Final home game leaves memories for seniors

By Tom Schreier

Tommy Medica made no effort to hide his excitement as he blasted a three-run homer over the centerfield fence in the eighth inning last Sunday, in what would be his final game at Stephen Schott Stadium. As soon as Medica's cleats touched home plate, fellow senior Geoff Klein, who hit a home run of his own two innings earlier, greeted him with the customary high five.

Santa Clara crushed the University of San Francisco 12-6, winning the final game of the three-game series. All seven seniors contributed against the Dons, four of whom took the field on Senior Night.

"It's a great way to end itâ?¦ after four years," said Medica. "I wouldn't want to leave here any other way."

"I didn't really think about it, and it probably won't settle in until a while down the road, but it was a special game," said Klein. "All the buddies that I've made over the last four years and the friendships I've developed (have) been great. Tommy and I both going deep: It was special, I couldn't ask for anything more."

Head Coach Mark O'Brien was broken up as he talked about the ceremonies that took place before the game. Each senior was accompanied by their parents and siblings as they received a final farewell from the Santa Clara faithful.

"Those guys have done a heck of job for this program," O'Brien said about Medica, Klein and their fellow seniors Nate Garcia, Steve Kalush, Ian O'Connor, Alex Rivers and Pat Terry. "I can't say enough about them. They're some of the best kids I've been around."

Pat Terry, a walk-on who was cut his freshman year, established a place in the lineup this year, and Ian O'Connor, another walk-on who played at second base sparingly during the year, made an impressive diving throw to first base to get Santa Clara out of a predicament in the top of the fifth inning.

Unfortunately, senior pitchers Garcia, Rivers and Kalush were not able to play in the home finale.

On Friday, Garcia started in a 13-5 blowout at home.

"It was not what I was looking for," he said of his final start at Santa Clara. "I was getting behind hitters all day and my fastball was up."

On the positive side, Garcia--who expects to be drafted in June--finished his night by striking out the side in the sixth inning.

"I have to take the positives out of that," said Garcia optimistically. "I was able to make the adjustment in the sixth inning. I have to do that sooner."

In game two against San Francisco, Kalush came in to relieve Saturday starter Rivers. The Dons took that game as well, 11-5.

"I didn't really think about it as the last home game," said Kalush, who had an outstanding outing until he gave up a two-run homer in the final inning. "I tried to go in there and compete and keep the ball down."

"It's disappointing," said Rivers, upset after the loss. "It's the last game I'm going to throw here and (it was) not the way I wanted to go out."

Freshmen Chris Mendoza and Matt Ozanne stood out in the series. Mendoza got the win on Sunday and Ozanne, a spectacular fielder who was drafted by the Diamondbacks last year, hit two home runs in the series.

"I'm a lot more comfortable at the plate," said Ozanne.

"I feel I can play the same role as Gar(cia) did his freshman, sophomore, junior and senior year," said Mendoza. "I'd like to fill those shoes."

Both freshmen seem ready to take the Santa Clara baseball program a step forward in the future.

Contact Tom Schreier at tschreier@scu.edu or (408) 551-1918