A sold out crowd of 3,825 came out to Beiden Field, Friday, to watch the 2008 national champs begin their title defense with a dramatic ninth inning, to beat the Washington Huskies.
If you were one of the 400 Fresno State students that were able to get a ticket to the baseball team̢۪s season opener on Friday, consider yourself lucky.
The atmosphere on Friday night was something rarely, if ever seen, at a Bulldog baseball game before.
“We were concerned that these kids were going to be a little too jacked up,â€Â head coach Mike Batesole said.
The Bulldogs kept their emotions in check for the first eight and a half innings, but in the bottom of the ninth the team finally let loose.
With the game tied 4-4 and a runner on third, it seemed fitting the College World Series hero Steve Detwiler would be the Bulldog at the plate.
The team and the crowd were ready to explode with Detwiler̢۪s game-winning hit, but instead, a new face won it for Fresno State.
Washington pitcher Brian Pearl came in from the bullpen and threw a wild pitch past his catcher.
Instead of Detwiler, again captivating ̢۪Dog fans with heroics, last season̢۪s third string catcher turned starting first baseman Jake Johnson, came home and beat the throw at the plate.
The fans cheered, screamed and jumped for Johnson, even if they didn̢۪t see him on ESPN last summer. And just like that, a new season with a new team identity and new fans began.
Bryan Cole / The Collegian
The game seemed like a perfect introduction to Bulldog baseball for fans without any ticket stubs from 2008.
But some die-hards didn̢۪t welcome the new fans quite the same way.
A few students called out the fans new to Bulldog baseball and labeled them as “bandwagonersâ€Â with signs from the student section, most notable a large sign that read, “Half of you won’t be back for the rest of the season.â€Â
The group made a point – a lot of the fans in attendance for the opening night were only there because of what happened in Omaha.
But wasn̢۪t that expected?
Fans are just looking to be a part of something and enjoy the emotional ride that goes along with that. Friday night when the Bulldogs hosted the Huskies, fans got exactly what they hoped for.
Everything changed in the summer of 2008, and the 2009 team has embraced their new identity and crowd.
“The emotions ran high before the first pitch was thrown, you can’t help but to get emotional and feel everyone’s eyes on you,â€Â Friday night’s starting pitcher Holden Sprague said.
Sprague and the Bulldogs fed off the crowd̢۪s added energy and passion that was throughout the stadium on Friday night.
Detwiler even said that when freshman outfielder Dusty Robinson hit a solo homerun in the eighth inning to take the lead back, Beiden Field felt differently than it ever has before.
“It was awesome out there. When Dusty Robinson hit that homerun the entire ground was shaking,â€Â Detwiler said. “It was the greatest feeling – I hope it’s like that tomorrow.â€Â
The games didn̢۪t sell out on Saturday or Sunday, but the crowd was much healthier than a typical weekend. And the players noticed the new faces in the stands.
Detwiler was thrilled to be a part of the atmosphere on Friday and see a full house, but said that the team is going to play their game regardless of crowd size.
“The crowd can do what they want,â€Â Detwiler said.
And hopefully that crowd will want to keep coming out to watch the Diamond ̢۪Dogs.
If they choose to get off the bandwagon, I have the feeling that this team will welcome the sold out crowds back within the next few years.
TW • Feb 26, 2009 at 6:23 pm
The most AGGRIVATING part of this whole ordeal is we were interviewed by the Collegian and our story was slaughter…typical media. We said that these signs weren’t by any means degrading or ‘making them feel like outsiders’. We said we WANTED to be proven wrong. We LOVE that there were thousands at the game. LOVED IT! Why wouldn’t we want it to be sold out every game? If it takes winning to get us here then fine! Whatever. We just want them to come back and STAY.
Period. End of story.
oh and p.s. students: when you come to section M PLEEEEEEEASE join in on the chants Suga Bear starts 🙂 thats why he’s there
TW • Feb 27, 2009 at 1:23 am
The most AGGRIVATING part of this whole ordeal is we were interviewed by the Collegian and our story was slaughter…typical media. We said that these signs weren’t by any means degrading or ‘making them feel like outsiders’. We said we WANTED to be proven wrong. We LOVE that there were thousands at the game. LOVED IT! Why wouldn’t we want it to be sold out every game? If it takes winning to get us here then fine! Whatever. We just want them to come back and STAY.
