Aggie Baseball Returns to Nebraska

The state of Nebraska is the destination every college baseball team hopes to reach each season. Omaha is the pinnacle, often referred to as "the greatest show on dirt". It used to be Rosenblatt Stadium. Now TD Ameritrade Park is where college baseball's biggest memories are made. When Aggie Baseball makes its sixth appearance in the College World Series, it does so with several ties to Nebraska. Rob Childress, Will Bolt, Justin Seely and Logan Foster all have connections to the Cornhusker state.

Childress, Seely and Bolt all spent time with the University of Nebraska baseball program. Childress was an assistant and associate head coach at the school. The Huskers made three trips to Omaha during his career in Lincoln, including the school's first-ever trip to the College World Series. Bolt and Seely were volunteer assistant coaches for the Huskers, and both enjoyed highly successful playing careers in Lincoln. When asked about some of their favorite CWS memories, it didn't take long for all three to bring up Nebraska's 2001 trip to Omaha.
 

"Being part of the first team to break through in Nebraska baseball history was special," recalled Childress. "We walked into the stadium and received a standing ovation while another game was going on. That will give you goosebumps."

"I'll never forget running on the field with my teammates in 2001," added Bolt. "When I heard the crowd, I took that moment in and made a mental note to myself. That experience, and hearing the crowd go wild like that, was amazing."
 

Seely echoed the same thoughts.

"In 2001 with the Huskers, there were 30,000 people all in red," remembered Seely. "I remember running out there and not being able to feel my body. The crowd's reaction was numbing, and it created so much adrenaline for us. That's my best memory from the CWS."   

Childress, now in his 12^th year at the helm of the A&M baseball program, looks forward to seeing some old friends when his team travels back to the midwest.

"It makes me incredibly proud to realize how many true friends we still have in Nebraska," stated Childress. "Those people pull for us all year long and want to see us in Omaha. It's an honor to go back. It's still a business trip. We're competing for a National Championship, and that's our focal point. Along the way, though, seeing some familiar faces will be great."

Bolt and Seely have made multiple trips to the CWS, and the duo hopes to share their experiences and tips with this year's A&M squad.

Seely, who was a starter on Nebraska's first two College World Series teams, talked about the mindset in Omaha.

"It's a big tournament, and it's a big deal," admitted Seely. "It's something every team in America dreams about at the beginning of the year. When it comes down to it, though, it's another eight-team tournament. From the playing perspective, that's how we have to look at it. As for the event itself, we want our guys to soak it in as much as possible."
    

Bolt, who was the team captain on Nebraska's back-to-back College World Series teams in 2001 and 2002, talked about the experience that awaits the Aggies in Omaha.

"Make sure you enjoy it," noted Bolt. "The event itself is the best collegiate experience you could ask for in any sport, in my opinion. It is business, but this is an experience that not many people get to enjoy in their lifetime. When we put our uniforms on, our guys know it's time to get it done, but we want them to take it all in."  

It's not just the coaches with ties to Nebraska. Freshman Logan Foster is a Lincoln native and was a standout performer at Lincoln Southwest High School. He has been a fan of the College World Series for years. It will be an exciting trip home for Foster, who will have many family and friends in attendance.

"I couldn't be more proud to go back home with such a great group of guys," said Foster. "Being a fan of the CWS for many years, this will be a new and exciting feeling for me. Being able to play in front of family and friends is a real blessing. People can always watch on TV, but it's special for people to be there to watch in person. I couldn't think of a better group of guys to experience this with."
 

Foster starred at Lincoln Southwest under the late Coach Doug Kaltenberger, who lost his battle with cancer in 2016. The memory of his high school coach drives Foster, and continuing Coach K's legacy is of upmost importance to the Aggie freshman.

"Every time I step on the field, I play for him," continued Foster. "It means the world to me. We were one of the last four teams in, but they gave us a shot. We've made the most of it, and we're going to give it our best every time out. I know Coach K is up there right now smiling down on us."

Many fans select "Omaha's Team" each year at the CWS. With so many ties to the CWS and the state of Nebraska, the Aggies hope plenty of fans will don the maroon and white at this year's event.

"Rob, Will and I are getting pretty old, so I'm not sure the younger generation up there really remember us," joked Seely. "I just hope people up there pull for our guys because they're great kids who play the right way. Hopefully some others will remember us and will fall in love with Aggie Baseball."

One thing is for certain. As the Aggies return to Omaha, Texas A&M isn't taking this opportunity lightly. While they are very excited to be back in Nebraska for the College World Series, they are not content.  

"Many people don't get a chance to play or coach there, so I never take it for granted," explained Childress. "At the same time, I don't want to go just to go. I've already been there, so I want us to go and win the thing."