SAUGET, Ill-  Sonoma State seniors Dave Herman and Gino Lavezzo will be doing an online journal while the Seawolves are at the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament in Sauget, Illinois. 

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

10:00am – Knock. Knock. Meal money is delivered to us courtesy of Brandon Bronzan.  (Add that to the job title…….Sports Information director and meal money distributor)

12:30pm – All you can eat buffet at the Porterhouse Steak shop. Vance, Matty, Harms, Trevor, Adler, Herman, Slater, and Bridges all stuff our plates with chicken, buffalo wings, mashed potatoes, ribs, salad, you name it, all for the price of only $2.70 (it was customer appreciation day)

1:45pm – We all feel a little full and ready to hit up the bathrooms.

2:15pm – Many of us take advantage of the Bally's Fitness Center down the street. (Hotel guests are admitted for free) We all do our own workouts for about an hour or so just to pass the time and stay in shape on our day off.

4:00pm – Coach Kim tells us we can go take BP in the cages at the Field. We arrive and watch the remainder of the Ouachita Baptist vs. Ashland. OB had a 2 out rally which scored 5 runs to go ahead. We walked around the park as the game was ending. Once over, we were able to take a few rounds in the cage. Some guys took a round then left for the Cardinals Game.

6:00 p.m.-  Gino and Nick Nosti head to the Cardinals game with the Lavezzo family.  At the game, we run into the O'Brien family, the Bonificini family, the Garnett family, the Means family, Joe Slater, and Gary Moran, just to name a few.  We are also located in the same section as the Mount Olive players and family.  Nothing much is said between the two schools.  The new Busch stadium is beautiful and the Cardinals win 6-1.  Also sitting in our section is a local country singer named Hoss Howard.  He seems to be a local hero and many people get his autograph on a picture.  Joe Slater personally went up to Mr. Howard and got an autograph and CD. 

6:30pm – Return to the hotel to shower up and get ready for dinner.

8:00pm – 9 of us went to the OLIVE Garden for dinner. Trevor, Averikieff, Harms, Babin, Asslin, Konrad, Bridges, Walden, and Herman all enjoyed a nice dinner together. Service was slow, so Ian broke out some cards and we played “13” as we waited.

10:00pm – We rest and watch the Celtics vs Pistons game on the tv and pretty much call it a night. Some watch movies, others play Risk (Adler), and some just hang out. 

The World Series is currently down to 4 teams.  Undefeated Mount Olive will play Central Missouri tomorrow.  Central Missouri needs to beat Mount Olive twice to advance to the championship game.  We play Ouachita Baptist tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. local time (4:30 pm. California time).  Hopefully everyone will be listening.  Talk to you tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

12:00pm – Wake up time and meeting in the lobby.

12:30pm – Everyone waiting for the coaches to roll in after being tired from the night before.

1:00pm – Tornado warnings set out across the St. Louis area.

1:15pm – Tornado touches down on I-70, 5 miles from the Budweiser Factory. Tornado enthusiast Derek Harms says, “Let's go Catch that Tornado” in his best southern accent.

1:45pm – Leave for the Budweiser Factory Tour

2:30pm – Tour of the Anheuser Bush Brewery is under way. We saw 7 different stages of how beer is processed and packaged. More than half the team went on the tour and everyone remembered at least one interesting fact. “Adolphus Busch had 22 siblings,” Derek Harms remembered. “One in every two beers sold in the United States is a product of Anheuser, that's crazy” Vance Otake replied. “1,950 12oz cans we processed through one machine per minute,” Gino explained. And even Joe Slater, beer expert, said, “The 20 packs on the assembly line slide looked like they were coming down from heaven.”

3:45pm – Almost everyone bought something from the Budweiser gift shop upon departure. Athletic Trainer, Julie bought a few souvenirs for friends, family, and even staff members who weren't able to make it out here. Sports Information Director Brandon Bronzan said he had a great time hanging out with the team, outside of baseball for once.

4:30pm – The 19 inning game took its toll on a lot of guys, so most of us took naps. '

6:00pm – The Lavezzo and Herman family went out to Hoolihans for a nice dinner. Others dine in the hotel Restaurant, TGI Fridays.

9:00pm - Derek Harms and I went to watch the Lakers game down at the Restaurant bar. Lakers won so most of the So-cal guys on the team were pumped (others could care less?).  We then snuck into the indoor pool later that night to swim a few laps. This Hotel is starting to drive most of us delirious, so both coaches and players are finding ways of staying entertained.

Next Game Thursday…


Monday May 26, 2008

1:00 p.m.  Due to the fact that we didn't have any obligations at the field, we slept in and woke up around 1.  After lunch at LottaWatta Creek, we came back to the hotel to hang out for the apparent 4 p.m. meeting with the coaches

4:00 p.m.  Meeting rescheduled for 5 p.m.

