Fresno State Athletics
Wonderdogs go to Washington
11/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 11, 2008
WASHINGTON D.C. - Only a few have ever been to Washington D.C, and none have ever met a President. So to a man, Wednesday's trip to the White House by the Bulldog baseball team will be historic and memorable.
This group of 25 players and four coaches captured the hearts of America in June by becoming one of the biggest underdog stories in college sports history and winning the 2008 College World Series in Omaha.
Just getting to Omaha was a miraculous feat, as the Dogs took the toughest route of any of the final eight teams.
The Bulldogs, a No. 4 regional seed, won the Long Beach Regional with wins over nationally ranked Long Beach State and San Diego and then took two-of-three games over No. 3 national seed Arizona State to win the Tempe Super Regional. By then the Dogs had already made history as lowest seeded team to ever reach a College World Series.
But the Wonderdogs didn't stop there.
They beat No. 5 Rice 17-5 to open the tournament, and beat No. 2 North Carolina twice to reach the CWS Championship series against No. 6 Georgia.
After losing the first game, a tough 7-6 decision, Fresno State rebounded to win game two 19-10 and then drilled the southern Dawgs 6-1 in the championship game. A few weeks after returning home, this band of California natives learned they had been invited to the White House by President Bush.
The team departed the Fresno State campus early Tuesday morning and spent most of the day in the air flying to the East Coast. Upon arriving after sundown in the nation's capital, the Dogs boarded the nicest bus the team traveled on the entire season, complete with leather seats and a kitchenette.
For all, this trip was a much anticipated journey and the first time they have all been together since returning from Omaha.
"That's what I'm looking forward to, is being with the guys again," said former pitcher Justin Wilson. Wilson, who was drafted in the fifth round by the Pittsburgh Pirates has been traveling between the Pirate's Spring training facility in Bradenton, Fla., and his home in Clovis, Calif., since the end of the college season.
While most have enjoy the many fruits of victory for the winning the national championship, they all agree that the invitation to meet the President and visit the White House is at the top of the list.
GoBulldogs.com polled the players, and only three have ever been to Washington D.C. Second baseman Erik Wetzel, pitcher Sean Bonesteele and left fielder Steve Susdorf each went to Washington D.C. when they were 14 years old.
For Bonesteele and Wetzel, their favorite memories were seeing the memorials and historic monuments.
The players and coaches were asked to name their favorite "Presidential" movies. There were a wide variety of answers, but those getting the most votes were Independence Day, Air Force One, the American President and Pearl Harbor.
The team will receive a tour guided by a National Park Ranger on Wednesday morning. They will see the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial and other historic sites.
After that the team will receive a private tour of the White House before meeting President Bush. The team will have their photo taken with the President and then will adjourn to the South lawn of the White House where President Bush will give a speech to the team and others in attendance. The team returns to Fresno on Thursday afternoon.
Several of the players were asked: "What has been the best thing that's happened to you as a result of winning the College World Series?" Here are the responses:
Sean Bonesteele, Pitcher: "Getting to meet the President."
Jake Floethe, Pitcher: "Seeing Fresno State baseball receiving more recognition in the community."
Gene Escat, Pitcher: "This is the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Trent Soares, Outfielder: ""Exposure for the community of Fresno."
Steve Susdorf, Outfielder: "Receiving congratulatory comments from the all the fans."
Erik Wetzel, second baseman: "Going to meet the President."
Pat Waer, Assistant Coach: "Seeing the sense of pride and accomplishment in our players and seeing their faces when surrounded by a proud community. And, going to Washington D.C."
Join the State - Fresno State! Follow gobulldogs.com for more about the baseball team's historic trip to the White House and meeting with President George Bush. Photos and comments from the student-athletes will be available Wednesday afternoon.
