1544 Miles to Omaha

Welcome into Episode 86 of the 1544 Miles to Omaha Podcast. Today's guest is once again, Cal State Fullerton Baseball Head Coach Jason Dietrich. In today's episode recorded a week prior to classes starting, coach Dietrich touches on the MLB Draft, which recruits made it to campus, staying competitive in the face of NIL and the transfer portal along other topics. Highlights include: 🎙️ Overcoming the dreadful 2024 Season (3:11) 🎙️ Notable contributors coming out of summer ball (4:54) 🎙️ Replacing 3 pitchers drafted (6:10) 🎙️ Lots of changes to coaching staff (8:52) 🎙️ Junior College Newcomers compared to transfer portal (14:23) 🎙️ Recruits that went undrafted in danger of going pro (10:08) 🎙️ Thoughts on the 4 transfer portal additions (11:53) 🎙️ New faces that could contribute in spring (14:13) 🎙️ Recruits that avoided the draft (20:29) 🎙️ How can CSUF stay competitive in the face of transfer portal era (21:46) 🎙️ What can Titan Baseball do to stay competitive with NIL (24:06) 🎙️ Staying competitive if NCAA allows 34 full ride scholarships (26:43) 🎙️ Fall schedule in preparation for 2025 (28:16) ▶️ Visit our website: calstateomaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter/X: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

A lot of great short stops have come through the doors at Cal State Fullerton, Christian Colon is arguably one of the best to have ever worn the Blue and Orange. A three-year player at Fullerton, Colon played for the Titans from 2008 through 2010 and was drafted fourth overall by the Kansas City Royals in 2010. (What's notable about that 2010 draft, Colon and teammate Gary Brown were both drafted in the first round. That is the only year multiple Titans were selected in the first round of the same draft.) During his time at Fullerton, Colon batted .349 with 29 home runs and drove in 147 runs. His 17 home runs in 2010 led the team and he currently still ranks in the top 10 in numerous Titan Baseball categories. His single season records with the Titans has him ranked tied for eighth with Sam Favata for runs scored at 82 in 2009. His 21 sacrifice hits in 2008 ranks second for a single season and is a Titans freshman record. Talking about sacrificing his body, he is tied for sixth with Ivory Thomas and Reed Johnson being hit by a pitch in 2009. For his three-year career in college, Colon's 766 at-bats ranks 8th but first among 3-year players. His 267 hits ranks sixth all time but again, ranks first among three-year players, ahead of other notable 3-year Titans like Mark Kotsay and Phil Nevin. Colon scored 214 runs in his Titan career, again, tops among three-year players. Christian was not only good at the plate, but he also had an excellent glove recoding 219 assists in 2010 which ranks third for a single season and 547 total assists in three years. Those 547 assists ranks fourth all time in Titan Baseball history and you guessed it, ranks No. 1 among three-year Titans. Only David Bacani, Justin Turner and Shane Turner, all four-year Titans, have more assists than Colon. An All-American all three years on campus, Colon also played for the Team USA Collegiate National teams in 2008 and 2009. Drafted fourth overall by the Kansas City Royals, Colon would make his debut July 1, 2014 with the Kansas City Royals. Playing six years in Major League Baseball with the Royals, Maimi Marlins and Cincinnati Reds, Colon's seminal moment came in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series vs. the New York Mets. Tied 2-2 in the Top of the 12th inning with Jarrod Dyson on third with one out, Colon gets a pinch-hit opportunity facing Addison Reed. On a 1-2 count, Colon hits a single into left field scoring Dyson to score the go-ahead run. Recently Colon was named the manager of the Arkansas Travelers, the Double - A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Highlights include: 🎙️ Growing up and moving as a kid (8:43) 🎙️ Choosing Cal State Fullerton (15:00) 🎙️ Choosing college over the MLB draft out of high school (22:08) 🎙️ Frosh year at CSUF (25:57) 🎙️ Broken leg before Junior year (36:10) 🎙️ Draft day (44:42) 🎙️ 2010 Super Regionals vs. UCLA (49:53) 🎙️ Starting professional career (51:46) 🎙️ Getting called up to the Show (58:21) 🎙️ Hit & stolen base in 2014 AL Wild Card (60:29) 🎙️ Now manager of Arkansas Travelers (1:08:37) ▶️ Visit our website: CalStateOmaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Follow Christian Colon on Instagram: @christiancolon24 ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

