Cody Ramer’s UA career ends with hits, errors and near-misses

OMAHA, Neb. – This wasn’t how Cody Ramer wanted his college career to end, nor how anyone could have predicted it would.

The senior second baseman was a key figure in three pivotal plays in Arizona’s 4-3 loss to Coastal Carolina in the third and deciding game of the College World Series finals Thursday at TD Ameritrade Park.

In the bottom of the third inning, Ramer raced home from third on Zach Gibbons’ chopper to the right of Chanticleers pitcher Andrew Beckwith. Beckwith threw home, and it appeared that Ramer touched the plate with his left hand before catcher David Parrett tagged him. Umpire Joe Burleson called Ramer out.

Instead of Arizona leading 1-0, the game remained scoreless.

“That would have been huge,” UA coach Jay Johnson said. “You guys have watched the whole series. … It seemed like the team that scored first won.”

The team that scored first went 14-3 in the College World Series. Coastal Carolina was that team Thursday, scoring twice in the sixth inning on a pair of Ramer errors.

Ramer couldn’t handle Zach Remillard’s two-out grounder up the middle, allowing one run to score. Ramer then threw the ball away, giving CCU a 2-0 lead.

It was a shocking turn of events. Ramer had fielded his position almost flawlessly since becoming the full-time second baseman in late April. He had two errors since April 22 — a span of 35 games — before Thursday.

The Wildcats wouldn’t have made it to Omaha without Ramer, who batted .348 and earned All-Pac-12 honors.

“He’s the best middle guy I’ve ever played with,” shortstop Louis Boyd said. “It was a privilege to play with him, and I’m definitely going to miss him next year. So is everybody else.”

Coastal Carolina expanded its lead to 4-0 by the time the inning ended, and all the runs were unearned. Johnson told Ramer and his teammates that they still had four innings to battle back. Ramer contributed a walk and a single in his final two plate appearances.

“If I ever have a son,” Johnson said of Ramer, “and he’s half of what he is as a person, a player and a competitor, I’d be extremely proud. I wish I could coach him every year of my life.”

That won’t happen, of course. Ramer’s eligibility has expired, and he’s expected to sign with the Los Angeles Angels, who drafted him in the 19th round. He was asked what he’d remember most about the 2016 Wildcats.

“How this group fought,” Ramer said. “They picked me up for every mistake I made, and I was hoping we were going to pull through.”

They almost did, and Ramer would have scored the tying run. However, Johnson had to hold him at third on Ryan Aguilar’s two-out double to left field in the bottom of the ninth. Ryan Haug struck out to end the game.

Salazar hurt

Haug entered the game in the bottom of the seventh after starting catcher Cesar Salazar got hurt in the top half of the frame.

Coastal Carolina’s Michael Paez struck out to end the inning on a low pitch from Cameron Ming. Paez’s backswing struck the top of Salazar’s helmet. Salazar was face down for several minutes before walking to the dugout. He left the game and underwent concussion testing.

Salazar said he did “fairly fine” on the test but was kept out of the game as a precaution. He will undergo further evaluation.

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Salazar was able to talk his way back into the dugout to watch the end of the game and Arizona’s near-rally.

“That’s our character,” Salazar said. “We always fight back. We never give up. We did a great job today. It was a great game. You’ve got to give credit to Coastal Carolina; they did their job, too.”

All-tournament team

Ramer was among five Wildcats named to the CWS all-tournament team.

The others were first baseman Aguilar; outfielders Gibbons and Jared Oliva; and pitcher JC Cloney. Cloney went 2-0 and did not allow a run in 16 innings.

Four Coastal Carolina players made the squad: Parrett, Remillard, Beckwith and outfielder Anthony Marks.

Beckwith, who started Thursday, was named the CWS Most Outstanding Player. He went 3-0 with a 0.76 ERA in 23 2/3 innings.

No regrets for Bannister

Senior Nathan Bannister did not pitch in the College World Series after suffering a strained right forearm against Oklahoma State last Friday. He said he “possibly” could have thrown Thursday if absolutely necessary.

Bobby Dalbec, Ming and Cody Deason did not allow an earned run, lowering the staff ERA to 1.25 in eight CWS games.

“Our pitching staff’s been nails, especially this tournament,” Bannister said. “No second-guessing.”

Bannister said he “probably” will sign with the Seattle Mariners this summer. The Mariners drafted him in the 28th round.

Inside pitch

• Arizona finished the season 49-24. Coastal Carolina finished 55-18.

• The Chanticleers improved to 6-0 in elimination games, including 5-0 in the College World Series. CCU is the first to achieve the latter since Oregon State in 2006.

• Gary Gilmore is the first coach to win a CWS in his first appearance since Fresno State’s Mike Batesole in 2008.

• Dalbec set a school record with 26 strikeouts during the College World Series. Arizona had 75 strikeouts, two shy of the CWS record (Arizona State, 1967).

• Ramer and Gibbons both eclipsed 100 hits this season, making Arizona the first team with two 100-hit players since 2012.

• Gibbons led all players with nine College World Series RBIs.