Alumni weekend filled with memories

A scrimmage between the 2012 Gonzaga Bulldogs baseball team and a healthy collection of since-departed players capped an all-around enjoyable Alumni Weekend held Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

Despite ominous weather on Saturday morning, which saw the Gonzaga campus slick with the lingering effects of Friday night's rain, by the time the first pitch came around at noon the only cause for concern was some gray clouds in the sky. Otherwise, the weather was perfect for baseball.

The mood on the Patterson Baseball Complex field was jubilant— two current players manned a grill adjacent to the alumni dugout, serving up hot dogs and burgers to players, and even umpires, who made quick dashes for food between innings.

Families bustled about, enjoying the distinctly laid-back feel of a game played among friends and former teammates.

Heather Jackson, wife of Michael Jackson (class of '03), made her way about the compound, her kids in tow. Jackson, who is a daughter of Steve Hertz, a former Gonzaga baseball coach, is now the university's associate athletic director/major gifts. She has been coming to alumni weekends for as long as she can remember.

"It's always fun to get back with good people," Jackson said. "They're like family. It's fun to celebrate Zag baseball and see the new and old players come together."

Jeff Olson, father of current Bulldogs pitcher Tyler Olson, watched his son take over for starter Marco Gonzales at the beginning of the fourth inning.

"This is the first time we've watched him pitch on the Alumni Weekend," Olson said, alongside members of his family. "It's a lot of fun to watch the old guys play."

Assistant coach Steve Bennett outlined the weekend's proceedings, which began with a social at Jack and Dan's on Thursday night, followed by a round of golf and a batting practice session at Patterson Complex on Friday, before wrapping up with Saturday's scrimmage.

"I think it was a great weekend," Bennett said. "We had roughly 50 alums come back this year. It's great to see the older Zags come back and show their support of our program.

 "It really makes an impression on our guys playing now. They see the incentive to come back and be a part of this experience. A few of the guys who graduated last year came back for their first weekend. They told me they had a blast, and are already looking forward to next year.

"We play a game, but the weekend is more about respecting those guys who want to come back, and reconnecting."

Coach Bennett listed Friday's batting practice session as the most popular event of the weekend's set.

"A lot of these guys aren't playing baseball anymore, and they want to test their skills. We saw a lot of the younger alums, who've graduated after 2000, come back and take swings. They get out on the field with friends, some of whom they haven't seen for years. It takes place later in the afternoon, which is a perfect time so guys can take half a day off work and head over to campus."

Bennett works hand in hand with Bob Zinn, a former Gonzaga player who has since become a member of the alumni relations department, to set up the weekend.

"We send out fliers, we have our current players call alums, and we try and get former players to come back," Bennett said. "There are a lot of guys who've come back for 20 straight years. Our goal is to get everybody who's played here back. We've had years where 100 former players have showed up, it's so popular."

Adding to the festive nature of the weekend, a handful of awards were doled out after the alumni scrimmage to some of the former players in attendance.

Cody Martin ('11) received the NCAA award for lowest ERA during the 2011 season (0.86 over 52.1 innings of work). Brandon Blank ('08) and Kyle LaHonta ('10) shared the light-hearted "Over the Hill" award. Brian Yardley ('10) notched alumni game MVP honors after going 2-for-3 at the plate. The plaudits came to a close with class of ‘85 member Brian Yardley nabbing Alumni of the Year.

With the 2012 season still months away, the next item on the current Bulldogs' agenda is a three-game intrasquad series this weekend.

"It's our World Series," Bennett said. "We'll do that, then we'll head into our eight-hour weeks. Conditioning, lifting and individual work through January. Then on Feb. 1, we'll head into our 20-hour weeks. We'll get stronger so that when next season starts, we'll be in top physical shape."