I don't know if any of you remember "Grandslamfan"...she doesn't post much on the boards anymore. But, she's from Michigan (and I'm going to take the liberty to expand our forum's regional boundaries here for this post ). But her son, Freshman Alan Oakes, plays for University of Michigan (I still haven't quite forgiven her son for picking UM over PSU...as he had an official visit to Penn State with MY son as his host! ) . Michigan knocked off Vandy yesterday and will now advance on to a super-regional. Below I"ve pasted an accounting of her son's (Alan) contribution to the game yesterday that appeared in a Big10 Blog. Congrats Cindi! I know that it made the whole season worthwhile for your family! Anyway....it was truly a "dream" moment for the Oakes family, I am sure!:
"Michigan Stuns Vanderbilt, Wins Regional Freshman Oaks lifts Wolverines past top ranked Vanderbilt, 4-3
It was the stuff of legend. It's the tenth inning. Scored tied, 3-3. Vanderbilt has their ace pitcher on the mound. David Price, All-America and probable first pick in the Major League Baseball draft, has come out of the bullpen an inning earlier. With an out recorded in the tenth, Michigan head coach Rich Maloney calls for a pinch hitter.
The righthanded bat Maloney summons is that of freshman Alan Oaks. Oaks enters the game hitting .188. What can you expect from a .188 hitting first-year player against the top ranked team, in their home ballpark, with a chance to advance to a super-regional on the line? Did I mention Price, the undefeated lefty is still on the hill? Did I mention Oaks is pinch hitting for Zach Putnam, Michigan's first team All-Big Ten pitcher and DH? (I'm still waiting word on why that switch occurred.)
Oaks hangs tough and works the count to 3-1. Price then throws what appears to be a fastball. Oaks swings and .......... the ball is still sailing. The light hitting, barely used freshman clears the left-centerfield wall, sends Price to the showers, ends Vanderbilt's season and lifts Michigan into the Super Regionals. The final from Nashville, Michigan 4 Vanderbilt 3.
I'm still stunned. Thrilled, but stunned."
Posts: 2634 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: December 30, 2002
LOL...of course when I read the boxscore my IMMEDIATE reaction was one of feeling the emotions of the MOM! I can't even IMAGINE the nerves they must have been feeling seeing their son go into the game, off the bench, with a super-regional on the line!!!!
Posts: 2634 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: December 30, 2002
Thanks for sharing that one, Kathy. That is just the kind of moment that makes baseball so special! I too was stunned to see Michigan knock off Vandy, but all I saw was the final score -- didn't realize all the drama involved at the end! Congrats to the Oakes family!
And though I am not a Michigan fan (too many connections to OSU, Wisconsin and Northwestern for that to happen -- oh yes, and my new favorite baseball team PSU ), I am pulling for a fellow-Big-Ten team to continue to pull off these upsets and get all the way to Omaha. GO Blue!!
Posts: 547 | Location: The Great Midwest | Registered: February 13, 2004
Thanks to all of you for your kind wishes. This is a little long - but thought you might enjoy it.
This is truly a story for every freshman to hear. Not unlike other freshman, Alan struggled in his early chances this season - mostly because he was pressing, and the chances diappeared. I'm sure you all know the pain a parent goes thru (I know it bothers us more than it bothers them) when your child struggles at anything. The one positive thing I told him is God has a plan for you - we don't know what it is right now. Just pray and work hard and good things will happen.
I think his last at bat before the HR was May 9 - against Penn state. The game they pounded us like 20 - 2. He flew out to 2b. He had not stuck out in his last 8 at bats like was reported. So he really hadn't had an at bat in a month. And later in the season there were no intersquads - so not even any practice ABs.
My husband and I went to Vandy to see them play the Sat night game and they won - so we figured we would stay for Sunday and maybe they would win it all. Well it was not to be that night. But Alan did get to pitch. He had logged .1 innings at that point and we were losing by 4 or 5 runs and Alan is brought in to pitch against the NO. 1 team in the nation. Bases loaded. He got out of the inning only giving up one run on a suicide. He stayed in for the 9th as well. All told he gave up no hits, the run that scored wasn't his and he didn't embarass himself on national television. This biggest thrill was he k'd Pedro Alvarez. The announcers didn't even know who he was when the came into the game. They were scrambling to find his name and his stats. That day he lowered his ERA from 27 to 4.5.
We came home on Monday figuring no freshman was going to hit unless a starter keeled over. Just joyous that we got to see him pitch. None of the freshman had seen any ABs once the Big 10 tourney started. So we were at home watching the game. When the announcers said they were bringing in a pinch hitter, my mind raced through the list of possible pinch hitters - but they were all left handed hitters. I broke into a cold sweat when they said it was Alan. I thought he looked awefully calm - chewing his gum and takin pitches. When he hit it - I sat and watched until it cleared the fence. My husband immediately started to yell and then all heck broke loose. Life is kinda normal again. It is really awesome to see your son on sports center. Truly once in a lifetime. Yes he was a .188 hitter - but he only had 48 ABs - hardly a chance to develop. He is in the Northwoods league now - already hit his first HR. I told him - now that you have everyone's attention - show them what you can do!
"Success is where preparation and opportunity meet" Bobby Unser
Posts: 137 | Location: midwest | Registered: December 27, 2002
-------------------------------------------------- I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I toss one that ain't never been seen by this generation
). But her son, Freshman Alan Oakes, plays for University of Michigan (I still haven't quite forgiven her son for picking UM over PSU...as he had an official visit to Penn State with MY son as his host! 
) . Michigan knocked off Vandy yesterday and will now advance on to a super-regional. Below I"ve pasted an accounting of her son's (Alan) contribution to the game yesterday that appeared in a Big10 Blog. Congrats Cindi! I know that it made the whole season worthwhile for your family! Anyway....it was truly a "dream" moment for the Oakes family, I am sure!:
), I am pulling for a fellow-Big-Ten team to continue to pull off these upsets and get all the way to Omaha. GO Blue!!
