Head Coach Sparks Hope: ASU’s Postseason Dreams Revived

ASU baseball concluded its season with a disappointing four-game losing streak, narrowly avoiding missing the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year.

Coach Willie Bloomquist described the season’s conclusion as a “double bogey on 18,” yet his team managed to secure a playoff spot, entering the NCAA tournament with a mix of relief and renewed confidence.

The Sun Devils believe they belong in the postseason and are ready to embrace the challenge after ending a regional drought. “The last couple of years have been close, but we haven’t cracked through the door, and now we are,” Bloomquist remarked, expressing hope that this marks progress for the program.

Despite the positive outlook, ASU faced challenges leading up to the tournament. The end-of-season slide nearly jeopardized their postseason aspirations. “The way the conference tournament ended, we know that’s not the type of team we are,” second baseman Kyle Walker stated, insisting they have learned from the experience.

Outfielder Kien Vu took a different approach, aiming to move on. “It’s behind us and we flushed it. I have a bad memory, so I’m already starting to forget about it,” he said, while Walker recalled his own postseason experiences with a former team.

For first baseman Jacob Tobias, this moment is the culmination of four years of hard work. “It’s almost a little emotional just because it’s like we did it finally,” he shared, reflecting on the team’s journey.

Bloomquist acknowledged the pressures faced. “We can relax and go play our game, hopefully now, and make a run at this thing,” he commented, leaving the decision on a starting pitcher for game one undisclosed, likely to keep opponents guessing.

Ben Jacobs has been the team’s primary starter all season, but Jack Martinez’s NCAA Tournament experience may play a crucial role. Bloomquist emphasized that he plans to put forth all resources available in the first game, prioritizing performance over preservation.

The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports teams: the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, NBA’s Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, and MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cardinals play at State Farm Stadium, while the Suns and Mercury share the Footprint Center.

The Valley also hosts various sporting events annually, including college football’s Fiesta Bowl, the WM Phoenix Open, and NASCAR events each spring and fall, along with Cactus League Spring Training for multiple Major League Baseball franchises.