Welcome into Episode 84 of the 1544 Miles to Omaha Podcast. Today's guest, Spencer Oborn, is arguably one of the greatest "one and done" players to have worn the Fullerton Orange and Navy Blue uniform. Oborn played for the Titans for the 1999 season and is ranked in the top ten in numerous single season achievements for the Titans. For that one season, Oborn hit .395, blasting 14 home runs and driving in 82 runs. His 104 hits in 1999 ranks tied for seventh with Kurt Suzuki for hits in a season. He hit seven triples which ranks tied for fourth with the likes of Hank LoForte, Gary Brown, Jose Mota and Matt Vejar. Those 82 runs batted in ranks tied for 10th with Titans Slugger Jared Clark. Oborn touched 182 total bases that season which ranks sixth in Titans single season history. Oborn's fantastic season did not go unnoticed earning Baseball America All-American 3rd team honors, Big West 1st team all-conference and named the Big West Conference Player of the Year. Selected in the 14th round of the 1999 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox, Oborn played three seasons in the White Sox organization playing in the Midwest and Carolina Leagues. Episode Highlights include: 🎙️ Growing up Spencer Oborn (5:30) 🎙️ Playing for BYU first (9:32) 🎙️ Choosing to transfer & come to CSUF (12:29) 🎙️ First impression when joining the 1999 Titans (20:57) 🎙️ 37-game hit streak (26:44) 🎙️ Why so much success at the plate (34:30) 🎙️ Draft Day 1999 (39:25) 🎙️ South Bend Regional (42:37) 🎙️ Choosing to stay on the road after South Bend (44:46) 🎙️ Super Regional at Ohio State (51:00) 🎙️ Omaha (53:11) 🎙️ Game 1 vs. Stanford (55:00) 🎙️ Game 2 vs. Texas A&M (57:20) 🎙️ Game 3 vs. Florida State (58:17) 🎙️ Once a Titan, Always a Titan (1:02:22) 🎙️ Going to play professionally (1:05:07) 🎙️ Coaching youth baseball now (1: 12:17) ▶️ Visit our website: calstateomaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

Welcome into Episode 83 of the 1544 Miles to Omaha Podcast. Today's guest is once again, Cal State Fullerton Baseball Head Coach Jason Dietrich. In today's episode we'll touch on heading into his third season as the head coach of the storied Titan Baseball program, updates from the summer, getting his thoughts on the MLB Draft, incoming transfers and signees along with what to expect with the upcoming fall practices. Highlights include: 🎙️ Catching up from the summer (2:16) 🎙️ Advantage of maintaining same staff for three years (4:21) 🎙️ Jake Pavletich 3rd paid assistant (5:29) 🎙️ Titans that had a good summer ball (6:47) 🎙️ Thoughts regarding 4 titans leaving via MLB draft (8:52) 🎙️ Recruits that went undrafted in danger of going pro (10:08) 🎙️ Thoughts on the 4 transfer portal additions (11:53) 🎙️ New faces that could contribute in spring (14:13) 🎙️ Players could shift to corner infield positions (16:20) 🎙️ Players competing for outfield spots (17:43) 🎙️ Predicting the weekend starters (19:22) 🎙️ Road Fall Scrimmage opponent & date announced (20:43) 🎙️ Spring Schedule still getting finalized (21:45) ▶️ Visit our website: calstateomaha.com ▶️ Follow us on X/Twitter:@CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

