Street Closes Deal as Texas Wins Title

Texas closer Huston Street has his own national championship story to share with his dad.

The son of former Texas quarterback James Street, who helped lead the Longhorns to a Cotton Bowl victory in 1970, carried the baseball team Saturday to its fifth College World Series title.

But he wasn’t about to flaunt it after the Longhorns beat South Carolina, 12-6, even with a CWS-record four saves.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever have bragging rights with my dad,” Street said. “Everything I am is because my dad taught it to me.”

The victory made Texas Coach Augie Garrido the first to win the CWS with two schools and gave Texas its first title since 1983. It also tied Texas (57-15) with Louisiana State and Arizona State for second on the list of CWS titles, behind USC’s 12.

“These players are the very best at what they are doing in the sport right now,” Garrido said. “This national championship went to a group that really deserved it.”

Street, a 6-foot freshman from Austin, Texas, pitched 6 1/3 innings in his four appearances, allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts and three walks.

Street was voted outstanding player for the series and became the first freshman to get the honor since Pat Burrell of Miami in 1996.

On Saturday, Texas’ hero was outfielder Chris Carmichael.

Carmichael, who was making his first start in nearly a month, hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning that broke the game open for the Longhorns. It was just the second homer of the season for Carmichael, who didn’t know he was going to start until just before the game.

“I felt good and I felt like I was having fun, during batting practice especially,” Carmichael said. “I don’t know what it was. I thought I’d take this good feeling into the game.”

It was the fourth title for Garrido, who won three at Cal State Fullerton before going to Texas.