The Local Boys of Summer
The Local Boys of Summer
The Local Boys of Summer
By Chris Thompson
More than 91,000 square foot of sod lay on the new practice field of the Roadrunners of Cal State University, Bakersfield. More than just a place to play, every blade represents the face of a movement and the accomplishment of a dream that began years ago. Although other Cal State sports have started their DI schedule, this team and the field it plays on drives home the idea that CSUB is now playing with the big boys.
The traditional baseball setting in Bakersfield to date has you either facing the sun or watching your son playing little league or high school ball. This spring, the enjoyment of a glass of lemonade on a cool afternoon can be found in a new setting. The season has just begun for the 2009 ‘Runners baseball team and the community seems to be filled with a new love of the game of baseball. It seems as if baseball itself has also found a love of CSUB.
In the spring of 2005, the majority of the CSUB student body voted in favor of increases to their fees to help raise the revenue needed to take the school to the next level. Understanding the challenges ahead, the leaders of the institution worked with the community to bring in additional revenue through donations to make this transition possible. One of the many changes, one of the largest, was the addition of baseball to the list of student activities offered at the school. Although the baseball team is not a requirement to make the move to Division I, it is a requirement to become part of the Big West division, a league that CSUB would like to call home.
Not only is this baseball team the face of the DI transition, it has also brought great opportunity to a few young men looking to play ball while staying close to home. Of the 25 man roster of the ‘Runners inaugural season, two freshmen and a junior come from Bakersfield high schools.
Infielder Brandon Boren, a junior liberal arts major looking to focus on Physical Education and Kinesiology, is one of the senior members of the ‘Runners and comes to the team after spending the last two years at Bakersfield College. “I knew I wanted to keep playing after BC, and when I heard CSUB was going to have a baseball program, it interested me right off the bat.”
Boren is excited that his family will be able to continue watching him play as they plan to come out to all of the home games and most of the road games.
“We know there is some excitement about the team,” Boren says. “We play a really tough schedule, we have Fresno State coming in and we play a lot of really good team, so everyone is excited.”
Yes, the Fresno State. All three local members of the CSUB ‘Runners, along with many in the community are excited about the seven games played against the 2008 NCAA Champions, with two of those games being played in Bakersfield at the new field built on the CSUB campus.
So many donors stepped up to the plate to help get the baseball team ready for the season. The hard work of contractors seems to have paid off; as the field conditions of the new practice facility are some of the best these young men have played on. “It’s fantastic. It’s perfect,” Boren continues. “I’ve never played on an infield that has played better than this one. It’s pristine.”
Jacob Valenzuela, a right-handed pitcher spent his high school years at Garces. The first year business major grew up in Lamont and moved to Bakersfield when he was nine. Through high school he had thoughts of playing college ball out of the area, but when CSUB was interested, he took advantage of an opportunity to play at home.
“Just being able to play against schools out of state,” is one of the things exciting Valenzuela going into his first collage baseball season, he says.
“A couple teachers from Garces still keep in touch as ask how things are going,” says Valenzuela. “Two years ago, I had a teammate go to Stanford, the year before, one to Pepperdine, and this year is my year. I’m here. I’m ready to play DI baseball.”
Joining Valenzuela in the pitching rotation is Korie Walkley, a 2008 graduate of Centennial High School. He, too, had other schools in mind to play at, but it was a conversation with coach Bill Kernen in the summer of his senior year that helped solidify the deal to bring Walkley to the ‘Runners. He considered the other offers, but it was evident that he wanted to play ball in Bakersfield.
“This is a great community and I have a chance to represent this community at the division I level for baseball. It’s a great opportunity,” Walkley says.
One of Walkleys most memorable moments playing high school ball came in his junior year when the Golden Hawks won the section championship. “There is no better feeling,” he says. “And I can’t wait to feel that again.”
But the feeling of winning a DI championship won’t be felt by the ‘Runners this season.
Due to the transitional years between DII and DI, CSUB will not be eligible for the playoffs until the 2011 season. That still won’t keep the team from working as hard as they can. When you know from the start that playoffs are not an option, you have to look for other measures of success.
“Most people measure success on wins and losses,” Boren says. “Our success is going to be improving everyday, staying competitive everyday and playing the game the same way everyday. Leaving the field knowing that we put as much into it that day to win.”
So as Spring fever hits Bakersfield, the local boys of summer will be giving it their all knowing their local parents are watching them play division 1 college baseball on a local field with an entire community behind them. For a city that loves baseball, it looks as if, finally, a baseball team is ready to love Bakersfield back.