Juan Villa/ The Collegian

Fans in Omaha weren̢۪t the only ones cheering when Fresno State took the NCAA championship in game three of the College World Series (CWS) on June 25. Baseball fans all around Fresno were getting caught up in the excitement.

Some were simply shocked that the team made it to the series at all. After losing 12 of 20 games coming into the season, the Bulldogs managed to fight their way up to the Regionals, Super Regionals and eventually, to the CWS where they captured Fresno State̢۪s first national title for baseball.

“I didn’t even expect them to make it to the finals,â€Â said Kim Nottingham of Clovis. Nottingham was just one of the hundreds watching game three at the Dog House Grill the night Fresno State beat Georgia 6-1 to take the title.

Michael Johns, a senior mass communication and journalism major at Fresno State, was tending the bar at the Dog House Grill during the Wednesday night victory. He described the scene as crazy but high in spirit.

“It was fun,â€Â Johns said. “[The crowds] were keeping us busy.â€Â

Fans rock local businesses

The restaurant had stayed open more than an hour after the regular closing time to deal with the multitude of eager spectators. According to Johns, the police had to close Shaw Avenue near Dog House Grill due to the throngs of thrilled fans pouring out onto the street.

“It was a mess,â€Â Johns said of the aftermath. “There was an inch of beer on the floor.â€Â

Another local establishment that felt the shockwave of Fresno State̢۪s triumph was the Bulldog Shop on Cedar and Barstow. Although the store had ordered a large quantity of Bulldog apparel for the victory in advance, it couldn̢۪t predict just how many Bulldog supporters wanted to sport their team̢۪s accomplishment.

Diane Brock, staff manager at the Bulldog Shop, said the store had sold 35,900 items in all on June 25, while 40,000 left the door the next day.

“The night they won, we had 350 people in the parking lot,â€Â said Bulldog Shop employee Ernie Ott.
A longtime fan of Fresno State baseball, Ott admitted that he didn̢۪t catch many of the games during the season until the Bulldogs made it through the Super Regionals.

“Once we were going, I was really supportive,â€Â Ott said. “No one’s going to forget Fresno State.â€Â

Championship creates interest in sport

For others who were not quite so devoted, the win sparked some newfound interest in the team. Some locals, like David Tran of Fresno, had low expectations of Fresno State going into the season but began paying attention after several strings of victories.

“I’ll probably watch the first game,â€Â Tran said of next season, indicating his possible support depending on the outcome.

Diamond ‘Dogs drafted

While still in the wake of their success, things may change for the Bulldogs in the following season. Pitcher Justin Wilson was the fifth pick for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2008 Draft. Several other players were signed by professional teams across the country including infielder Erik Wetzel by the Colorado Rockies, pitcher Clayton Allison by the L.A. Dodgers and outfielder Steve Susdorf by the Philadelphia Phillies.

“I think it’s cool,â€Â said Ott of the team members’ good fortune. “I always support Fresno State players that do well.â€Â