Catcher Cesar Salazar crouched behind the plate one last time on a Saturday night.
The Arizona Wildcats had defeated rival Arizona State in dramatic fashion, fireworks filled the sky above Hi Corbett Field and Salazar stole a moment to take it all in.
In images captured and tweeted by UA associate athletic director Phoebe Wadsworth, Salazar can be seen squatting with his hands cupped over his face, then sitting in the dirt that has been his domain for the past three seasons.
Three days later, Salazar said Saturday’s home finale marked the first time since the 2016 College World Series that he felt “a little nervous, a little emotional” before playing a baseball game.
“It might be my last time playing here,” Salazar said. “This place has been great for me and for us for the last three years. We created something special.”
It’s hard to let go … but the Wildcats have no choice.
That comeback victory over ASU gave Arizona something to play for this week at Oregon. With a sweep of the Ducks, the Wildcats most likely will make the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row. If they win two of three, they will have a chance. The field of 64 will be announced Monday.
For most UA players, Hi Corbett is their favorite place on earth. But for those who just played their final game there, it’s almost a relief that it’s over.
“A hundred percent,” said Salazar, a junior who could be picked in the first 10 rounds of next month’s MLB draft. “Now I can just focus on beating the Ducks.”
UA coach Jay Johnson did not sense that any of his veteran players were pressing against ASU, but Salazar and senior center fielder Cal Stevenson conceded that wanting to win their final home game so badly might have affected their performance. The two combined to go 0 for 11 in a game Arizona won 10-9 in 11 innings. Junior first baseman Alfonso Rivas III, projected to be drafted in the top four rounds, went 1 for 6 and left five runners on base.
“I’m not gonna lie: I was pressing a little bit,” Salazar said. “Me thinking to myself, ‘It’s going to be my last game, I want to do something special.’ It was my bad. I let that get into me a little bit.”
Although Johnson preaches staying in the moment – and the Wildcats generally succeed in doing so – it was difficult to shove all those emotions to the side last week. Not only was it the last home series of the season, but the opponent was Arizona’s bitterest rival.
Johnson knew what Saturday night would be like and addressed it with his players beforehand, assuring them they would have a chance to express their feelings. It just couldn’t happen during the game.
“With that being said, we get it,” Johnson said. “This place means a lot to (them). To me, it was just a really good validation of how invested everybody in that locker room is in this group. You want to call it a team, you want to call it a family – it’s really important to all of them.”
For junior pitcher Cody Deason, it all came pouring out when he exited the field in the seventh inning two nights earlier. The right-hander, who started the series opener, brushed away tears as he hugged his teammates and paced about the UA dugout.
“It’s going to be very disappointing to be leaving this behind,” said Deason, also projected to be drafted in the top four rounds. “It kind of really hits you.
“It’s just a very emotional thing, because you won’t get to play with those guys again.”
Deason will have at least three more opportunities, starting Thursday. The Wildcats want to win just as badly. But the baggage they bring to Eugene won’t include any of the emotional variety.
“As soon as you get that off your shoulders, you get the leash off. Now you get to go for it,” Deason said. “Now it’s time to just let (it) go and see what happens.”
‘No bad blood’
Deason insists he has no animosity toward Oregon, even though the program dropped him before he arrived in the summer of 2015.
“Honestly, I never really had bad feelings toward that program,” Deason said. “I’m kind of thankful it happened. I got brought here. I got to go to the College World Series. I can’t complain. No bad blood.
“It’s one of those things that worked out for the best. It’s been an awesome experience here.”
Deason had a prior relationship with Johnson, who had recruited him while at Nevada. When Oregon didn’t work out, Johnson moved quickly to bring Deason to Tucson. He ended up being a key contributor for three seasons, first as a reliever and eventually as a weekend starter.
“We built a good rapport,” Johnson said. “When that opportunity presented itself, we didn’t waste any time getting him here.”
Deason, who is 5-5 with a 2.86 ERA, knows how important it will be for him to set the tone for the Oregon series. He has given his team a chance to win almost every time out, surrendering four or fewer runs in 12 of 13 starts.
As critical as this final regular-season start is, Johnson doesn’t want Deason to try to do too much. The coach simply wants his ace to be the best version of himself.
“He can’t win all three games for us,” Johnson said. “He can put us in position to win Game 1. For the most part, he’s done that.”
Inside pitch
- Arizona conducted its final regular-season practice at Hi Corbett on Tuesday. The Wildcats did not have a senior send-off. “I believe we have a lot in front of us,” Johnson said. “Right now we’re kind of immersed in what we have to do. That’s what I believe in to help them play their best, and I know that’s what they want to do this weekend.”
- Freshman left-hander Gil Luna tied his career high with four strikeouts in Saturday’s win over ASU. He pitched 3ª innings out of the bullpen and made only one major mistake, which resulted in a two-run homer by Hunter Bishop. “He’s got a good future here,” Johnson said, “and he’s going to be a big part of this weekend and us being successful.”
- Freshman shortstop Jacob Blas is riding a seven-game hitting streak, tying his career best. In his past nine games, Blas is batting .441 (15 of 34).
