1544 Miles to Omaha

This episode of the 1544 Miles to Omaha Podcast features a one-on-one sit down interview with Titan Baseball head coach, Jason Dietrich.Dietz has been at the helm for nearly a year after his introduction on June 30th last year. We sat down to discuss his first year, how the learning curve will not be as steep going into his second year and what were some of the positives to take away from the 2022 season.Highlights include:🎙️ What he learned in the first year as head coach (2:14)🎙️ Newly discovered aspects of being a head coach (3:52)🎙️ What will come easier with a year under his belt (5:27)🎙️ What's happening this summer before fall classes start (6:30)🎙️ Defining the NCAA recruiting "Dead Periods" (11:02)🎙️ Recruiting the future athletes to be a good fit for Titan Baseball (12:07)🎙️ Titan Baseball is still a brand name on the recruiting trail (14:24)🎙️ Improvements from 2021 to 2022 (16:25)🎙️ Building blocks for 2023 (18:26)🎙️ Prospects of Seniors potentially returning (21:46)🎙️ Stultz & Chester projected to return (22:39)🎙️ Jason Blood & Nacho Alvarez prospects (24:33)🎙️ Trevor Hinkle transfer from Pepperdine (26:13)🎙️ Transfer portal explanation (27:45)🎙️ Recruiting portal athletes techniques (30:01)🎙️ Using the transfer portal for draft leverage (31:57)🎙️ Which returning players excite the staff for next year(33:01)🎙️ Recruiting the summer priority (35:51)🎙️ Keeping up with ECU in the NCAA Post-season (38:21)▶️ Visit our website: https://www.calstateomaha.com/▶️ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalStateOmaha▶️ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Suggest a guest: [email protected]

Dave Weatherman is considered the ultimate workhors pitcher in Titan Baseball program history. We had the pleasure and honor to get him on the phone to discuss his time as a Titan and the incredible run of the 1979 National Championship team.This is Part 3 of our conversation. We encourage you to listen to Parts 1 & 2 to gain context on the topics he previously discussed. Those include:Growing up in Southern California, getting recruited in the late 1970's, choosing CSUF over all others, freshman year at Cal State Fullerton, playing in a regional in Freshman year, geting ranked No. 1 in 1979, Fresno State regional, Getting to play in Rosenblatt, getting the ball in the championship game and returning home a champion.🎙️ Motivated ot get drafted as a Junior (2:16)🎙️ Getting beat by eventual champion two times now (12:05)🎙️ Senior Year at Cal State Fullerton (13:10)🎙️ Gaining the Titan "Grinder" attitude (19:00)🎙️ Going pro (20:55)🎙️ Invited to Spring Training (26:41)🎙️ Life after baseball (40:16)▶️ Visit our website: https://www.calstateomaha.com/▶️ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalStateOmaha▶️ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Suggest a guest: [email protected]

Dave Weatherman is considered the ultimate workhorse pitcher in Titan Baseball program history. We had the pleasure and honor to get him on the phone to discuss his time as a Titan and the incredible run of the 1979 National Championship team.This is Part 2 of our conversation. We encourage you to listen to Part 1 to gain context on the topics he previously discussed. Those include:Growing up in Southern California, getting recruited in the late 1970's, choosing CSUF over all others, freshman year at Cal State Fullerton and playing in a regional in Freshman year.Part 2 Highlights include:🎙️ Heading into Fall 1978 and preparing for 1979 season (2:01)🎙️ Playing stiff competition in Fall 1978 (5:34)🎙️ The Spring 1979 regular season (7:30)🎙️ Getting Ranked No. 1 after Hawaii series (13:36)🎙️ 1979 Fresno State Regional (15:01)🎙️ Finally going to Omaha (19:14)🎙️ Getting to play in Rosenblatt Stadium (22:34)🎙️ The shock of losing Game 1 vs. Mississippi State (24:03)🎙️ Familiar foes facing off in Omaha (29:14)🎙️ Getting the ball in the championship game (33:36)🎙️ Champions! (8:27)🎙️ Returning home champions (47:32)🎙️ Video copy of the Championship game a rare find (51:31)▶️ Visit our website: https://www.calstateomaha.com/▶️ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalStateOmaha▶️ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Suggest a guest: [email protected]