Welcome into Episode 82 of the 1544 Miles to Omaha Podcast. Our guest is once again, Cal State Fullerton Baseball Head Coach Jason Dietrich. We'll be discussing with coach the 2023 season, his second complete season as head coach of the historic and tradition rich program. The 2023 Titans finished the year 32-24, 20-10 in the Big West Conference and earned the automatic bid into the postseason playing in the Stanford Regional in Palo Alto. There the Titan went 1-2 eliminating San Jose State and preserving the streak of never going 0-2 in a Regional. Highlights include: 🎙️ Comparing Year 1 to Year 2 as Head Coach of Titan Baseball (2:18) 🎙️ Getting the team to mesh in 2023 (3:46) 🎙️ How did the Titan get hot in March & April (5:09) 🎙️ Losing streak in May (7:06) 🎙️ Players reaction to going to postseason for 1st time (9:32) 🎙️ Postseason reaction as a head coach (11:18) 🎙️ Thoughts on seniors Lew, White, Chester & Stultz (12:43) 🎙️ Ambiguity of the MLB draft & preparing for guys leaving or coming back (14:00) 🎙️ Titans playing in Keith LeClair Classic in 2024 (18:52) 🎙️ Staying competitive in the transfer portal (20:21) 🎙️ NIL & transfer portal turning College Baseball into MLB free agency? (19:45) 🎙️ Building blocks from 20233 to 2024 (26:00) ▶️ Visit our website: CalStateOmaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

In Episode 81, Cal State Fullerton All American Mike Parisi joins Dave Lamm via Twitter Spaces to discuss the final regular season weekend series vs. Cal Poly and gaining a berth into the NCAA Regionals after a 5 year layoff. Please subscribe to the show on whatever platform you are listening and share with family and friends. While there, please leave a 5 star rating and review. This helps other fans find the show more easily. ▶️ Visit our website: calstateomaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Follow Mike Parisi on Twitter: @michael_parisi ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

Warning - This podcast contains foul language and discusses adult subject matters that some may find objectionable. Listener discretion is advised. In Episode 80, we brought together members of the 1993 Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State baseball teams that took part in one of the most infamous brawls in college baseball history. 30 years ago on April 16, 1993, a brawl broke out in the top of the fourth inning, when Long Beach catcher Brian Whatley plowed into Fullerton catcher Bret Hemphill during a rundown that precipitated a bench-clearing brawl. The brawl delayed the game roughly 15 minutes and resulted in four ejections. Later on in the podcast we will lay out the exact details of the game and the brawl as described by Los Angeles Times staff writer Scott Miller published the following day. We gathered together a number of Titans and Dirtbags from those 1993 teams and brought them together via Twitter Spaces in a roundtable discussion, each sharing their perspective on that fateful night. Those that joined us from the Titans included: Mike Parisi - Pitcher DC Olsen - First Baseman Dante Powell - Outfielder From Long Beach those that joined included: Tim Falsken - 3rd Baseman Rudy Rodriguez - Shortstop (Catcher Brian Whatley wanted to join the conversation but was on a flight at the time and was unable to use his phone.) Please subscribe to the show on whatever platform you are listening and share with family and friends. While there, please leave a 5 star rating and review. This helps other fans find the show more easily. ▶️ Visit our website: CalStateOmaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: Instagram.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

In Episode 79, Cal State Fullerton All American Mike Parisi joins Dave Lamm via the phone to discuss and recap the weekend series vs. TCU and also the UCLA game. Despite losing two out of three in Fort Worth and dropping the mid-week game at UCLA, the non-conference losses have not affected Cal State Fullerton's standing in the Big West Conference. The Titans enter the weekend series vs. UC San Diego with a magic number of 7, meaning a mixed combination of seven Fullerton wins and UC Santa Barbara loses would clinch the Big West title for the Titans. Please subscribe to the show on whatever platform you are listening and share with family and friends. While there, please leave a 5 star rating and review. This helps other fans find the show more easily. ▶️ Visit our website: calstateomaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Follow Mike Parisi on Twitter: @michael_parisi ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

