Costner, the Fan, Takes Starring Role Seriously : Baseball: The actor, who attended Cal State Fullerton, takes batting practice with the team, then stays for the game.

Cal State Fullerton’s No. 1 celebrity baseball fan is in Omaha for the College World Series.

Kevin Costner, actor and Academy Award-winning director, made the trip to watch his alma mater.

Costner and Titan Coach Augie Garrido have developed a close friendship since Costner was invited to throw out the first ball at the dedication of Titan Field in 1992.

Despite his roles in the baseball movies “Field of Dreams” and “Bull Durham,” Costner didn’t play baseball at Fullerton. But he’s a longtime follower of the game and took a baseball class at Fullerton that Garrido taught.

“What Kevin and I are about is friendship,” Garrido said recently. “He can serve as an inspiration to any Cal State Fullerton student that they can get the kind of education at the university to be anything they want in life. Kevin is just one of the most visible examples of that.”

Costner took a few swings in the batting cage with the Titans before Saturday’s game.

Costner planned to return to Los Angeles in a private jet late Sunday to continue editing his forthcoming movie, “Waterworld,” but said he might return if Fullerton reaches the championship game next Saturday.