For the past couple years, I've slammed college baseball. I've lambasted the pace of the game, the metal bats, and a number of other things that I won't go in to. However, after my trip into LA and Dedeaux Field yesterday, my opinion has changed. Maybe it was just the right amount of circumstances that fell into place with this particular trip, but this road trip struck me as significant on so many levels and broke my prejudices of the college game. As I unwind, I am realizing just what this trip did for my outlook of the game and how I move forward.
I'm going to get very familiar with the 9:50am Metrolink train into LA. I'm planning on using that train multiple times this season for Dodgers game, and considering that I can get a day pass for only $10, it is so much better than driving into the city. I loaded my bike onto the train, plugged in some music, read my book and just relaxed for the 90-minute ride to LA Union Station. If this will be consistent for all my trips on this train, I can't think of a better way to go to games.
Once I got into LA, I jumped on my bike and began to head towards the USC campus. It's about a thirty minute ride through downtown, past the Staples Center and along the edge of South Central. For those of you who know me, I get a real rush out of urban cycling. Cycling in LA is a thrill that is difficult to explain. You experience the big city in such a different way than if you were in a car or as a pedestrian. I love riding amongst the huge buildings, keeping my head on a swivel as I navigate the narrow streets, and waiting at stop lights while hundreds of pedestrians walk in front of you in the crosswalk while you are a legitimate part of traffic.
Dedeaux Field is an on-campus facility tucked amongst the residence halls and academic centers of the University of Southern California. As with all of the athletic facilities at USC, Dedeaux Field just oozes tradition and makes it part of their home field advantage. This was something that was touched on in the Bucket List, but you get the real sense of it when you walk in. Sure, USC Baseball doesn't have nearly the proud tradition as their football program, but the stadium is located on Mark McGwire Way with a display about all of USC athletic traditions. Along the concourse, they have plaques with their numerous national championship runs. On the first base side is a monument to all the All-Americans and Major Leaguers who played at USC. If you were a visiting team coming in, I would imagine that you get the feeling that not only are you competing against the Trojans, but also their tradition and history.
Despite the intimidation factor, I really, really like Dedeaux Field. It is, in my opinion, the perfect college park. It's small enough (only a capacity of about 2,000) to really feel intimate. Being on the campus, it has great visual relief in the outfield of residence halls and ubiquitous California Palm Trees. Since it's tucked in a weird lot, the dimensions are uneven and makes the seating very close to the playing field. With all of the homages to their tradition, it bleeds USC and certainly doesn't feel sterile at all. Ticket prices were right on par as a $7 ticket gave you the option of sitting anywhere in the park, even right behind home plate. It's too bad that the people at the University of Oregon who were in charge of revitalizing the baseball program and the design of PK Park didn't look to Dedeaux Field as inspiration. It's safe to say that when it comes to college baseball, I've been sheltered.
The Trojans were playing host to the Bisons of North Dakota State. When I got to the park, I was amazed at the contingent of Bison fans in attendance supporting NDSU. I got into a conversation with a few of them that had made the trip from Fargo and was pleasantly surprised at just how nice they were. We talked a lot about college baseball, LA, college life, what North Dakota and Fargo is like and the crazy weather they've been having. I met new people and it made me forget about the loneliness I sometimes face going to games by myself.
During our conversations, I asked them why this small school in Fargo, ND would play such prominent program. They said that USC had actually paid NDSU to come to LA and play them in sort of an exhibition match-up. Essentially USC was paying this small school to beat up on them. When I walked into the game, I had no rooting interest, but now I was pulling for this upstart underdog to knock off the mighty Trojans. I thought it would be supreme poetic justice if the Bisons were to win.
NDSU struck first getting runs in the fourth and sixth. The Trojans came back though and tied the game in the eighth with two of their own to knot the game at 2 heading into extra innings. While I couldn't stay for the very end because of having to catch the return train, USC got a walk-off homer in the bottom of the twelfth to steal one away from the Bisons winning 5-3.
Sure, NDSU lost, but it was inspiring just how they hung tough with USC. Amidst all of the tradition I spoke earlier about, these upstarts went punch-for-punch with one of the most storied programs in the country. It was just proof positive that anybody can beat anyone on any day in baseball. The little guy will always have a chance against the big boys.
If every one of my planned Baseball Road Trips goes like this one, I'm in for a fun season. Everything went off without a hitch and I got to experience something new. I'm excited for what's coming next.
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)
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