Cal State Fullerton's Titan Baseball program would be just another small school mired in obscurity without pitching and defense to carry the water in the program's initial years after breaking into the Division One ranks. Right Handed Pitcher Dave Weatherman was one of the biggest reasons the Titans made their mark so quickly at the highest levels of College Baseball from 1978 to 1981. Weatherman's name is littered throughout the Titan Baseball Record book for both career and single-season pitching records. Weatherman is tied for second for wins in a single season with 15 wins in 1979, the year the Titans would win their first National Championship. In 1981, Weatherman tossed eight complete games en route to getting drafted in the 13th round by Oakland that same year. The ultimate workhorse pitcher for the Titans, Weatherman ranks No. 1 in numerous pitching categories including innings pitched (453.1), wins (42) and complete games (25) from 1978 to 1981. Weatherman and Mark Beck hold the Freshman record for complete games, going the distance five times as a freshman. In three out of his four years as a Titan, Weatherman led the team in wins with 9 in 1978, 15 in 1979 and 10 in 1981. This is Part one of a three part series with Dave WeathemanPart 1 highlights include:🎙️ Reaction to name in record book so many times (3:51)🎙️ State of college baseball today vs. his era. (5:38)🎙️ Friendship with Ronnie Prettyman (8:27)🎙️ Growing up in Southern California (9:49)🎙️ Getting recruited in the late 1970's (16:06)🎙️ Choosing CSUF over all others (22:13)🎙️ Freshman year at Cal State Fullerton (25:33)🎙️ Realizing he was in the presence of great players (36:14)🎙️ Regional in Freshman year (38:30)▶️ Visit our website: https://www.calstateomaha.com/▶️ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalStateOmaha▶️ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Suggest a guest: [email protected]

This is Episode 58 where we continue our conversation with Sam Favata. In part 1 we covered his youth growing up in Southern California the impact Augie Garrido had on him as a player and a person, hitting four home runs in a single game and advancing to the 1979 College World Series. In Part 2 of a three part conversation, we covered Favata's time at the 1979 College World Series, his junior year at Cal State Fullerton in 1980, getting drafted and playing professionally. We highly encourage you to listen to Parts 1 & 2 before listening to Part 3 for context. This is Part 3 where we covered his professional career, his catastrophic brain injury, his comeback and eventually walking away from baseball. Please enjoy part 3 of our conversation with Sam Favata.Part 3 highlights include:🎙️ Getting hit in the head in Modesto (1:36)🎙️ Road to recovery (11:56)🎙️ Playing Pro baseball in less than a year (16:54)🎙️ Getting contacted by "That's Incredible" TV Show (18:44)🎙️ Audio from segment on "That's Incredible" (20:01)🎙️ First professional at-bat after getting hit (29:31)🎙️ Walking away from baseball (33:11)▶️ Visit our website: https://www.calstateomaha.com/▶️ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalStateOmaha▶️ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Suggest a guest: [email protected]

This is Episode 57 where we continue our conversation with Sam Favata. In part 1 we covered his youth growing up in Southern California the impact Augie Garrido had on him as a player and a person, hitting four home runs in a single game and advancing to the 1979 College World Series. We highly suggest listening to Part 1 if you have not already.This is Part 2 of a three part conversation. This episode will cover Favata's time at the 1979 College World Series, his junior year at Cal State Fullerton in 1980, getting drafted and playing professionally. We will also cover his catastrophic head injury suffered while playing professional baseball and his miraculous comeback that was featured on the popular 1980's TV show, "That's Incredible" in Part 3. Please enjoy part 2 of our conversation with Sam Favata.Part 2 highlights include:🎙️ Omaha in 1979 (2:57)🎙️ Losing Game 1 to Mississippi State (5:39)🎙️ Shocking the world & proving everyone wrong (11:03)🎙️ Championship game vs. Arkansas (15:13)🎙️ Leaving Omaha a CWS Champion (22:59)🎙️ Lack of TV exposure in 1979 (27:25)🎙️ Playing Summer Ball in Alaska (29:58)🎙️ Entering Junior year at CSUF (30:56)🎙️ Drafted by the Brewers (34:03)🎙️ First MLB Spring Training (37:22)▶️ Visit our website: https://www.calstateomaha.com/▶️ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalStateOmaha▶️ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Suggest a guest: [email protected]

