Cal coach Dave Esquer has to like what he sees from his squad so far.

Oh come on, admit it, other than your own favorite team, don’tcha have it in your soul to hope that the Cal Bears win just about every game? Really? I know I’m not s’posed to show any bias here, but it is kinda cool to see what this team is doing so far in this early part of the season.

Today, as part of the USD Tournament (or the SDSU Tournament, or the San Diego Hoe-down… I still haven’t found an official name for this thing yet), the Bears had their 6th-round draft pick – Dixon Anderson – just barely out-duel San Diego’s 1st round draft pick – Dylan Covey – as the Bears won 6-2.

I also got a chance to see Oklahoma down San Diego State 4-0 as part of my weekend at the Gaslight District.

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WHAT I SAW AT CUNNINGHAM STADIUM TODAY.
It was a showdown of pro prospects as Dixon Anderson and Dylan Covey went toe plate to toe plate on the mound. Anderson had the slightly better day, as did Cal.

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California – 050 000 100 – 6 9 0
San Diego- 000 011 000 – 2 7 1
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WP: Dixon Anderson (1-1)
LP: Dylan Covey (1-1)
Save: None
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IN A NUTSHELL:
There wasn’t a lot of headline-making in this game. Both pitchers were pretty proficient, throwing hard, throwing pretty well and just making outs. But Dylan Covey had one bad inning – albeit it a really bad inning – and it cost the Toreros dearly in what otherwise was a pretty even game. The big difference came in the form of Marcus Semien, the Bears’ No. 2 hitter, who got a hold of one of the few mistake pitches on the day, parking a Dylan Covey offering just to the left of the 375 sign in the left-center gap when the bases were juiced.

That play was set up when Covey started the 2nd inning by plunking Chadd Krist, walking Danny Oh and walking Darrel Matthews. A couple of strikeouts later, leadoff man Austin Booker slapped an RBI single to get the Bears on the board. That was followed by Semiens’s crushing blow that put the Blue and Gold up by a 5-0 count. That would prove to be more than enough.

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ANDERSON WAS STOUT.
Anderson was solid, throwing with great “umph” running his fast ball up to the low 90s. But the thing that impressed me about him was how consistent he was at keeping pitches low. Rare was it when he allowed a fast ball or slider to get anywhere barely above the knee caps. So while he only had one strikeout, he induced about 250 groundouts from the bats of the Toreros. The defense responded by playing error-free on the night and never giving much hope to a Torero comeback.

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A “SAFE” LEAD ALL GAME LONG.
This seemed like one of those games where Cal felt like they were ahead by a lot more than the score would indicate. They never made it a blowout or anything, but in this game, with this pitching and defense going on, a four-run lead felt like an eight-run lead. Anderson and reliever Kyle Porter did a good boa constrictor act on USD and the lead never was challenged after the 2nd inning.

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IMPRESSIVE, JUST IMPRESSIVE.
With today’s win, Cal has moved its record to 6-1, including wins over Utah, Coastal Carolina, Kansas State, N.C. State and now, the Toreros. I tell you what, this may be a “lame duck” program and all, but I’m not going to bet against these guys anytime soon.

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IN PICTURES.

All helmets up. Marcus Semien gets a heroes welcome after his 2nd inning grand slam deep-sixed San Diego.

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Dixon Anderson was doin' some big-time dealin' from the mound at Cunningham Stadium today.

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Dylan Covey wasn't doing too bad himself, though he had to kick himself over the five walks he issued. But he'll learn.

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The guns are out in full force. Scouts and parents were about the only spectators for today's game. But with 6th round draftee Dixon Anderson and 1st round draftee Dylan Covey you see why the scouts were so interested in the game.

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Kevin Muno is able to slide this steal attempt under the late tag of Cal's Marcus Semien.

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Super Frosh Kris Bryant showed some pop today, but gives a mock smile to ump Bill Barnes after getting rung-up.

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With an extremely young (but talent-laden) squad, there will be these kind of moments for Rich Hill.

