Pleasant Surprise Helps Kotsay Save Titan Victory

Cal State Fullerton relief pitcher Mark Kotsay was in trouble after throwing three consecutive pitches without a strike to Stanford’s Dusty Allen in the ninth inning of the College World Series Saturday.

The Titans were dangling with a 6-5 lead, and two runners were on base with two outs.

“I was just trying to throw a strike,” Kotsay said. “I threw it right down the middle.”

Instead of taking the automatic, Allen tried to jump on the pitch, and popped it to third baseman Tony Martinez for the final out.

Kotsay was among the most surprised people in Rosenblatt Stadium when that happened.

“I think when he saw it coming in like that, he over-reacted on it,” Kotsay said. “That’s easy to do. I know because I’ve been in his shoes before. Most people do over-react to a fastball in that situation. I thought he would be trying to get a better look at it. I was just trying to get back into the count.”

Stanford Coach Mark Marquess said he had no second thoughts about not giving Allen, his No. 5 hitter, the take sign on the pitch. “He had the green light,” Marquess said, “and we figured he’d get a fastball. He just missed it and popped it up. I’d do it again with him at the plate.”

Kotsay, who went two for four as a hitter and scored a run, was pleased he was comfortable at bat after being off slightly in the NCAA regional in Baton Rouge, La.

“I think we all played a little tight in the regional, but I saw the ball real well today, and I was happy about that,” Kotsay said.

Was Kotsay concerned about what might have happened if Stanford had scored in the ninth?

“This team has a lot of heart, and I think it would have responded,” Kotsay said. The fact that several players, including himself, played in the Series last year might have helped the team be more relaxed in the first game in Omaha this year, Kotsay said.

“I felt relaxed and didn’t feel under any pressure,” he said.

Kotsay also hopes winning the Series opener will be a boost to the Titans. “It’s tougher when you have to come back through the losers’ bracket, although I think we could do that if we had to,” he said.