There was no hiding the pain and disappointment of LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri, senior pitcher Jared Bradford and junior first baseman Matt Clark after the Tigers’ 7-3 loss to North Carolina in Friday’s elimination game.
But while the Tigers were obviously devastated by their early exit from the College World Series, they have expressed nothing but gratitude for the season that got them there and the opportunity to play on college baseball’s biggest stage.
“We ran out of miracles,” Mainieri said. “It’s been a great year. So many great things have happened to our kids because of them – because of what they put into it.”
The Tigers’ trip to Omaha, Neb., this past week was LSU’s first in four years – something junior outfielder Nicholas Pontiff said he was proud to be a part of.
“Getting the reward to go there with the guys that you’ve been in battle with for the past eight months and done everything with – it’s unbelievable,” Pontiff said.
Pontiff, who was a member of each of the past three teams to miss the CWS, said not advancing past the regionals in 2005 and missing the NCAA postseason all together in 2006 and 2007 was disappointing.
But he said the 2008 College World Series served as a reward for those years of hard work.
A ninth-inning grand slam by North Carolina catcher Tim Federowicz ended the Tigers’ dream run – an ending almost karmically fitting for a team that seemed to thrive on late-inning heroics.
While Federowicz’s shot stopped the Tigers short of a national championship, Mainieri said he’s pleased with the season and hopes LSU fans feel the same way.
“These kids gave a lot of excitement to LSU fans this year … in the way they played the game, starting with their hustle, their energy and their never say die attitude,” Mainieri said.
Pontiff listed several of the recent comebacks as highlights in the Tigers’ season.
He said as much as he’s enjoyed this season he’s happy for the break this summer.
Mainieri said this season was a big step forward for the program and he looks forward to continuing to compete for national championships.
While Pontiff and most of the other Tigers will continue to help LSU return to prominence, his high school teammate, senior third baseman Michael Hollander, and Bradford wrapped up their eligibility with the Tigers’ loss to the Tar Heels.
“It’s hard to sum it up,” said Bradford, who transferred to LSU before his junior season. “I’ve only been here two years, but I wish it had been longer.”
Bradford, who was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals two weeks ago, said he wouldn’t change anything if he had the chance.
“I wouldn’t go anywhere else,” Bradford said. “I’ve enjoyed it so much, and I’m proud to say that my last years spent in college baseball were at LSU.”
As much as LSU has meant to Bradford, Mainieri talked about how much Bradford has meant to LSU.
“Not only is Jared Bradford one of the greatest competitors I’ve ever coached, he’s one of the greatest human beings I’ve ever met,” Mainieri said. “I’ll be talking about him to LSU players 10 years from now.”