[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11089-11090]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


            NOTRE DAME BASEBALL AND THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM ROEMER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 21, 2002

  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, a columnist for the Omaha World-Herald 
wrote, ``What do you get when you cross Notre Dame with the College 
World Series? Magic is what you get.''
  This entire baseball season has been magical for the Notre Dame 
Fighting Irish baseball team. Behind a spirited team effort, the Irish 
return to one of college athletics most storied events, the College 
Baseball World Series in Omaha, Nebraska for the first time since 1957. 
Not since Jake Kline was coach and Jim Morris batted .714 (10 for 14) 
in four games, a standing College World Series record, have the Irish 
traveled to Omaha to compete for the NCAA national championship.
  Mr. Speaker, this has been a dramatic season for the Irish. Some 
people in South Bend have dubbed it the ``boomerang season.'' After 
starting 9-10 in the first nineteen games and losing their first four 
games in the Big East Conference, the Irish rallied with the heart and 
determination befitting of a championship team. Down 5-0 to the West 
Virginia Mountaineers, the Irish rallied behind the solid pitching of 
Drew Duff, Martin Vergara, and Matt Buchmeier and the offensive 
productivity of Steve Stanley, Paul O'Toole, and Javier Sanchez to win 
the game 10-6 in ten innings. Following this inspiring comeback, the 
Irish dominated their competition, winning forty games and losing only 
six.
  The Irish's regular season hot streak served as momentum for the Big 
East Tournament in Bridgewater, New Jersey three weeks ago. The Irish 
beat Rutgers University, 3-2, after Steve Sollmann's clutch game-
winning hit in the 10th inning to win their first Big East championship 
title. Ryan Kalita pitched seven shutout innings in relief. Senior 
clubhouse leader, Steve Stanley, was awarded the Big East Tournament's 
Most Outstanding Player Award after batting 6-for-16 with one double, 
one triple, and one RBI in the championship game.
  After winning the Big East championship, Notre Dame was rewarded as 
the host team for the NCAA South Bend Regional. The Irish made quick 
work of the South Bend Regional field beating Ohio State (8-6), South 
Alabama (25-1), and Ohio State again (9-6). The 25-1 drubbing of South 
Alabama was easily the most impressive victory margin of the year. The 
Irish batters swatted thirty-two hits, one hit shy of tying an NCAA 
tournament record for hits. Steve Sollmann went 6-for-7, Paul O'Toole 
batted 5-for-5, and Steve Stanley was 4-for-5 during the offensive 
explosion. The offensive dominance during the South Alabama game should 
not overshadow the brilliant pitching performance by freshman Grant 
Johnson. Johnson faced only thirty batters while allowing one walk and 
one hit. Johnson became only the thirteenth pitcher in NCAA history to 
post a no-hitter or one-hitter.
  With the NCAA South Bend Regional title in tow, the Irish advanced to 
the Super Regional in Tallahassee, Florida to take on the top

[[Page 11090]]

ranked team in the nation, the Florida State Seminoles, in a best of 
three series. Against all odds, the Irish prevailed by upsetting the 
Seminoles in game one (10-4) and game three (3-1). The lrish halted 
Florida State's twenty-five game winning streak which was one of the 
longest in NCAA history and earned a place in the College World Series.
  Upon arrival in Omaha, Notre Dame became a crowd favorite as the 
underdog of the College World Series. After losing a close game to the 
Stanford Cardinal (4-3) in the opening game of the double-elimination 
tournament, the Irish trailed in their second game to the Rice Owls 2-3 
with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. A loss to Rice would 
end the season for the Irish. With the bases empty, consummate team 
leader Steve Stanley ripped a triple down the baseline. The next 
batter, Steve Sollmann, hit a clutch game-tying RBI single. With 
Sollmann on first base, Brian Stavisky belted a game winning two-run 
homer. Coach Mainieri summed up the spirited comeback best, ``I'm not 
sure I can adequately describe what we just witnessed. I'd like to say 
I'm surprised at what happened in the bottom of the ninth inning, but 
I'm really not. I've watched these kids do it for the last three or 
four years.''
  Notre Dame has head coach Paul Mainieri and his exceptional assistant 
coaches, Brian O'Conner, Dusty Lepper, and Wally Widelski, to thank for 
this successful season. Through the course of his eight years at Notre 
Dame, Coach Mainieri has won the right way by recruiting student 
athletes who represent our university in a positive light. Coach 
Mainieri has compiled a 353-140-1 (.716) record at Notre Dame making 
him one of the most successful skippers in Big East Conference history.
  The eight seniors on this record breaking Irish baseball team must 
also be commended for their dedication and leadership. Matt Bok, Andrew 
Bushey, Paul O'Toole, Steve Stanley, Ken Meyer, Matt Strickroth, Matt 
Buchmeier, and Drew Duff compiled a four year record of 187-65-1 that 
ranks as the fourth-best four year winning percentage in school 
history.
  I would also like to acknowledge the other members of the baseball 
team who have brought the University of Notre Dame's students, faculty, 
and alumni so much excitement this season: Geoff Milsom, Zach Sisko, 
Kris Billmaier, Chris Niesel, Matt Macri, Jay Molina, Matt Edwards, 
Brent Weiss, Brian Stravisky, Peter Ogilvie, Joe Thaman, Mike Holba, 
Cody Wilkins, Mike Morgalis, Scott Bickford, Matt Laird, Tyler Jones, 
George Howard, Mike Milligan, Brandon Viloria, J.P. Gagne, and John 
Axford.
  Mr. Speaker, although the Irish fell short of winning the College 
World Series this week, the players and coaches should be proud of this 
exceptionally successful season. I am reminded of when Hall of Fame 
pitcher, Bob Feller said, ``Every day is a new opportunity. You can 
build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over 
again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's 
the way baseball is.'' After watching the determination and spirit of 
the 2002 Fighting Irish baseball team coached by Paul Mainieri, I am 
certain that college baseball fans across the country will come to know 
what Notre Dame fans already appreciate; a new baseball power is 
emerging from Eck Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Thanks for a great 
season and go Irish! Watch out next year!

                          ____________________