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I then made the five-mile (but thanks to gridlock traffic, 20 minute) drive over to Montezuma Mesa to see No. 2 Oklahoma take on youthful San Diego State at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

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WHAT I SAW AT TONY GWYNN STADIUM TONIGHT.
OU ace Michael Rocha may have been “nervous” as he said, but he sure as hell didn’t show it as the senior flinger for the Big Red put the clamps on a talented young Aztec team at Tony Gwynn Stadium tonight.

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Oklahoma U. – 000 100 021 – 4 8 1
San Diego St.- 000 000 000 – 0 5 4
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WP: Michael Rocha (3-0)
LP: Steven Moranda (0-1)
Save: none

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IN A NUTSHELL.
This game was all about the pitching of OU’s Michael Rocha. Sure, the Sooners were able to scratch across a few runs here and there, but their bats weren’t exactly Charlottesville Regional-hot or anything, foiled by the thick, cool air and some decent pitching from the Aztec starter Steven Moranda. Rocha went the distance and held the Fighting Montezumas to just five hits. Along the way, the OU ace struck out five and walked just one. Rocha was using his well-moving fastball most of the night, hitting the low 90s on the guns on occasion.

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A GOOD DUEL BY THE DUAL PITCHERS.
(Notice how I used the words “duel/dual” in the correct way here… you wouldn’t believe how often that is incorrectly used in our sport) Even though Rocha was a rock-a, the Aztecs’ Moranda was pretty hearty tonight as well, pitching into the 8th inning and doing a decent job of scattering the eight hits he surrendered. He ended the night officially going 7.1 innings, striking out seven and walking just one Sooner. Biggest of all, there was no crushing blow that put the game out of reach as Moranda did as well as he could facing a potent lineup like the Big Red possesses.

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SCORING AT A PREMIUM.
The game-winning run, if you will, came in the 4th inning when Moranda made his only real mistake of the night, plunking leadoff man Max White. He would eventually come around the score when Cameron Seitzer sliced a single over the shortstop Corey Black’s head. But Moranda would stop the bleeding with a pair of flyouts to the next two batters. He also got out of the biggest jam possible in the Sooners’ 5th inning. OU got the first three men on base with an error (SDSU had four of them on the night), a walk and a bunt single by 9-hole hitter Cale Ellis. But Moranda plugged the dyke with a pair of infield pop-ups and a strikeout of an angry Garrett Buechele. Nice work.

Unfortunately, Moranda’s offensive mates couldn’t back him up on this night and he ended up the tough-luck loser despite a brilliant performance.

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QUOTES.
What they had to say after the game.
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OKLAHOMA STARTER MICHAEL ROCHA.
- On what was working for him tonight:
“Fastball location mostly. I was throwing it in and out and hitting my spots. It was working well, so I kept going back to it.”

- On how much he was going with his fastball:
“I would say I was going about 80% with fastballs tonight. When I was throwing it inside they kept on swinging at it, so I kept going to it.”

- On how he seemed so comfortable out there and if there was ever an “oh shit” moment:
“Well, the entire game I’m pretty nervous, really. I learned through the years to kind of hide that.”

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OKLAHOMA HEAD COACH SUNNY GOLLOWAY:
- On if he had thoughts of taking Rocha out when he visited the mound in the 9th:
“I’m sure everybody in the dugout wanted me to leave him in. But I went out there to tell him, ‘I’m gonna give you the chance to finish the game.’ Pitch count-wise he was not in harms’ way, right at 106 and 108 when I went out there and he’s good until at least 120. So I just told him not to rush the game, let it come to him.”

- On his fastball tonight:
“His fastball was really good tonight. When he’s locating his fastball like he is and then he cuts that thing off, it becomes really wicked, along with his changeup. I’m really proud of his leadership both on the mound and off the field as well, he’s become a real leader for our dugout.”

- On the mental toughness of his team:
“That’s one of the things that the road does for a team, it presents new challenges. We had some guys coming back to the dugout a little frustrated and I had to keep telling them to stay focused and keep looking for your pitch, especially with two strikes. We were mentally challenged tonight. To be honest with you, we took ourselves out of a few at-bats because we would get strike one on a pitch that we don’t think is a strike and then we got caught thinking about what just happened and not about the next pitch. We’ll be better at that, but we haven’t been challenged enough on the road yet. That’s why these games are gonna make us better and that’s why we schedule them.”