In Episode 56 we're talking with Sam Favata, the first Titan Alumni from the 1979 National Championship team to come on the show. Favata scored the winning run in the 1979 championship game, a 2-to-1 victory over Arkansas. Favata was a two-time all conference selection in 1979 and 1980 and still holds numerous records in the Titan Baseball history books. Favata's 66 stolen bases in 1979 season still ranks No. 1 today for the most stolen bases by a Titan in a single season. His 116 hits in 1979 is tied for first with John Fishel's 116 hits in the Titans second national championship year of 1984. In the 1979 season, Favata's .417 batting average led the Titans, beating out Golden Spikes Award winner Tim Wallach for the top batting average. That .417 batting average ranks fourth all time for a single season behind Gary Brown, Steve Woodward and Mark Kotsay. In three season with the Titans, Favata averaged .363 with 22 home runs and 109 RBI. In 1980, Favata was drafted in the 13th round by the Milwaukee Brewers. This is Part 1 of a two part conversation and Episode 57 will cover Favata's time at the 1979 College World Series, his junior year at Cal State Fullerton in 1980, getting drafted and playing professionally. We will also cover his catastrophic head injury suffered while playing professional baseball and his miraculous comeback that was featured on the popular 1980's TV show, "That's Incredible". Part 1 highlights include:🎙️ Growing up in Southern California (5:18)🎙️ Choosing baseball over other sports (8:11)🎙️ Friendship with Steve Garvey (10:54)🎙️ Hearing Augie Garrido speak as a teenager (13:31)🎙️ Getting recruited in the late 1970's (14:10)🎙️ Augie as a recruiter (18:21)🎙️ Freshman year at Cal State Fullerton (23:16)🎙️ Not a starter and almost quit (25:15)🎙️ Becoming a Grinder (31:18)🎙️ Being in the presence of greatness in 1979 (37:02)🎙️ Coming together as a team in 1979 (38:38)🎙️ Reactions to the few times the team lost (41:08)🎙️ Hitting four home runs in a single game (49:01)🎙️ 1979 Regionals at Fresno State (55:11)🎙️ Preparing to go to Omaha (1:01:26)▶️ Visit our website: https://www.calstateomaha.com/▶️ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalStateOmaha▶️ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Suggest a guest: [email protected]

Welcome into Episode 55 of the 1544 Miles to Omaha podcast. This is Part 4 of our conversation with legendary Cal State Fullerton coaches Rick Vanderhook and George Horton.Continuing our conversation talking about some of the greatest Titan Baseball players to ever put on a uniform, we cover the intangible aspects of Titan Baseball that helped propel it to be one of the most iconic and most successful programs in college baseball. We delve into who was a great clutch performer, great performances by part-time players, strongest players, slash hitters, base stealers, great students and not able bat boys/girls. We highly suggest listening to Episode 52, the Part 1 of this series, Episode 53, the Part 2 of this series and Episode 54, the Part 3 of this series to gain context on the intent and spirit of these conversations.Part 4 highlights include:Greatest clutch performers (2:06)Greatest performance by a part time player (9:51)Strongest player (15:31)Great slash hitters (18:57)Great base stealer (22:45)Great student (26:39)Great bat boy (32:03)▶️ Visit our website: https://www.calstateomaha.com/▶️ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalStateOmaha▶️ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Follow George Horton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/G_Horton8▶️ Follow Rick Vanderhook on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rick_vanderhook▶️ Suggest a guest: [email protected]

Welcome into Episode 54 of the 1544 Miles to Omaha podcast. This is Part 3 of our conversation with legendary Cal State Fullerton coaches Rick Vanderhook and George Horton.Continuing our conversation talking about some of the greatest Titan Baseball players to ever put on a uniform, we tackle the off the field aspects of Titan Baseball that helped propel it to be one of the most iconic and sucessful programs in college baseball. We delve into who was a great clubhouse guy, great recruiting visit host, toughest players and those who had great baseball IQ. We highly suggest listening to Episode 52, the Part 1 of this series and Episode 53, the Part 2 of this series to gain context on the intent and spirit of these conversations.Part 3 highlights include:Great clubhouse guy (1:58)Great official visit recruiter (14:00)Toughest players (28:20)Great Baseball IQ (34:03)▶️ Visit our website: https://www.calstateomaha.com/▶️ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalStateOmaha▶️ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calstateomaha/▶️ Follow George Horton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/G_Horton8▶️ Follow Rick Vanderhook on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rick_vanderhook▶️ Suggest a guest: [email protected]

Welcome into Episode 53 of the 1544 Miles to Omaha podcast. This is Part 2 of our conversation with legendary Cal State Fullerton coaches Rick Vanderhook and George Horton.Continuing our conversation talking about some of the greatest Titan Baseball players to ever put on a uniform, we tackle the defensive sides of things while also touching on intangible items like work ethic. We highly suggest listening to Episode 52, the Part 1 of this series to gain context on the intent and spirit of these conversations.Part 2 highlights include:Great Defensive Catcher (2:13)Great Defensive Infielder (16:54)Hooky story about Tony Martinez (23:57)Great Infield Arm (25:00)Great Defensive Outfielder (26:53)Great Outfield Arm (35:00)Great double play combo (37:04)Biggest “Grinder” (41:42)Horton story about Reed Johnson (44:22)Hooky story about Jim Betzsold (47:04)Great bullpen catchers (49:02)