Doersching May Have Been a Reason the Pokes Picked Up a National Seed
STILLWATER – The preparation goes on in Stillwater. O’Brate Stadium is being prepared to host four teams instead of two as Missouri State, Grand Canyon, and Arkansas will be heading to the OSU campus and one of the newest and swankiest college baseball facilities in America for the Stillwater Regional. Cowboys head coach Josh Holliday told the media on Monday after the NCAA field was announced that he was confident of hosting a regional, but beyond that …
“The seedings I had no idea. The (selection) committee has a lot to digest,” Holliday said of his team being named a national seed.
Everybody I have spoke with including those close to and involved in the program have said they were major surprised that the Cowboys were the No. 7 national seed. Most expected the Cowboys to be around 12-14, hosting but not in line for a super regional.
The 39-20 record got the Pokes a lot more. Some people believe that O’Brate Stadium helped influence the national seed. The NCAA wants one of the top, if not the very best stadium in college baseball showcased. I don’t know if I buy that, but how about showcasing the most spectacular home run hitter in college baseball. I’m not talking about Texas’ “Hispanic Titanic” Ivan Melendez. I’m talking about “Mr. Tape Measure” Griffin Doersching. As the saying goes, everybody loves the long ball. The grad transfer for Northern Kentucky missed 23 games this season with a foot injury. He has 13 home runs, many of them over 400 feet and some close to, if not more than, 500-feet.
Doersching may be as excited as anybody for the “Road to Omaha.”
“Normally, in the past in my career I would be heading somewhere in the summer to spend with a team,” Doersching said. “I’m glad I get to push through here and make a run for Omaha.”
“The purpose of what brought him here was to compete for championships and he has been a great leader in just a very short time here. He’s thrilled along with all of his teammates.”
Doersching is a leader and he is a guy that is around his teammates all the time. He mentioned that when they first heard that they were hosting on Sunday night, he was with some of his teammates at Texas Roadhouse.
“That’s a staple,” he said of the restaurant on Perkins Road.
“We spend our everyday together whether we’re at the field or not at the field,” Doersching added. “I don’t go a day without seeing the majority of my teammates. It’s the best time of year being able to play baseball, and all you have to worry about is baseball. Nothing better.”
The jumbo Doersching, who with the huge biceps, attention getting tattoos, and modified blond mohawk haircut, looks every bit the part of a baseball slugger was asked about the competition coming in. He knew Arkansas was an historically strong program, but didn’t seem to care.
“Honestly, I don’t know much about any teams,” he said. “I really only care about one team and it’s us.”
Okay, he cares about the opposing pitcher and sizing up his stuff. You know, so Doersching can do his stuff.