Oklahoma State University Athletics
Brian Kraft's Diary
May 31, 2003 | General
Archives
March 21, 2003 - Cowboy fans sorry for the delay with getting the entry for the week in, but I am still recovering from the trip last weekend. We got back from Durham on Wednesday and have been preparing for the Longhorns since. Before leaving for the trip the team had been on a seven game winning streak and we looked to continue to keep the ball rolling.
We played our first three games at Durham Bulls Park, it was not the same one used in the movie but there was a bull hanging above the left field wall and as you might assume their was continuous use of quotes from the movie all weekend long. The first game of the trip was against North Carolina State. We dropped a tough one, 4-3, as they went ahead on a three-run homerun by Gary Gaetti's son. Scott Baker started and pitched well. He was relieved by Daniel Rew who continues his scoreless innings streak. The second game of the trip was against Princeton and we faced one of the top sophomores in the country. Most of the game was tied before the flood gates opened and we went on to win behind strong outings from Jimmy Rhodes and Shane Hawk. We were tied in the seventh when John Urick doubled to left scoring Josh Fields. We added three more runs when the Baseball G-ds plated some runs when a routine fly ball to center field was dropped to put the game out of reach.
The third game of the trip was against Old Dominion where we faced another good arm in Justin Verlander, but we had a good one going as well in Spencer Grogan. Spence got through a night of food poisoning to pitch a great game. After giving up two runs in the first, he shut out ODU for the next five innings. Our lone run came on an RBI base hit by Mario Matulich scoring Jason Jaramillo. The final score was 2-1. What turned out to be the last game of the trip was against Duke since the Wake Forest game was canceled due to rain. Joe Weaver started the game, giving way to Shane Hawk who combined to get the job done against the Blue Devils. The first run of the game was plated by Mario and the game winner was plated by Mr. OSU, Josh Fields.
The pitching continues to impress and keep us in ball games. The position players are keeping after it in practice and games and it is just a matter of time before it all comes together.
While in Durham I was able to visit a place that I have been a huge fan of for many years, Baseball America. I was very happy to get the chance to meet John Manuel and everyone else at Baseball America. I also was able to hang out with one of my best friends from back home Luke McSherry. He was nice enough to show me around Duke University which included a tour of Cameron Indoor Arena. We were able to get in while nobody was in there and I stood back and took in the site. I was shocked to see how small the gym was, but it was pretty sweet to be in there looking at the banners and Coach K court. I am not sure but I swore that I heard the "Cameron Crazies" chanting Krafty, Krafty, Krafty….bad joke…but it would have been cool.
Also in Durham some of the freshman earned their wings playing a couple pranks on some of the seniors, actually one of the seniors…ME. So I guess that Thomas Cowley went ahead and claimed that he was ready for anything that I can throw his way. I will not say what he did to my room but all I can say is that he will get his. I will go ahead and apologize to his roommate now…Sorry.
I think that I speak for everyone when I say that as soon I got on the plane for the ride back to Oklahoma I was thinking about this weekend's game with the Horns. I know that in baseball we are supposed to look at every game as another day at the yard but it is rare to get a shot at the defending national champions, and I know that we are ready to come after them. I can't wait to see the atmosphere that our fans give us and we will SEE YA AT THE PARK!
Krafty
P.S - this may be a stupid question but can anyone tell me why the movie was titled "Bull Durham" when the team is the Durham Bulls? Why the switch?