Period. End of story.
oh and p.s. students: when you come to section M PLEEEEEEEASE join in on the chants Suga Bear starts 🙂 thats why he’s there
KC • Feb 26, 2009 at 6:10 pm
thank you dw. The point that we were tryin to make was that people seem to only cheer for a team when they are winning! End of story. They aren’t there when they go thru slumps or losing seasons, only when their winning. And yes, Batesole has found a way to win while he has been here but yet there has still be lack of fan support.
The reason we bagged on them was because that was probably their only game that they were going to attend this whole season. Did you not read the article in the Fresno Bee about the lady who has had season tickets since the 90’s yet hasn’t attended a game since the mid 90’s? People were only there because we won a title, not because they enjoy watching baseball.
KC • Feb 27, 2009 at 1:10 am
thank you dw. The point that we were tryin to make was that people seem to only cheer for a team when they are winning! End of story. They aren’t there when they go thru slumps or losing seasons, only when their winning. And yes, Batesole has found a way to win while he has been here but yet there has still be lack of fan support.
The reason we bagged on them was because that was probably their only game that they were going to attend this whole season. Did you not read the article in the Fresno Bee about the lady who has had season tickets since the 90’s yet hasn’t attended a game since the mid 90’s? People were only there because we won a title, not because they enjoy watching baseball.
dw • Feb 24, 2009 at 9:38 am
FSDogs1, me thinks you doth protest way too much. I can’t speak for KC, but my take is that students are fed up with the community shoving them aside. Quit crying and enjoy the games!
dw • Feb 24, 2009 at 4:38 pm
FSDogs1, me thinks you doth protest way too much. I can’t speak for KC, but my take is that students are fed up with the community shoving them aside. Quit crying and enjoy the games!
FSDogs1 • Feb 23, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I disagree KC. As one of the fans who has been to a heck of a lot of games (dare I say many more than those holding up the signs) I’m embarrassed that some keep looking for every chance they get to “call out” those who are new to the games or who don’t come as often.
There have been consistently large crowds at Beiden before, in the late ’80s and early ’90s. And now three games into the season, there are large crowds again (let’s hope it stays that way). What’s the common theme? Winning! Coach Batesole knows that what it takes to get huge numbers. And let’s be honest, even last year during what ended up a dream season, the ‘Dogs had a very mediocre and disappointing regular season.
So I ask, what good does it do to bag on the fans who are new? Don’t you think a more productive approach would have been to welcome them to the Diamond ‘Dog family and make the experience enjoyable? Or do you think by holding up signs trying to shame them and make them feel like outsiders you’re going to be more likely to get them back out to the ballpark?
FSDogs1 • Feb 24, 2009 at 5:17 am
I disagree KC. As one of the fans who has been to a heck of a lot of games (dare I say many more than those holding up the signs) I’m embarrassed that some keep looking for every chance they get to “call out” those who are new to the games or who don’t come as often.
There have been consistently large crowds at Beiden before, in the late ’80s and early ’90s. And now three games into the season, there are large crowds again (let’s hope it stays that way). What’s the common theme? Winning! Coach Batesole knows that what it takes to get huge numbers. And let’s be honest, even last year during what ended up a dream season, the ‘Dogs had a very mediocre and disappointing regular season.
So I ask, what good does it do to bag on the fans who are new? Don’t you think a more productive approach would have been to welcome them to the Diamond ‘Dog family and make the experience enjoyable? Or do you think by holding up signs trying to shame them and make them feel like outsiders you’re going to be more likely to get them back out to the ballpark?
KC • Feb 23, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Thank you that was my sign on the paper! It seems as though we are receiving alot of grief however for calling out the bandwagon fans. We would love to see every game sold out but that isn’t realistic. People need to realize we called out those fans who only came to fridays game and wont come the rest of the season!
KC • Feb 23, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Thank you that was my sign on the paper! It seems as though we are receiving alot of grief however for calling out the bandwagon fans. We would love to see every game sold out but that isn’t realistic. People need to realize we called out those fans who only came to fridays game and wont come the rest of the season!
dw • Feb 23, 2009 at 8:26 am
When I saw the photo on the front page of the Bee the other day, I got a good laugh. Especially the sign that read “Where were you when we were 8-12?” Great!! The fairweather fans deserve a good ribbing–especially when some of them want the students to cough up more money to support the athletics program!
dw • Feb 23, 2009 at 3:26 pm
When I saw the photo on the front page of the Bee the other day, I got a good laugh. Especially the sign that read “Where were you when we were 8-12?” Great!! The fairweather fans deserve a good ribbing–especially when some of them want the students to cough up more money to support the athletics program!