In Episode 78, Cal State Fullerton All American Mike Parisi joins Dave Lamm via the phone to discuss and recap the weekend series vs. UC Riverside and also the Loyola Marymount game. Cal State Fullerton sits atop the Big West Conference standings at 12-3, with a 2.5 game lead over the next postseason-eligible team in the standings, CSUN. Please subscribe to the show on whatever platform you are listening and share with family and friends. While there, please leave a 5 star rating and review. This helps other fans find the show more easily. ▶️ Visit our website:calstateomaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Follow Mike Parisi on Twitter: @michael_parisi ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

Episode 77 of the 1544 Miles to Omaha podcast features a conversation with former Titan Baseball player, Assistant Coach and Head Coach, George Horton. On Friday, April 21, 2023, George Horton's number 8 jersey number will be retired during a pre-game ceremony prior to the opening of the Cal State Fullerton vs. Cal State Bakersfield series. As player, Horton wore the number 8 from 1975 and 1976 and as a coach from 1991 to 2007. After Horton departed in 2007, a handful of players have worn the number 8 but no one ever will moving forward. We took this opportunity to speak with Coach Horton and give him the opportunity to thank those that have helped him get to this point, He also reflected on some of his successes as a coach and as a mentor while also thanking those that were integral not only in the team's success on the field but his own. Highlights include: 🎙️ Reflections on No. 8 getting retired (2:38) 🎙️ Preview of the festivities planned (5:41) 🎙️ Experiences with Team USA (8:39) 🎙️ Retiring number idea came from Coach Dietrich (12:07) 🎙️ Establishing a criteria to get a number retired (16:50) 🎙️ Jason Dietrich efforts to welcome in Titan Baseball alumni (21:13) 🎙️ Number retired in Dietrich's second year (23:50) 🎙️ ABCA Hall of Fame induction (28:36) 🎙️ Former players successful outside of baseball (33:39) 🎙️ Thanks to all that brought him to this point (43:05) ▶️ Visit our website: https://www.calstateomaha.com/calstateomaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Follow George Horton on Twitter: @G_Horton8 ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

In Episode 76, Cal State Fullerton All American Mike Parisi joins Dave Lamm via Twitter Spaces to discuss and recap the weekend series vs. UCSB during the final innings of the USC game. The Titans currently sit in second place behind UC San Diego in the Big West standings and have won six consecutive weekend series. Dave and Mike have made this type of conversation recapping the week that was and previewing the next week's opponents a regular weekly feature on Twitter Spaces. For those that want to listen live or perhaps participate and ask questions, we encourage you to join us on Twitter Spaces. For those that can not listen live, those conversations will then be made available on replay and available via this podcast. Please subscribe to the show on whatever platform you are listening and share with family and friends. While there, please leave a 5 star rating and review. This helps other fans find the show more easily. ▶️ Visit our website: calstateomaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Follow Mike Parisi on Twitter: @michael_parisi ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

In Episode 75, Cal State Fullerton All American Mike Parisi, joins Dave Lamm via the phone to discuss and recap the weekend series vs. Hawai'i. The Titans record sits at 14-9 (7-2 in the Big West) with a 2-1 series win over HAwai'i. The Titans open up a crucial three-game series, hosting UC Santa Barbara in a match-up that will determine the leader in the Big West Conference thus far. Dave and Mike have made this type of conversation recapping the week that was and previewing the next week's opponents a regular weekly feature on Twitter Spaces. Unfortunately, scheduling preventing it from happening this week but hopefully will resume next week. Those conversations will then be made available on replay and available via this podcast. Please subscribe to the show on whatever platform you are listening and share with family and friends. While there, please leave a 5 star rating and review. This helps other fans find the show more easily. ▶️ Visit our website: calstateomaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Follow Mike Parisi on Twitter: @michael_parisi ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

