Diamond Hogs Celebrate Good News
Last updated Monday, May 26, 2008 6:43 PM CDT in Columns
Jerry L. Reed
THE MORNING NEWS
FAYETTEVILLE --While the media gathered in two luxury skyboxes Monday morning, Arkansas baseball players huddled in their clubhouse not far from the belly of Baum Stadium.
Both groups were waiting to find out if the Razorbacks would be selected to play in the NCAA Tournament.
In or out? In or out? Yes? No? Yes? No?
With the suspense of a Stephen King novel, some Arkansas players waited anxiously under a canopy of doubt. Others simply prayed silently that they'd get another chance to play.
Meanwhile, some Arkansas fans probably were chewing frantically on Tums and Rolaids.
Quick, pass the Pepto-Bismol!
All the worrying ended shortly before noon when the NCAA Selection Committee Show, airing on ESPN, flashing the name Arkansas across the screen.
Then, all hell broke loose in the clubhouse.
"Once we saw our name on that lineup ... Oh my God, we just went crazy," Razorbacks catcher Ryan Cisterna said. "It was the best feeling ever. Everybody was cheering, everybody was clapping, going crazy.
"My heart just sunk. I had goosebumps going up and down my body.
"We were up in the air, we had no idea what would happen. Coach said ... one time we thought we were in, one time we thought we weren't. We were just sitting there trying to get through it.
"You sit through it the first couple of times you see the names come across you're sweating a little bit and all of sudden, boom! You saw it, it's over with."
Suddenly, what could have been a nightmare turned into a sweet, sweet dream for the Razorbacks.
"I don't think I slept all week," Arkansas outfielder Chase Leavitt said. "I've been so excited, wanting to know. Are we in, are we not? I heard a lot of things. People saying we were, we had a chance, other people saying, 'No way.' For me, it's been 50-50. I don't know a lot about it. It's my first time here in the NCAA.
"I jumped up and yelled, I was so excited.
"I know for me, my heart was beating. I'm glad it showed up on the ESPN screen as soon as possible."
Razorbacks third baseman Logan Forsythe brought his silence.
"Today, I don't think I talked all day until I saw our name on the board," Forsythe said. "It was nerve-racking man. It was crazy. Seriously, I was in a different mood the past week, thinking our season might be done with.
"It's good we actually get to play again."
Call the Razorbacks fortunate, call 'em lucky, but after Wednesday, call 'em long distance.
"When I saw our name of there on the screen," Razorbacks pitcher Cliff Springston said. "I thought I was going to cry."
Arkansas will be California gleaning when it heads to Palo Alto where it'll meet Pepperdine (Calif.) University at 3 p.m. Friday.
"We're happy to be it and we are wanting to do some damage," Razorbacks freshman outfielder/first baseman Jacob House said. "It's a new season. It was pretty tough to wait. The time off has been definitely stressful for us."
Arkansas second baseman Ben Tschepikow wasn't surprised with the announcement Monday.
"I don't know why, but I had a feeling we were going to be in," he said. "I didn't think it was going to be over."
Arkansas coach Dave Horn wasn't as sure last week.
"We just kind of tried to keep practice kind of generic, just trying to keep the guys motivated," Van Horn said. "They're looking at me, asking me all the time, 'What do think, coach? Are we going to get in?' It's a helpless feeling on my part.
"Normally, I can come up with an answer that's truthful. That's the way I am. I couldn't tell them anything."
Now he can tell them to start packing.
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