5:00 p.m.  No meeting, we are to be ready to leave for the field at 6 p.m.

6:00 p.m.  We are informed we will be leaving at 6:15 p.m.

6:15 p.m.  We are finally informed that we will be leaving at 6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.  Leave for the field for our approximate 8 p.m.  start time.  Once at the field we take pre-game batting practice and watch the end of the Franklin Pierce-Shippensburg game.  After Shippensburg  finished off a 9-2 victory, we stretch and play catch on the field.

8:09 p.m.  The game of the century begins.  We scored 2 runs in the first and take a 4-0 lead after 4 innings on home runs by Ian Bridges and Travis Babin.  Little did we know, we would be partaking in one of the longest games in NCAA history.  Central Missouri scored a run to tie up the ball game in the bottom
of the 8th, and it would be the last run to cross for 9 full innings

1:53 a.m.  Dave Herman led off the 18th frame with a solo homer to left.  Taking a commanding 5-4 lead, the Mules of Central Missouri came back and scored a run in the bottom half of the inning.  Heading into the top half of the 19th Konrad Thieme led off with a hit and Derek Harms got a walk (after 4 consecutive strikeouts  in 4 at bats).  With one out Dave Herman got a hit to load the bases bringing to the plate…………Kevin Asselin and his zero career college at bats.  After taking a strike, Asselin hit a drag bunt slap shot (aka Wayne Gretzky) just over the pitchers head and in front of the drawn in infield.  The shortstop fielded the ball and threw to second for the second out but could not get the speedy Asselin at first.  Konrad Thieme scored on the play giving us a 6-5 lead.

2:54 a.m.  Asselin induced a groundout to Kris Haycock at short for the final out, there was a small celebration at the pitchers mound as everyone was glad the game was finally over.  Final out recorded just before 3 a.m. Central Time.

3:45 a.m.  We return to the hotel seeking food, since everyone hadn't eaten since about 5pm, the mini-mart across from the hotel was our only resort

4:00a.m. Why am I still awake?.......see you in a few hours.

Thanks to everyone who has been  following us online during the World Series.  The numerous text messages and phone calls that we all received after the game and throughout the week have been great.


Sunday May 25, 2008

9:30am – Bang, Bang on the door. Gino's little cousins (ages 5 and 10) coming in yelling, “Mohawks, Mohawks.” Team haircutter Joe Slater lined them up with some new Mohawks.

10:45am- Quiznos sandwiches arrive at the front desk courtesy of head operations of our new batting cages. Guys talk amongst each other about last night's game between Franklin Pierce and Central Missouri. We also comment on the southern accents heard throughout the hotel from the southern Schools.

12:00pm – Leave for the opening ceremony at GCS Ballpark. Took a team photo, which was different because for once in our lives,(Adler and Herman) we got to stand in the back while the big guys sat in the front row.  We then proceeded onto the Field leading all the other teams as they announced each team, and how they got to this point and so on. We lined up on the infield grass followed by the other teams as the commissioner talked about what is means to be here. Gary Moran looked like a Giant standing between Adler and Herman out on the field, many parents commented about after the ceremony.

1:45pm – Head back to the hotel to change out of our uniforms. The sky; dark, cloudy, and ugly looking begins shooting lightning and thunder out in the distance. Soon to follow, a sudden downpour of rain erupts before us as we all look out our windows. Within 10 mins the rain goes away and sky looks overcast as normal.

2:45pm – Leave for St. Louis County where Nick Nosti's girlfriend, Kate, hosts us at her home for an afternoon BBQ.  The team could not stop its competitiveness as they began playing washers, a modified version of horseshoes where you toss washers into a small box with a tube in the middle. In the box is worth one point and in the tube is worth three points. Ian, the first to get it in the tube made sure it was known. Food was great, hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans, and chips and guacamole. The players  parents joined at the barbeque as well for a very enjoyable afternoon.

6:30pm – We head back to the hotel, along the way we saw some interesting billboards. The billboards were awfully forward in the St. Louis area; (Casino Queen: Loosest Slots in the Country!!!, Mac Donalds: Avoid the P.M. Slump, St. Louis Health Center: HIV has a face….. and it could be yours.) Just to name a few, that gave us all laughs.

9:15pm- Back in the hotel room, some are at the Mount Olive game, some in the rooms listening to the game. The game has been delayed due to lightning in the area which came as close as three miles away. The forecast  as of right now is displaying tornado warnings and severe thunder and lightning in our area. As of now only one game has been played so far and there still is another game to be played.

10:30 – lightning storm has arrived. I'm going to hide under my bed… talk to you tomorrow…. If we're still alive…. Jk..