In Episode 74, Cal State Fullerton All American Mike Parisi, joins Dave Lamm on Twitter Spaces to discuss and recap the weekend series vs. UC Davis and the UCLA Mid-week game. At the end, both preview what to expect out of the Titans' next weekend series opponent, the University of Hawai'i. The Titans record sits at 12-8 with a series sweep vs.UCD and a win on Tuessday vs. UCLA. The Titans are tied with UC Santa Barbara for second place in the Big West Conference, both with a 5-1 conference record. Dave and Mike have made this type of conversation recapping the week that was and previewing the next week's opponents a regular weekly feature on Twitter Spaces. Those conversations will then be made available on replay and available via this podcast. Please subscribe to the show on whatever platform you are listening and share with family and friends. While there, please leave a 5 star rating and review. This helps other fans find the show more easily. ▶️ Visit our website: calstateomaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Follow Mike Parisi on Twitter: @michael_parisi ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

In Episode 73, Cal State Fullerton All American Mike Parisi, joins Dave Lamm on Twitter Spaces to discuss and recap the weekend series vs. UC Irvine. The Titans record sits at 8-8 with a two out of three series win vs.UCI. The Titans are tied for second place in the Big West Conference after the first week of conference play. The Titans hit the road for the third time in 2023, traveling to Davis to take on UC Davis in a three game series. Dave and Mike hope to make this type of conversation recapping the week that was and previewing the next week's opponents a regular weekly feature on Twitter Spaces and then the replay available via this podcast. Please subscribe to the show on whatever platform you are listening and share with family and friends. While there, please leave a 5 star rating and review. This helps other fans find the show more easily. ▶️ Visit our website: calstateomaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/calstateomaha ▶️ Follow us on Instagram:@calstateomaha ▶️ Follow Mike Parisi on Twitter: @michael_parisi ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

In Episode 72, Cal State Fullerton All American Mike Parisi, joins Dave Lamm on Twitter Spaces to discuss and recap the weekend series vs. Texas and the mid-week game vs. Utah. The Titans record sits at 4-6 with a two out of three series win vs. Texas but a loss to Utah during the mid-week. The Titans hit the road for the first time in 2023, traveling to Malibu to take on Pepperdine in a three game series. Dave and Mike hope to make this type of conversation recapping the week that was and previewing the next week's opponents a regular weekly feature on Twitter Spaces and then the replay available via this podcast. Please subscribe to the show on whatever platform you are listening and share with family and friends. While there, please leave a 5 star rating and review. This helps other fans find the show more easily. ▶️ Visit our website: https://www.calstateomaha.com/ ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calstateomaha/ ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calstateomaha/ ▶️ Follow Mike Parisi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/michael_parisi ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

In Episode 71, Cal State Fullerton All American Mike Parisi, joins Dave Lamm on Twitter Spaces to discuss and recap the weekend series vs. Michigan. Due to weather and field conditions, the Titans only played two games, a double header on Sunday, and had to cancel the final game along with reschedule the mid-week contest with USC. The Titans record sits at 2-4 losing both games of the doubleheader with Michigan. Dave and Mike made this the second weekly conversation recapping the week that was and previewing the next week's opponent.This will become a regular weekly feature on Twitter Spaces and then the replay available via this podcast. Please subscribe to the show on whatever platform you are listening and share with family and friends. While there, please leave a 5 star rating and review. This helps other fans find the show more easily. ▶️ Visit our website: CalStateOmaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Follow Mike Parisi on Twitter: @michael_parisi ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

