It has been nearly 70 years since the Oregon Ducks baseball team has advanced to the College World Series in Omaha. Over his seven years as the program’s head coach, Mark Wasikowski has guided the Oregon baseball team into the NCAA Tournament four times in a row.
The passionate Eugene community and Ducks fans around the world will be cheering for Oregon to upset the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies in the best-of-three Super Regional series, where the winner will punch a ticket to Omaha for the Men’s College World Series.
Maybe more people will be rooting for the ball club than anyone else—the Oregon football team.
Bruce Boettcher is a two-sport athlete who played in every game of the 14th season of the Oregon football team. He is an outfielder and slugger for the Ducks. The Eugene native is adored by both teammates and supporters. Boettcher’s football teammates gathered around him during a football team breakfast on Tuesday morning, wishing him luck in the Super Regionals.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning received a note from Boettcher before he left for College Station, Texas.
“I wish you luck. There is still work to be done. Of course the goal is to win the Super, but the real goal is to win the National Championship. Remember that there is still work to be done.
Oregon’s journey to Omaha includes a stop at the College Station Super Regional this season.Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park, one of the nation’s most unfriendly college baseball grounds, will host the Ducks and Aggies.
Even though the Oregon baseball team has made it to the College World Series eleven times, including the last four years in a row, they have not gone to the championship series since 1954.
“Obviously, winning the College World Series would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Boettcher remarked to Bri Amaranthus of Oregon SI. “The super obviously has to come first, but that’s the next step. The team has a consistent mindset, in my opinion. It would mean the world to my family and the entire Eugene community to get that finished. That’s why I’m thrilled about it.
