Ladies & Gentlemen your Big West Champion Cal Poly Mustangs...Woot Woot!!!

I remember, it was January 2002, I walked into Baggett Stadium for my first game as the Mustangs Stadium Announcer. Man, was I nervous. I had done Public Address for two minor league baseball teams in Syracuse and Albany, A-League soccer in Seattle and semi-pro football in Syracuse. But, 2002 was a special year, because I was back in California, my home state, three hours from my home town; and doing what I love, baseball PA. Little did I know, 12 years later Cal Poly would win the Big West Season Championship. This week Cal Poly earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Regional Baseball playoffs by winning the Conference. The crowd noise in the stadium this season has gradually escalated from cheering to a loud & crazy roar each game. It's taken five years to get the crowd to repeat "Hoooooooo" after me when either Chris or Michael Hoo come up to the plate. It took 12 years for the fans to stand up and cheer when there's two outs with one needed to end the game and seal a win for the Mustangs. It took 12 years for the Tuesday night attendance to go from a few hundred to 1,552 vs. Pepperdine this year. It took 12 years for Mustang Concessions to fill the concourse with extra food vendors. It took 12 years for the stadium to expand to over 3,000 seats. And for this Public Address Announcer it was well worth the wait. The energy and excitement surrounding the Poly baseball team has been awesome as the season has progressed this year. But, it's not over yet. We'll find out on Sunday if Poly will host a regional. On Monday morning the Mustangs find out where they'll play as they try to improve on their two and out appearance last year in the UCLA region. Wouldn't it be nice if I could turn on the mike, for the very first time, next weekend and say "Welcome to Baggett Stadium home of the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo NCAA baseball regional playoffs..." this time around. Ride High and enjoy it fans. I know I sure will.