OMAHA, NE — The College World Series has been an annual draw for a
special kind of baseball fan — those who bring their homes with them
to Rosenblatt Stadium.
For several decades a small area of grass, and sometimes mud, was home
to a dozen or so recreational vehicles. The small community that
sprouted every time the College World Series opened in Omaha was
called "Dingerville" by the regulars.
As the tournament grew and Omaha tried to do more in and around the
stadium, Dingerville became fan parking and a new RV park was
fashioned just beyond the left field fence. Instead of fewer than two
dozen RVs, this could host 64, complete with concrete parking and
electrical hookups.
Many of the regulars were disappointed, and took their camping
business elsewhere. Others have found a home in the new CWS RV city.
"We don't have a name as far as I know," said Paul Knust of Omaha.
He has been camping at the stadium since the new lot went in three
years ago. Campers pay $500 to park their RV and $10 per day if they
bring another vehicle with them.
"Some people were upset over the move and costs, but I think the city
was doing something more to help the NCAA and city make more money and
make it a better event," Knust said.
Knust said the fans still come, including LSU fans even when their
Tigers don't qualify for the national tournament.
"Oh, they're awesome," Knust said. "Nice people. And there's quite a
few from Texas. A lot are from Nebraska."
Knust has set up a couple of smoker barbecue grills to share with his
weeklong neighbors.
"That's what we do here, share food, supplies, stuff like that," he
said.
There are license plates from Nebraska, Texas, Louisiana, Indiana and
Colorado remaining at the halfway point of the tournament.
Texas backing from big places
Texas coach Augie Garrido is part of a strong Texas family when it
comes to school pride and winning tradition.
The baseball coach in Omaha for the College World Series says he gets
regular encouragement from football coach Mack Brown and his staff,
and basketball coach Rick Barnes. Former football coach and athletic
director Daryl Royal has also called.
"It's a strong athletic family, the coaches and staff," Garrido said.
Creative stress relief
Garrido has had some experience in helping his teams relax before
national championship games. He had to face that situation four times
with Cal State-Fullerton. His Titans won three of those title games.
Garrido recalled this week that one of those previous teams was very
nervous before a national championship game. Practice was going so
badly Garrido stopped the workout.
He sent half his team to go cheer for one team in a nearby Little
League game and the other half to cheer for the other youth team.
"That was our practice that day," he said. "Then my motivating talk
that day was ... you know what, you're so uptight you can't play
anyway, so what's the fun of it."
He then told his team if they won the national championship game, that
was really going to be fun and if they lost the title, he was going to
Hawaii and that was also going to be fun.
"I tried to find something," Garrido said. "No matter what happened to
them tomorrow, it was going to be fun for them.
"That was a long time ago, but this team is having fun playing
baseball. I love being part of the team."
Trends: Pitching up, hitting down
Through 10 games at the College World Series this year the tournament
was still waiting for its first grand slam. There has been at least
one in every tournament since 1990.
Part of the problem is teams are not hitting as well. Through the 10
games teams were hitting .286 and scoring runs at a combined 12.1 per
game. Last year at the same point, the batting average was .326 and
run output was a combined 16.4 per game.
Games also remain close. The 11-0 tournament-opening win by Georgia
Tech over South Carolina was the only CWS game this year decided by
more than two runs. Four of the 10 games were decided by one run.
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Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
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