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IN PICTURES.

Cameron Seitzer came up clutch again, getting the game-winning RBI single in the 4th inning.

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Interesting sequence here. After complaining about strike one in this at-bat, OU All American Garrett Buechele strikes out on this pitch.

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I didn't get a good picture of it, but as home plate ump Jeff Heinrichs (a CWS regular) rings him up, Buechele is bitchin' up a storm.

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... so much so that Heinrichs gives him the stare down routine here.

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And after he finally turns his back, Buechele is back to bitchin' at Heinrichs again.

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... (time passes) ... Buechele is still squawking at the now-unconcerned Heinrichs.

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But now coach Sunny Galloway gets into Heinrichs' grill a little while later. No ejections were necessary.

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Meanwhile, on the brighter side of things, Aztec starter Steven Moranda gave his team every chance to stay close with OU. (With the blur of the picture, doesn't it look like he's throwing a softball?)

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Sooner slugger Cody Reine slides into 3rd to complete his 8th inning triple.

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"Don't take me out. Don't take me out!" Michael Rocha (#44) seems to be saying as head coach Sunny Golloway makes his way to the mound in the 9th inning.

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Two outs later Michael Rocha is getting congratulated by catcher Tyler Ogle after the complete-game win.

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SOME OTHER MIDWEEK GAMES OF NOTE.
I didn’t get the chance to get my two cents in on the mid-week action around the country, so I’ll do so here now. Keep in mind there’s always a bit of an asterisk to go along with a mid-week games, but there are still some good and bad wins to mention. So here’s what we discovered from the last few days.
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10 GOOD MID-WEEK WINS
As early season wins go, these mid-week Ws are about as good as it gets.

1-
Florida State – 5
Florida – 3
A 5-run 3rd inning, keyed by Jayce Boyd’s 2-run triple and a Gator fielding error was all the Seminoles needed to hand UofF its first loss of the season. This was FSU’s fourth straight win over the Gators, including the elimination game in Omaha last June.

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2-
Rice – 8
Arizona – 10
The Wildcats started Friday starter Kurt Heyer on the hill, but it was a 2-run 8th inning that broke the tie. This was a big win for the youthful Cats.

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3-
Portland – 5
Oregon – 3
It’s quickly becoming apparent that the Pilots could be for real… maybe even the best team in the state?… Okay, let’s not get carried away with this W, but it is a huge win for their future RPI needs. Plus, reliever Chris Dennis, the nation’s returning saves leader from last season, picked up save No. 4 in this game.

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4-
Northeastern – 0
Florida International – 4
FIU’s Kyle Fitzpatrick threw a complete game no-hitter with one walk and five Ks. This marked the first no-hitter for the Panther program since a 1979 win over Eckerd College.

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5-
Cal Poly – 11
Fresno State – 4
Boy, did the Mustangs really need this one. After losing four of the first six games by one run, handing unbeaten Fresno its first loss was just the tonic. Poly is probably a good team, but they’ve had some painful losses so far.

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6-
Coastal Carolina – 12
Col. of Charleston – 3
Even though it’s early in the season, man, the Chanticleers need this one. A rag-tag start to the season has seen them at .500 coming into this one. Then Josh Conway struck out 12 batters in just 5.2 innings of work to hand the Cougars their first loss.

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7-
Cal State Bakersfield – 2
Arizona State – 1 (10inns)
This could be one of those “coming-of-age” wins for the Roadrunners. Frosh slugger Cael Brockmeyer – who hails from Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts of all places) hit a screaming solo shot to start off the 10th inning off of All American Mitchell Lambson to account for the winning margin. CSUB is now 8-2, while ASU falls to 6-2.

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8-
Georgia State – 6
Georgia Tech – 3
The Eagles have to relish this one, beating their big bullies at Russ Chandler Stadium for the third time in five years. The Panthers were clutch here, stranding four Tech runners in the final two innings to preserve the win. GSU is now 8-1 entering the weekend.

