Oregon State Baseball Visits White House

Oregon State is the first team in a decade to repeat as national champions in baseball, and just the fifth program to do so in NCAA history.

Photo courtesy: OSU Athletics

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Oregon State baseball team visited the White House on Friday to celebrate the team’s back-to-back national championships.

Head coach Pat Casey, his staff, and approximately 40 players from the 2006 and 2007 teams spent Friday afternoon on the South Lawn of the White House as President George W. Bush congratulated the team for its accomplishments.

“It is a beautiful day to welcome champs to the White House,” President Bush said at the outset of the ceremony. “And I'm honored to stand with some of our country's finest student athletes -- and look at some of our finest student athletes -- and glad to give you an excuse to skip class. But I'm really glad to welcome you here and to congratulate you on being a champion.

“I really enjoy a day like today. You didn't get to see, but I got to shake hands with athletes and coaches and people, some of whom have come a long way to be recognized here at the White House. And it is really a lot of fun to be with people who set high standards and work hard to achieve goals, which you've done.”

The team arrived in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, and during the trip, had the opportunity to see parts of the nation’s capital, including the Capitol Building.

After the ceremony with President Bush on Friday, the team was scheduled for an event with Oregon State alumni.

“This was a great opportunity,” Oregon State head coach Pat Casey said. “Our players and staff really had a great time on the visit. This was a wonderful opportunity the President offered us and we appreciate the gesture. The two national championships are a great accomplishment, and I’m proud of the fact our players had the chance to visit the nation’s capital.”

During the ceremony, Casey and the rest of the team presented President Bush with two Oregon State jerseys with the No. 1 on the back: One jersey was in the team’s home style, while the other was a road gray with pinstripes.

In addition to the jerseys, the team presented the President with a specially-made DeMarini bat. On the bat was inscribed “Orange and Black, Back-To-Back. 2006-2007 National Champions. Oregon State.”

After touring the Capitol Building, the Beavers then arrived at the White House approximately two hours prior to the ceremony.

There, they were able to tour the building and participate in a photo opportunity with the President.

Oregon State is the first team in a decade to repeat as national champions in baseball, and just the fifth program to do so in NCAA history.

In their most recent championship, the Beavers went 5-0 at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

The Beavers outscored their opponents, 42-16, and led for all but one inning. Jorge Reyes, then a freshman, was named the College World Series Most Valuable Player.

The Beavers will return to Corvallis on Saturday before resuming fall practices on Sunday.

Other teams honored at Friday’s White House ceremony were Arizona State women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, Brown University women’s crew, John Hopkins men’s lacrosse, Tennessee women’s basketball, Alaska-Fairbanks men’s and women’s rifle, Minnesota-Twin Cities men’s wrestling and Duke women’s golf.

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports