I am a student at UC Irvine, and since the university is hosting a College World Series regional with UC Irvine, SDSU, the University of Virginia, and Fresno State, I was super excited for a good weekend of (relatively cheap) high quality baseball. The two games yesterday featured SDSU vs. Virginia in the first game and UCI vs. Fresno in the second game, and I was lucky enough to go to both, witness a UCI win, and even get on ESPNU for approximately 12 seconds. But the best story of the day for me happened after the SDSU game.

I was leaving the stadium (after watching Strasburg settle in and absolutely deal for seven innings after giving up a solo shot in the first) with a female friend who, rightfully so, fancies herself as someone who knows baseball, and in particular college baseball. We exited the stadium among a few thousand people, and it was taking a while to leave due to congestion, and by the time we made it to the parking structure beyond rightfield, the SDSU team was right next to us in procession on their way to the team buses.

I picked out Strasburg right away, he was actually incidentally right next to me, and like third or fourth in the line of players on their way to the buses. I don't get super shellshocked by famous people, especially ones that are my age, so it was kinda whatever, and I had no plans on saying anything to him or any of the other players. But it then became evident that Strasburg and the teammate in front of him were staring at my female friend. For a long time. She didn't know what to say, but decided to say:

FF: "Uhh.. good game guys, sorry you lost!"

Stras+Teammate: "Thanks.." (half smile)

group of 8 year old boys: "We love you Stephen, you rock!!"

It was then that my friend turned to the guy in front of the Stras and said "Oh good game today Stephen, you are amazing!" before I could stop her. Then, the Stras kinda looked shocked, like "who the hell does she think she is", tucked his head a little embarassedly, and said "Actually... I'm Stephen." So me, the Stras, and the aforementioned teammate shared a laugh while my friend got super red and quiet. And then I said to Stephen "You should play for the Padres. Do it" and he smiled.

So, even if he goes to the Nationals (god forbid) I did my part on behalf of the Friar. The End.