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9-
Niagara – 0
Virginia – 7
With this win and the Tuesday win over William & Mary, the Cavs have now held their opponents to 25 straight scoreless innings, stretching back to Sunday’s game with East Carolina.

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10-
Coppin State – 13
Navy – 11
Yes! My boys! CSU started out 0-5, but pulled out a win over what may be a pretty good Navy team, by overcoming an 11-3 deficit going into the 7th inning. Jesse Savage went 3-for-6 with 5RBI and Zach Spahn was 2-for-4 with 4RBI.

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10 BAD MID-WEEK LOSSES.
This is the ugly side of the L column for these losing teams.

1-
Georgia – 0
Furman – 3
Oh my. This doesn’t look like a good season for the Junkyard Dawgs, who drop to 2-6 with this loss, going into a weekend with Florida State. As coach Dave Perno told Mark Etheridge of SEbaseball.com, “We’re having a tough time scoring right now and we didn’t think that would be a problem with our veteran lineup, and we’re fight it and it’s starting to wear on us.”

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2-
Miami – 2
South Florida – 4
We already had our doubts about the Canes after losses to Rutgers and Appalachian State. Now they take this one on the chin before going to Gainesville this weekend.

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3-
McNeese State – 8
Arkansas – 6
I don’t know what’s worse, losing to the Cowboys for their first loss of the season? Or the fact that the Razorbacks administrators reported the attendance as 6,608, despite the “actual” attendance being just 2,114.

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4-
Bethune-Cookman – 5
Auburn – 2
I saw BCU play last weekend. They definitely weren’t the Wildcat team we’re used to seeing. And Auburn has to be even more concerned since it was a freshman (Brian Rivera) getting his first start and keeping the Tiger bats at bay. But unlike the way they played most of the first nine games of the season, their bats came alive as BCU finished with 11 hits, including two doubles by Ryan Durrance.

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5-
Fairleigh Dickinson – 22
Maryland-Eastern Shore – 20
This could scar the poor Eagles all season long. After jumping out to a 20-10 lead through five innings, they allowed FDU to scratch its way back, eventually seeing the Knights score eight runs in the 9th inning to pull out the win. Ouch.

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6-
Southern Miss – 10
Alabama – 6
After getting swept in three straight games by directional schools like Southeastern Louisiana, South Alabama and Central Florida over the weekend, the Tide went another direction here: down. USM outscored Bama 9-2 over the last five innings to knock the Tide down to 4-4 going into this weekend…. against another directional school: Northwestern State (cue the dramatic “oh shit” music!)

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7-
Western Kentucky – 5
Vanderbilt – 6
This is a painful loss for the Hilltoppers, who appeared to be on their way to a high-water win here. But VU scored two runs in the bottom of the 9th on a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch. Damn. If you’re thinking revenge, WKU will host the Commodores on April 26th.

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8-
Rice – 11
Arizona – 7
Just like on Tuesday, the Wildcats used a weekend starter on the hill, going with Saturday guy Kyle Simon. (So you figure the Cats were counting on getting a win here as well.). Simon only went 3.0 innings, before giving way to Vincent Littleman, who gave up five runs on three hits as part of Rice’s 8-run 5th inning.

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9-
Southeastern Louisiana – 3
LSU – 7
An alarming amount of errors (six in all) cost the Lions mightily as they botched their chance at an upset at Alex Box Stadium. Those six errors led to six unearned runs for LSU, giving them a red carpet victory. After seeing SLU play pretty solid defense at FIU in week one, this one’s a bad regression for Jay Artigues and his boys.

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10-
Alabama A&M – 7
Selma – 25
Last year the Bulldogs got out to a 10-1 start and were all the rage. After Wednesday’s loss to a girl named Selma, they stand at 1-8 and it ain’t looking a whole lot promising in this, coach Ed McCann’s first season at the helm.

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That’s enough for tonight. More tomorrow from Day Two at this San Diego thingee.

G’night.