Former Cal players pay their respects to the 2011 Bears

BERKELEY -- The California baseball team, fresh from its fifth place finish at the 2011 College World Series, will be honored at the Coliseum Wednesday night (June 29) by the Oakland A's prior to the their interleague game against the Florida Marlins at 7:05 p.m.

Head coach Dave Esquer, recently named the 2011 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Coach of the Year, will join his players on the field for introductions and the Golden Bears' coach will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. In one of the more remarkable seasons in college baseball history, Cal battled back from a potential final season due to budget cuts and six elimination games in the postseason to qualify for the school's first College World Series appearance since 1992.

Beyond featuring their normal BART $2 Wednesday promotion -- seats in the Plaza Level, Plaza Outfield and Plaza Reserved sections are priced at $2 while supply lasts -- the A's will be making a special offer to Cal fans Wednesday night. Field level tickets, normally priced at $26, will be available at half price ($13). Tickets can be purchased on line by going to this link, selecting the June 29 game and entering the coupon code "Cal" and then clicking "apply."

The Oakland A's feature many players and staff with Cal ties, including manager Bob Melvin, who was a catcher on the 1980 Bears team that placed third at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

Other Athletics affiliated with Cal include outfielder-first baseman Conor Jackson (2001-03) and right-hander Tyson Ross (2006-08), Scouting Director Eric Kubota and Assistant Athletic Trainer Brian Schulman.

Cal was the only Pac-10 team to advance to the CWS this year, finishing with a 38-23 overall record. Sophomore first baseman Devon Rodriquez was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Houston Regional and sophomore second baseman Tony Renda was named the 2011 Pac-10 Player of the Year.

The Bears, who captured the NCAA Houston Regional at Rice's Reckling Park and defeated Dallas Baptist in two games (7-0, 6-2) in the Santa Clara Super Regional, went 1-2 at the CWS in the brand new TD Ameritrade Park. Cal fell to top-seed Virginia, 4-1, June 19; defeated Texas A&M, 7-3, June 21; and lost to Virginia, 8-1, June 23 to conclude one of the finest seasons in school history.