Underdogs to Wonderdogs: Fresno State's Road to Omaha and the College World Series Championship

A great book describing the 2008 Fresno State Baseball team winning the College World Series. Other than Fresno State fans, no one thought FSU would even make the playoffs. This team lost their star pitcher just before the RIDE began; the third baseman had four dislocated fingers on his throwing (r) hand; the right fielder completely tore ligaments in his left thumb; what else could go wrong?Mike Batesole used super glue and duct tape to hold this team together. Even when FSU actually made it to Omaha, an opposing coach told another coach to not worry about Fresno State: " They'll be on the plane going home by Wednesday..." Fresno State was the "second step-child twice removed" in the eyes of College Baseball.After defeating top ranked teams and being in multiple elimination games, FSU defeated Georgia twice to win it all. My wife and I watched all the games on TV in Fresno, and I clearly remember going beserk with the 19-10 win over Georgia to set up the final game: FSU 6-Georgia 1.End of Story!

Amazing story.

Very nice book has lots of heart warming and funny stories. Lots of photos and really has a way of keeping you in the story!!

The book was great and took a very detailed look at the team and their trip to Omaha. Such a great book!

This is the definitive account of the 2009 Fresno State Bulldogs, who became the most unlikely national champs in the history of the College World Series. Paul is the Bulldogs' play-by-play announcer, and one of my favorite aspects of the book was how pull quotes from his actual game calls are interspersed throughout the text. In addition to providing an insider's view of a historic season, the book is packed with outstanding photos, profiles of each player, box scores from every CWS game, even a reproduction of the scoresheet from the final game. I'm not necessarily a Fresno State fan, but everyone loves to root for the underdog, and this book recounts the ultimate underdog triumph. I'd recommend it for all baseball and college sports fans.

The ultimate keepsake for any fan of the Fresno State Bulldogs or anyone simply wanting to relive the greatest upset in college baseball (perhaps college sports) history. I can't imagine anyone better to capture the moments than Paul Loeffler. Other than the team itself, no one was there for all the great moments but it's play-by-play man! Great move adding excerpts of Paul's play-by-play of the actual moments as they happened.

If you are a Fresno State Baseball fan this is the book for you. You are put in the game by someone who was there calling the games. The photos are great and this book makes a great Christmas gift. Buy two, one for yourself and one for a friend.

Great story, great cast of characters . . . who could not love these exuberant guys and their focused coach?Even if you are one who closely followed Fresno State's roller coaster season as it happened, this book will delight you with its behind-the-scenes stories and help you relive each improbable conquest.