Saturday, May 24, 2008
9:30    - Guys wake up and eat breakfast down at the continental breakfast. Some guys complained they couldn't sleep last night because they were so anxious for the game. (Except for Morgan Rodriguez who has a king size bed all to himself.)

11:30     - Gino's extended family came up to the room and we hung out with his cousins and convinced them into cutting their hair into Mohawks tomorrow.  They are ages 5 and 10.

12:20     - Vans leave for field.

12:30    -We find out opening ceremony is cancelled due to rain.

1:00pm – Arrive at ballpark and the field is covered with the tarp and the sky opens up on us for about 20mins.

1:30pm-  We head down to the batting cages to take some pre-game batting  practice.

2:00 pm-  The sky opens up on us again and we are forced into our dugout while the inclement weather passes

3:10 pm-  First pitch against Shippensburg.  Nick Nosti leads off with a walk and Kris Haycock proceeds to deposit a fastball over the left center field fence for an early 2-0 lead.  Matt Means delivered seven strong innings and the offense delivered four home runs.  Konrad Thieme hit his team leading 19th home run.   Mark Pestorich, Travis Babin, and Haycock also added home runs.  Nick O'Brien came on and threw 2 scoreless innings. 

8:00pm- Team dinner at Joe's Crab Shack.  Numerous questions about the team Mohawks from the crab shack staff. Harms, Herman, and Tucker had the meals of the night with the bucket of king and dungeness crab, crab  bib and all.  Dinner was followed up by a dance off between Gino and Derek along with the crab shack employees to the hit song, “LOVE SHACK.”

9:45pm – Back at the hotel. A record setting elevator ride to the fifth floor included 17 sonoma state baseball players in one elevator. Probably not the smartest idea but we had fun.

Day off tomorrow…. More to come.

Friday, May 23, 2008

8:30 a.m.-  Everybody gets up and eats at the continental breakfast at the hotel.  They had donuts so that was the best part of the meal for me.  It looks pretty overcast this morning and they are calling for rain.  Hopefully it holds off so we can practice.

9:15 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.-  We left for GCS Ballpark for our team practice.  We run some sprints and play catch in the parking lot.  Shippensburg, our first opponent, had the field before us and we got to see them take some batting practice.  When we get on the field we took infield/outfield practice as well as took batting practice.  The right field line is only 301 feet from home plate so it looks like there will be a lot of home runs hit.  Balls are absolutely flying out of right field.  At this rate, David Adler will have a couple home runs at the end of the tourney.  After our practice we give way to FranklinPierce University and head back to the hotel. 

12:00 p.m.- 1:00 p.m.-  Went to lunch with Dave Herman and Derek Harms at LottaWata Creek Southern Grill.  We decided to eat light for lunch, but when our food came the portions were huge.  Definitely two thumbs up for this place.

1:30 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.-  Hang out at the hotel and take a nap. Play video games

5:20p.m.-8:30 p.m.-  Went to GCS Ballpark for the opening banquet.  The keynote speaker was a man named Bill Lee who had played in the College World Series for University of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in 1976.  For dinner we had chicken sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, salad, bean, and corn for dinner at the park with the other 7 teams in the World Series.  Then we watched the first 3 innings of the Gateway Grizzlies vs. Southern Illinois Miners.  One of the guys on the Grizzlies had two homers in the first 3 innings.  We went back to the hotel to get rest for the game tomorrow.  We are leaving for the field at 12:20 p.m. for the Opening Ceremony at 1:00 p.m.  All the guys on the team seem to be really excited for the game and we can't wait to play.  More to come tomorrow's after the game.



Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

7:30 a.m.  – Charter Bus leaves loading dock.  A first for our team.

9:30 a.m. – Arrive @ Oak Airport, everyone is excited and in good moods to leave and be finished with school. Mama Lavezzo greets us with brownies at the terminal.

10:00 a.m. – Security gives some guys strange looks, aka Mohawks, but we all pass without any problems.

11.00 am – Southwest flight 2968 is called and we board the plane.

11:35 a.m. - Our plane is in the air. Headed to LAX then to St. Louis

12:40 a.m. - Plane is a little rough on the way down to L.A.  (aka stop #1)

2:00 p.m. – Plane takes off for final destination St. Louis, MI.
-    Some guys watch movies, eat lunch on plane
-    Play cards
-    Fall asleep

7:00 p.m. – Plane arrives in Lambert International Airport in Missouri.
        - Coaches goto get the vans while others keep busy by playing hacky sac and others play catch on the lawn.

9:00 p.m. -  Arrive at Ramada hotel. Guys go straight to dinner at TGI Fridays.
      -  After a long day, everyone heads back to their rooms, some play risk, other fall asleep and we all are pumped about going to the ballpark for practice tomorrow morning.