In Episode 70, Cal State Fullerton All American Mike Parisi, joins Dave Lamm on Twitter Spaces to discuss and recap the weekend series vs. Stanford and the mid-week game vs. Tulane. The Titans record sits at 2-2 with a Friday night win vs. Stanford, losses on Saturday and Sunday and then a walk-off win vs. Tulane on Tuesday. Dave and Mike hope to make this type of conversation recapping the week that was and previewing the next week's opponents a regular weekly feature on Twitter Spaces and then the replay available via this podcast. Please subscribe to the show on whatever platform you are listening and share with family and friends. While there, please leave a 5 star rating and review. This helps other fans find the show more easily. Highlights include: 🎙️ Overall impressions on the Stanford weekend series (2:58) 🎙️ Michigan series sates moved due to weather (6:12) 🎙️ Titans didn't give up despite adversity (9:10) 🎙️ Newcomers making big impacts early (12:50) 🎙️ Consistent line-up all four days (15:13) 🎙️ Sorting out bullpen and starting roles (16:51) 🎙️ Number of HRs given up concerning (19:05) 🎙️ Assessing the Tulane game (22:24) 🎙️ The core returners set the tone (24:56) 🎙️ Brendan Bobo, Zach Lew & Caden Connor HRs (26:23) 🎙️ Maddox Latta & Max Ortega impressions (28:28) 🎙️ Jojo Ingrassia leg injury concerns (31:52) 🎙️ Preview of Michigan series (34:24) 🎙️ Predicting weekend probables (39:42) ▶️ Visit our website: CalStateOmaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Follow Mike Parisi on Twitter: @michael_parisi ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

In Episode 69 we chose to interview Mike Rooney, ESPN and D1Baseball analyst, to discuss the upcoming Titan Baseball Season. We conducted the interview live using Twitter Spaces and have taken the recording and it is now available as a podcast. Please subscribe to the show on whatever platform you are listening and share with family and friends. While there, please leave a 5 star rating and review. This helps other fans find the show more easily. Highlights include: 🎙️ Why Mike is bullish on the Titans in 2023 (3:27) 🎙️ Is a 30+ win season for the Titans reasonable? (5:19) 🎙️ Thoughts on TCU series coming in May (7:10) 🎙️ Why Mike is bullish on the Titans coaching staff (8:21) 🎙️ Pros and cons of the head coach doubling as pitching coach (11:13) 🎙️ Titan players to keep an eye on in 2023 (12:51) 🎙️ Thoughts on Pepperdine transfer Trevor Hinkle (16:05) 🎙️ Pitching rotation based on righty or lefty (18:24) 🎙️ Finesse pitchers vs. power pitcher in today's college game (20:45) 🎙️ Mid-Major baseball programs navigating transfer portal & NIL in 2023 (23:19) 🎙️ Opening weekend schedule for Roons (26:28) ▶️ Visit our website: https://www.calstateomaha.com/ ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calstateomaha/ ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calstateomaha/ ▶️ Follow Mike Rooney on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mike_Rooney ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com

Today's guest is arguably one of the best one and done player in Titan Baseball history, Joe Fraser. Fraser played just one year for Cal State Fullerton, that year... 1995, the year the Titans won their third national championship, defeating the University of Southern California 11-5 in the final game. The 1995 Titans squad is widely considered the greatest college baseball team of all time going 57-9 and became the first No. 1 seed at Omaha to win the title. In that championship game, Fraser started at second base and went 1-for-4 and scored one of the 11 runs the Titans put up at Rosenblatt Stadium that day. A Junior College transfer, Fraser played the 1995 season and was selected in the 27th round of the MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins. During his one year on Fullerton's campus, he averaged .348, hit 7 home runs and drove in 46 runs. Highlights include: 🎙️ Growing up Joe Fraser (2:55) 🎙️ Find his path in baseball (5:36) 🎙️ Going JUCO before Fullerton (7:07) 🎙️ Choosing Cal State Fullerton (10:46) 🎙️ Joining the team in fall of 1994 (13:26) 🎙️ Coming together as a team in Spring (15:35) 🎙️ The losing streak of 3 games (17:47) 🎙️ The win streak to a championship (20:16) 🎙️ 3 CWS games leading to Championship game (21:19) 🎙️ Honkey Tonk Women the official song of the '95 team (22:52) 🎙️ Recounting the championship game (26:31) 🎙️ Augie's scooter (29:42) 🎙️ National champions at the White House (31:44) 🎙️ Playing pro baseball (33:20) 🎙️ Professional career now (35:47) 🎙️ Thoughts on the recruiting process now vs. then (38:51) 🎙️ Thoughts on current state of the Titans program (42:50) ▶️ Visit our website: CalStateOmaha.com ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: @CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: @calstateomaha ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com ▶️ Follow Joe Fraser on Twitter: @joefras8

