home. As we arrive on campus around 9:30 a.m. EST, we will have a quick turnaround as we head to Fort Wayne on Tuesday night for a mid-week test in IPFW at Parkview Field, home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Padres Low A). We will then conclude the home schedule with five consecutive games, culminating with a weekend series against Michigan (May 11-13), the final B1G series at Lambert Field. All fans are encouraged to attend as this will be the final chance to see Purdue continue its quest for its first B1G title since 1909 at the ole ballpark that opened in 1965. (Photo: ...parking lot)

Thanks for reading,

Cal Gunter and David Miller

(thanks to Purdue Assistant SID Ben Turner for editorial assistance)

(photos courtesy of Purdue Media Relations Office)