UCI baseball’s CWS run garners LA sports award

The UC Irvine baseball team’s College World Series run was selected as the Greatest Moment of 2007 for Division I schools other than UCLA or USC at the third annual L.A. Sports Awards, presented by the Los Angeles Sports Council.

Outfielder Ollie Linton accepted the trophy on behalf of the team Jan. 20 during a special awards presentation televised live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel on FSN Prime Ticket.

Linton was joined at the ceremony by teammates Ben Orloff and Scott Gorgen as well as Associate Athletic Director Phil Wang and UCI men’s volleyball coach John Speraw, who was interviewed live during the telecast.

UCI, making its first appearance in the Division I College World Series, became the first team in CWS history to win consecutive extra-inning games. The Anteaters eliminated Cal State Fullerton, 5-4, in a 13-inning game that lasted a CWS-record 5 hours, 40 minutes. They then ousted Arizona State, 8-7, in 10 innings, at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb.

UCI finished third in the CWS and posted an overall record of 47-17-1, the most wins in its Division I history.

— From staff reports