This is Part 2 of our conversation with Head Baseball Coach of the TCU Horned Frogs Kirk Saarloos. We highly suggest listening to Part 1, Episode 66 prior to listening to this episode. For Titan Baseball fans that may not be as well versed on Titan Baseball and history, Saarloos pitched four years while at Cal State Fullerton from 1998 through 2001. His name is littered throughout the Titan Baseball Media Guide, appearing 40 times, with over half of those mentions within the top 10 in either season long or career pitching statistics. A strikeout pitcher if there ever was one, Saarloos racked up 358 Ks in four years in 127 appearances which he still ranks No. 1 pulling duty as a starter and a reliever where he racked up 22 saves. He still ranks No. 2 in career wins with 33 and averaged 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings. We can not fail to mention in his senior campaign in 2001, Saarloos threw the third no-hitter in Titan Baseball history, pitching a 28-0 shutout over the University of Pacific. 2001 was a terrific year for Saarloos taking the pitching triple cown for the Titans in ERA at 2.18, wins (15) and strikeouts with 135. An All-American and a member of Team USA, Saarloos was selected in the third round by the Houston Astros and would make his MLB debut nearly a year later with Houston on June 18, 2022 becoming the 36th Titans to play in a Major League Baseball game. Saarloos spent seven years in the major leagues, playing for Houston (2002-03), Oakland (2004-06, 08) and Cincinnati (2007). Saarloos made history on June 11, 2003 as he was one of a major league record six Astro pitchers to combine for a no-hitter against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Many remember Saarloos returning to Cal State Fullerton as an assistant coach. He spent his first season on staff as an undergraduate assistant for Dave Serrano. Saarloos moved into the role of pitching coach when Rick Vanderhook took over the head coaching duties in the summer of 2011. He remained on the Titan staff for two seasons before becoming an assistant at TCU in 2013. It should be noted that following Saarloos in the Pitching Coach role for Titans Baseball was current Head Baseball coach Jason Dietrich, guiding the Titans arms from 2013 through the 2016 seasons. Saarloos started his head coaching career this past season and was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year while guiding the Frogs to the Big 12 Regular season title. And finally, the Saarloos Family is a major part of the Titan Baseball Family with an outfield wall sign that reads, "The Saarloos Family says good Luck Titans. Only 1,544 Miles to Omaha". As you might imagine, that sign was the inspiration to name this podcast the 1544 Miles to Omaha Podcast. Highlights include: 🎙️ Starting professional baseball career (2:45) 🎙️ Getting the call up to the big club (5:42) 🎙️ Getting pranked by Jeff Bagwell (10:04) 🎙️ Combined No-hitter vs. NY Yankees (11:52) 🎙️ Nemisis hitters in the big leagues (13:45) 🎙️ Starting coaching career (16:18) 🎙️ Becoming a Head Coach (19:07) 🎙️ Fondness for Omaha (21:10) 🎙️ 4 trips to Omaha in 4 years w/ TCU (23:50) 🎙️ Hosting Cal State Fullerton in May 2023 (26:42) 🎙️ Preview of TCU vs. CSUF (28:17) ▶️ Visit our website: https://www.calstateomaha.com/ ▶️ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalStateOmaha ▶️ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calstateomaha/ ▶️ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calstateomaha/ ▶️ Suggest a guest: CalStateOmaha@Gmail.com ▶️ Follow Kirk Saarloos on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kirk_saarloos ▶️ Follow Kirk Saarloos on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kirk.saarloos.7 ▶️ Follow Kirk Saarloos on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirksaarloos/