CWS NOTEBOOK: A trip for fathers and sons

OMAHA, Neb. — It was a made-for-TV moment.

Fathers and sons crowded around in huddles as Omaha steaks were slapped on the grill.

Steve Proscia, the father of Virginia third baseman Steven Proscia, did not skip a beat, laying out marinated chicken and whopping-sized steaks at the R.V. park he elected to stay at following his lengthy trek to the College World Series.

The food itself blew the players away. Well, almost everyone.

“I didn’t eat,” said Virginia pitcher Andrew Carraway. “I was just there to hang out and went out with family and friends afterwards.”

He regrets that now.

“He missed out,” said Virginia pitcher Matt Packer, Carraway’s roommate on the road. “It was legit. It was really good, but simple. They just have a grill and some chairs.”

Players and fathers also tossed around footballs and Frisbees as the food was slowly cooked.

“It was something I will always remember,” Packer said.

It is not shocking that the elder Proscia invited the entire contingent to a meal. The families of the players have bonded in a unique way during the magical run that has now included 13 postseason games.

Steven Proscia, a rookie, has enjoyed seeing his father every step of the way despite what it may have done to his bank account.

“He is a character,” he chuckled. “He gets everyone involved and he gets the whole team involved. It is just a big party. He just loves it, especially me being a first-year player and being in the College World Series.

“It is really unbelievable.”

Proscia, a New Jersey native, has been a mainstay in Virginia’s lineup, bouncing around the middle part of the batting order. He entered Wednesday’s game with 10 homers, the most by a UVa rookie since 2005.

There have been slumps along the way, but Prosica remained positive.

“I just think it helps when you have teammates around you that are producing as well,” he said. “If one person doesn’t get it done you know somebody else will get it done.

“Anyone on our team is capable of having a big day and it says a lot about our team that anyone is ready to hit and ready to go.”

As for the steaks, they were fittingly purchased in Wahoo, Neb.

“That is a little coincidental,” Proscia said, “but everything is working out for us.”

Shuffling things up

With a left-hander starting for Arkansas, O’Connor elected to switch up his lineup, a practice that dates back to the regular season.

Second baseman Keith Werman, who had six hits in the first two games of the College World Series, was benched. Phil Gosselin assumed the starting duties at second and was replaced in left field by sophomore John Barr.

“It was what got us to this point, so I decided to stick with it,” O’Connor said.

Breaking glass

During a practice session on Tuesday at a local high school, Arkansas centerfielder Brett Eibner drilled a batting practice homer that shattered the window of a fan’s car.

It was not something unique for the Razorbacks.

“We’ve broken one out here before,” said Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn. “I know that’s the third one that’s happened at this ballpark already.

“That’s bad timing on his part.”

Van Horn was asked if the cracked window would provide a positive sign.

“I don’t know,” he joked. “I’ll tell you later on this week and see how it goes, but it did liven it up a little bit out here.

“The guy wasn’t very happy, I can tell you that. He was mad.”