(Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect its column status.)

It’s over.

Oregon State Baseball’s haunting offseason of fixating on the super-regional loss to Kentucky can be entirely erased if you wipe your eyes hard enough and hope it was just a dream. Except, you wake up to realize that Travis Bazzana will be left behind as only a distant memory. 

Name, image, and likeness is booming more than ever, funding a more promising season that Beaver fans can peacefully dream about. After several ungenerous seasons with postseason losses, the Beavers have a sense of urgency in the clubhouse to make a College World Series appearance since they last won it in 2018. 

“The staff, we’re pretty stacked 1-19, and like I said, good competition in every bullpen, every live, everyone is shoving, so we’re trying to be better and stay on top,” left-handed pitcher Ethan Kleinschmit said. 

Kleinschmit is eager to key his role within the pitching staff and wants to hold down a position in the starting rotation as a go-to workhorse. Let’s not fret; head coach Mitch Canham wasn’t pleased to offer me a spot in the rotation as I told him my arm felt good in case he needed me Friday night.

“Our pitching staff is pretty good. You’re going to have to show some real stuff,” Canham said.

I’m glad a skipper like Canham didn’t bite the bait and offer me a spot in the rotation. His now sixth season with the squad and a .669 winning percentage proves that he knows what it takes to lead this team in the right direction. 

Embracing a road mentality this season with only 20 home games, this squad will have to become nomadic and work together to build a stronger bond to endure such conditions. 

“A lot of these guys haven’t gone through it yet, so we will have to pay very close attention as the season goes on. We want to make sure we go into the season well rested, but also, I mean, these guys are ready to compete, so it’s hard to sit here and keep practicing when all they want to do is go play,” Canham said. “Teaching the little things like how to travel, riding the bus, being on the plane, bringing joy to the field every day. We have a handful of guys that I’m very confident that even if they’re running off of one to two hours of sleep because of travel or whatever reason they couldn’t sleep, they’d go out and compete because they love the game.”

Yet with the election of going independent, the Beavers will have to continue to prove why they are a top program in the nation. Their best ranking of seven proves the rave that this program gets consistently. 

It’s not easy embracing rainy months with the lack of playoff appearances by the football team to make up for it. Though, as the sun starts to peak back out, a murmur occurs at Goss Stadium with an opportunity to bring a trophy back to Corvallis and put OSU back on the map as a national identity. 

“I think the dynamic we have this year is really good, and we have a lot of guys who have stepped up in that (leadership) role and have made everybody feel a part of the family, so I think top to bottom. We have a lot of good cohesiveness and just a tight group all together, so I think that it’s going to work really well together with a lot of talent, and all the guys really enjoy being around each other,” outfielder Dallas Macias said. 

It’s more than creating a team culture and having a successful season. It’s an homage to the loyal fans who have remained committed to the family at Goss Stadium. It would send a message that conference or not, they are here to stay and compete at a high level. 

The Beavers have their opening day Friday, at 11 a.m. against Xavier University in Surprise, Arizona.