D3baseball.com Daily Dose

So far this season two teams are still undefeated (Trinity Bantams and Carthage Redmen) and don’t forget Salisbury on a remarkable run with 29 wins in a row. Add in RPI, Calvin and Curry, all with just one loss, and New Jersey and Chapman both with two losses. These are your teams with a winning percentage over .900. The season is just about over for some teams as the USA South will start the tournament season in less than two weeks.

While these teams kept winning, I was in Seattle and caught up with former UW-Oshkosh Titan, Jarrod Washburn. Washburn, with a D-III and MLB World Series ring, is currently a starting pitcher with the Seattle Mariners. Washburn is still the highest draft pick since Billy Wagner was chosen by the Houston Astros with the number 12 overall selection.

Q. What did [UW-Oshkosh Head Coach] Tom Lechnir mean for your career?
A. He meant a ton. He saw the talent I had in me before anyone else did. My high school coach saw I could play at the next level and told coach Lechnir about it. He [Lechnir] saw me throwing catch with my brother on tape. I don’t know how much you can tell with that and he said he would like me to come to school. When I got there, he molded me into the guy I am today. I still talk to him quite a bit. When I have a problem, I call him up and he always has the answer. He meant a tone to my whole career.

Q. Have you talked to him since his 600th win?
A. It is good to hear [about the 600th win]. I talked to him just after the games at the Metrodome. I don’t think he is too concerned with that [600th win]. He is trying to get back to the level the program is known for.

Q. Do you get together with the 1994 Championship team?
A. Every year we get the National Championship team from 94 together, not all but at least half. They come over to my house for a weekend of ice fishing, talk about old times and what is going on.

Q. How did it feel to win the 1994 D-III Championship?
A. At the time, the best feeling in the world. When you start the season you set out with the goal of winning the championship no matter the level. You want to be the last team standing at the end. We were able to accomplish the goal and win it all that year. It was the greatest feeling in the world.

Q. What about the 1995 Championship?
A. That was a disappointment. I still think we were the best team but we got beat and ended third. There was one lefty [Methodist's Brian Ford] that beat us twice and he had our number. It was a tough loss.

Q. Tim Jorgensen was player of the year in 1994 and 95. Do you know why you he never made it to the show?
A. You would have to ask Tim as I never saw him play after we left college. He had a ton of talent and was a great teammate. There are just a lot of obstacles along the way.

Q. Contract your D-III championship with your World Series Win with the Los Angeles Angels?
A.It is right up there. It is that same feeling [as in 94], your the last team standing and you achieved the ultimate goal – what you set out to do at the beginning of the season. The World Series is just a bigger stage as more people know about it by the millions. At D-III, not many people pat attention but at the time I could not be any happier. It is the ultimate achievement at the level I was playing at the time.