For the first time in school history, the UCLA baseball team has earned a third consecutive postseason berth.
The Bruins, who were selected to play at Cal State Fullerton’s regional this upcoming weekend, will be making yet another playoff appearance under the leadership of coach John Savage and a core of junior players.
Those juniors have accomplished what past Bruin teams, which included the Major League Baseball stars such as Garrett Atkins, Eric Byrnes, Troy Glaus and Chase Utley, could not.
Much of the success is credited to Savage, who has quickly transformed UCLA into a perennial contender after taking the reigns of a lackluster program in 2005. The juniors on this year’s team were the first players that Savage recruited to Westwood.
“I think the accomplishment to be a part of a team that goes to regionals three years in a row for the first time in school history says a lot about the character of the team,” Savage said. “Our first recruiting class … has really stayed strong over the last several years to be a big part of our success.”
A framed photograph of that recruiting class, which hangs on a wall in the clubhouse at Jackie Robinson Stadium, serves as a constant reminder of their contributions. That class, ranked third in the nation by Rivals.com, has undoubtedly paved the way for the transformation of a once struggling program. Most impressively, the notable juniors ““ catcher Ryan Babineau, shortstop Brandon Crawford, third baseman Jermaine Curtis, designated hitter Cody Decker, outfielder Blair Dunlap, left-handed starter Tim Murphy and right-handed reliever Jason Novak ““ are now heading to their third straight regional appearance.
“When you look up on the wall and see that 2006 recruiting class, it really goes down as one of the best recruiting classes in UCLA history,” Savage said. “Along with the expectations, the buildup of the last three years. We haven’t lived up to (the top preseason ranking), but at the end of the day, we’re in regionals.”
As freshmen in their first year in Westwood, the core group was part of a team that lost to Missouri, failing to move past the Malibu Regional in the 2006 NCAA tournament. After a third-place finish in the highly competitive Pac-10, the players used the learning experience to advance even further last year as sophomores. UCLA swept through the Long Beach Regional before falling short of Omaha at the Super Regional against Cal State Fullerton.
This year, the rising success and abundance of returning talent earned the program a first-place ranking from Baseball America before the season started. Although the Bruins began the season with a favorable 6-1 record, a number of injuries began to deplete a talented roster, which only increased the pressure on the veterans to perform well for the remainder of the season.
But the poise of the third-year players at the crucial finish to the season allowed the team to fulfill its once doubtful playoff aspirations and cement itself in Bruin baseball history.
“This feels amazing,” Babineau said. “To be a part of the first team in UCLA history to make a regional three consecutive years; it is really a tribute to our guys and all the hard work that we’ve put in. We’re all really excited for the opportunity.”
Now the Bruins hope this opportunity leads to a trip to the College World Series, which is something no Bruin team has accomplished since 1997. Though the regular season was marred by inconsistency, veteran players hope the recent postseason familiarity will be beneficial.
“We know what we’re getting ourselves into,” Babineau said. “I think one thing that happened last year is that we got ahead of ourselves in the Super Regional. We were thinking about Omaha as opposed to worrying about taking care of that game, that day.”
In addition to trying to live up to high expectations, Savage said some players may have been trying too hard to impress big league scouts. Since players are eligible to get drafted by a MLB team following their third year at a university, there is added pressure for those attempting to raise their draft stock.
“We’ve been through a lot this season,” Savage said. “Some players have struggled during their junior years ““ their draft year. There are a lot of things that sometimes people and fans don’t realize. These players have a lot of pressures on them. But they did step up and were accountable. Now we’ve turned the corner in the last couple of weeks in terms of being the team we thought we were going to be.”
Curtis is one of the third-year players who began to play to his potential in the latter parts of the season. The scrappy leadoff batter, who switched from shortstop to third base once he arrived at UCLA, became increasingly consistent as this season progressed, registering 35 hits in only 24 Pac-10 contests. Known for being a vocal leader and team captain on the field, Curtis was at a loss for words after realizing what his team and his junior class had accomplished.
“I’m speechless,” Curtis said. “UCLA has been here for a while, and we’re the only team that’s ever (reached the postseason) three times. I’m excited, pumped, but at the same time ready ““ ready to play.”