The ’89 Wildcats, periodically ranked No. 1, had it all: 18-game winning pitcher Scott Erickson, Pac-10 Player of the Year Alan Zinter and future big-leaguers J.T. Snow, Trevor Hoffman and Kevin Long.
Arizona’s 23-7 conference record remains the best in its Pac-12 history. It swept ASU in Tempe to win the league title. But it lost to Long Beach State 10-3 at Kindall-Sancet Stadium in the regional finals.
Pitching on two days rest, Erickson, 18-3, had the only bad outing of a remarkable season. He sat in the dugout after and wept. “I’d trade it all for a trip to Omaha,’’ he said.
