Unheralded Oregon State steamrolls to a second title

	Oregon State won its final 10 postseason games and became the fifth school to win consecutive titles. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
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OMAHA, Neb. -- At 8:37 p.m. on this sweltering Sunday, after the shadows had at last overtaken Rosenblatt Stadium, Dustin Ackley lined out with two on base for the third out in the sixth inning of Game 2 of the College World Series final. Everyone in the old ballyard on the hill knew: it was all over. Gone was North Carolina's best chance to inject some intrigue into this humdrum championship series; the next inning Oregon State scored twice to turn the game into a laugher for the second-straight night, and an hour later, the Beavers were dancing to Queen on The 'Blatt's resplendent infield grass.

The hero of the clincher, Chicago Cubs-bound shortstop Darwin Barney (a two-run homer in the second, a dazzling relay throw in the seventh to gun down a UNC runner at home), his face dripping with sweat and tears, stood on the field after the game and gazed into the stands, still packed with orange-clad Beaver faithful. "We love Omaha," he said, his eyes open wide. "The lockers, the dugout, the field here -- this is home, baby. We're very comfortable here."

The Beavers dominated with astonishing ease. Even though they're the first team to win a championship with a sub .500 conference record, no one will question if they are rightful owners of the hardware. During their championship waltz in Omaha, the Beavers trailed in a game for one inning (and about five minutes), and they outscored opponents 42-16. They join storied programs LSU, Texas, Stanford, and USC as repeat champs.

"I don't have to convince these guys that they're Texas or USC -- because they're Oregon State," says Oregon State coach Pat Casey. "There's a championship atmosphere around the kids. They know how good they are."

How did this happen? How did this team -- only a month ago, a longshot to even score an invite into the postseason dance with a 10-14 league record -- suddenly become unbeatable? How did this program -- so recently a perennial Pac-10 doormat -- become a national juggernaut? And how did Oregon -- land of loggers and Lewis & Clark --- suddenly become the center of college baseball?

In his post-game revelry, Casey said the Beavers' season, which looked so bleak in May, turned around during their NCAA regional. The Beavers lost to host Virginia in their second game and were a loss from going home for the season. Then they ripped off 10 straight wins en route to the championship.

"We were losing, getting no-hit, but something changed that afternoon in that dugout," Casey said of their June 2 loss. "Look, I'm a laid-back guy, but I felt something that I can't explain. I've never had that kind of feeling, but I felt our team come together. You could just see it on everyone's face. We felt it in the hotel, in the bus, in practice, and from that moment on it stayed with us."

They may have been saved by that Kumbaya-moment, but during their Omaha romp it was all pitching and dazzling defense that earned them the crown. After freshman ace (and tournament Most Outstanding Player) Jorge Reyes was exceptional in Game 1, starter Mike Stutes was solid for 5 1/3 innings on Sunday (three runs allowed and five Ks) while the Beavers bullpen, allegedly a weakness, was stellar, shutting down the high-octane Heels lineup for the rest of the game.

The Beavers will be well-armed for another run in 2008, and should be considered early favorites to be on this stage a year from now. Reyes is already looking ahead to a three-peat. "We're going to celebrate for a whole summer," he said on Sunday, surrounded by exultant teammates and family members. "Then we'll get to work getting right back here."