Fresno State Athletics
Underdogs to Wonderdogs: Catching up with Steve Susdorf
3/14/2018 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
GoBulldogs.com recently caught up with former Diamond 'Dog and College World Series All-Tournament Team selection Steve Susdorf this spring to get his reflections on the 2008 season as well as his advice to younger baseball players. As part of the 10-year anniversary of the 'Dogs run to the national championship in Omaha, we will take a look back at that historic season and that team will be honored prior to the Diamond 'Dogs game against San Jose State on Sunday, April 15 at 1:05 p.m. at Bob Bennett Stadium.
By: Savannah Stoeckle
Communications Student Assistant
The 2008 National Champion Bulldogs will be honored all season as part of the 10-year anniversary of the Diamond 'Dogs run to the championship in Omaha. The team will be honored prior to the Diamond 'Dogs game against San Jose State on Sunday, April 15 at Bob Bennett Stadium.
A decade ago, the Fresno State baseball team made history in Omaha. The Underdogs became the Wonderdogs in their 2008 appearance through the College World Series, shocking the nation and bringing a national championship title back home to the Valley.
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In their trek to the national stage, the Diamond 'Dogs were led by four-year Bulldog outfielder, Steve Susdorf.
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Susdorf left Fresno State as one of the most decorated student-athletes Fresno State Baseball has ever seen. The star outfielder was a three-time first-team All-WAC selection in his sophomore through senior seasons. By the end of his senior campaign, the Newhall, Calif. native was named the 2008 WAC Player of the Year and earned the WAC Male Athlete of the Year award in the same season.
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After the College World Series run, Susdorf was recognized nationally for his athletic performances as well as his academic performances. As a senior in 2008, Susdorf found himself as an ESPN The Magazine Academic Second-Team All-American, a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Third-Team All-American, a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Second-Team All-American and a CoSIDA Academic All-American.
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Susdorf was a major contributor to the Bulldogs' three consecutive WAC regular season and tournament titles in 2006, 2007 and 2008 while qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons and bringing home the national title in 2008.
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The former Bulldog has made himself comfortable in the Fresno State baseball record books as he is currently first in program history in career doubles (70) and RBIs (217), he is tied for second in runs (207), third in hits (297), fourth in career games played (243) and at-bats (899) and tied for fifth in home runs (39).
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Susdorf was drafted in the 16th round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies and played in the minor leagues from 2008-14 with a batting average of .299 through 643 games played.
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GoBulldogs.com recently caught up with former Diamond 'Dog and College World Series All-Tournament Team selection Susdorf this spring to get his reflections on the 2008 season as well as his advice to younger baseball players.
Susdorf on looking back on the magical 2008 season…
"That was the best time I have ever had playing baseball! Even in my professional career, getting the chance to play with the Phillies, I still look back on that trip to the College World Series with so many fond memories. Everybody played so well together on the team that we had. We didn't have just one superstar on the team and it was a great group of guys that liked playing baseball and loved playing together. It was a great time!
Â
On where the CWS run ranks in his life….
"I am so happy and so blessed to have that as a memory in my life. I would have to rank it right behind getting married to my wife and starting our family. It was a really special time in my life."
Â
On his advice to ballplayers now…
"Just enjoy it. It is college baseball. Anyone who has gone on to play professional baseball will say it is a little bit different. You are trying to work your way up the ladder and it is not always so much about winning games, it is more about your individual performance. College baseball is nothing like that. College baseball is a team game. The camaraderie that you get from hanging around the guys every day, you really develop fond friendships. Just enjoy the time while you are here and do not be looking ahead. A lot of guys start looking to get drafted their junior year to start to live their dream that they have always wanted to live, but enjoy the time here because everybody looks back and misses it."
Â
On this year's Diamond 'Dogs…
"They look really good! They swing the bats really well and their starting pitcher really attacks the hitters and gets ahead early. If they get hot at the right time, they could get something done this year!"
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter:Â @Fresno StateBSB
Instagram:Â fresnoathletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
Communications Student Assistant
The 2008 National Champion Bulldogs will be honored all season as part of the 10-year anniversary of the Diamond 'Dogs run to the championship in Omaha. The team will be honored prior to the Diamond 'Dogs game against San Jose State on Sunday, April 15 at Bob Bennett Stadium.
A decade ago, the Fresno State baseball team made history in Omaha. The Underdogs became the Wonderdogs in their 2008 appearance through the College World Series, shocking the nation and bringing a national championship title back home to the Valley.
Â
In their trek to the national stage, the Diamond 'Dogs were led by four-year Bulldog outfielder, Steve Susdorf.
Â
Susdorf left Fresno State as one of the most decorated student-athletes Fresno State Baseball has ever seen. The star outfielder was a three-time first-team All-WAC selection in his sophomore through senior seasons. By the end of his senior campaign, the Newhall, Calif. native was named the 2008 WAC Player of the Year and earned the WAC Male Athlete of the Year award in the same season.
Â
After the College World Series run, Susdorf was recognized nationally for his athletic performances as well as his academic performances. As a senior in 2008, Susdorf found himself as an ESPN The Magazine Academic Second-Team All-American, a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Third-Team All-American, a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Second-Team All-American and a CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Â
Susdorf was a major contributor to the Bulldogs' three consecutive WAC regular season and tournament titles in 2006, 2007 and 2008 while qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons and bringing home the national title in 2008.
Â
The former Bulldog has made himself comfortable in the Fresno State baseball record books as he is currently first in program history in career doubles (70) and RBIs (217), he is tied for second in runs (207), third in hits (297), fourth in career games played (243) and at-bats (899) and tied for fifth in home runs (39).
Â
Susdorf was drafted in the 16th round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies and played in the minor leagues from 2008-14 with a batting average of .299 through 643 games played.
Â
GoBulldogs.com recently caught up with former Diamond 'Dog and College World Series All-Tournament Team selection Susdorf this spring to get his reflections on the 2008 season as well as his advice to younger baseball players.
Susdorf on looking back on the magical 2008 season…
"That was the best time I have ever had playing baseball! Even in my professional career, getting the chance to play with the Phillies, I still look back on that trip to the College World Series with so many fond memories. Everybody played so well together on the team that we had. We didn't have just one superstar on the team and it was a great group of guys that liked playing baseball and loved playing together. It was a great time!
Â
On where the CWS run ranks in his life….
"I am so happy and so blessed to have that as a memory in my life. I would have to rank it right behind getting married to my wife and starting our family. It was a really special time in my life."
Â
On his advice to ballplayers now…
"Just enjoy it. It is college baseball. Anyone who has gone on to play professional baseball will say it is a little bit different. You are trying to work your way up the ladder and it is not always so much about winning games, it is more about your individual performance. College baseball is nothing like that. College baseball is a team game. The camaraderie that you get from hanging around the guys every day, you really develop fond friendships. Just enjoy the time while you are here and do not be looking ahead. A lot of guys start looking to get drafted their junior year to start to live their dream that they have always wanted to live, but enjoy the time here because everybody looks back and misses it."
Â
On this year's Diamond 'Dogs…
"They look really good! They swing the bats really well and their starting pitcher really attacks the hitters and gets ahead early. If they get hot at the right time, they could get something done this year!"
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter:Â @Fresno StateBSB
Instagram:Â fresnoathletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
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