How they got to Omaha-
Charlottesville Regional
Oregon State 5 - Rutgers 1
Virginia 7 - Oregon State 4
Oregon State 5 - Rutgers 2
Oregon State 5 - Virginia 3
Oregon State 7 - Virginia 3

Corvallis Super Regional
Oregon State 1 - Michigan 0
Oregon State 8 - Michigan 2

The Staff
The Beavers were able to ride their arms last year in Omaha and this year looks to be no different. Mike Stutes is OSU's "Friday Guy" and has returned to his high school form. Stutes is able to throw a fast ball in the low 90's and follow it up with a 78 mph curve ball that starts at the right handed batters hip and winds up in the glove.

Following Stutes is lefty Joe Paterson. Paterson pulled a Jonah Nickerson in the regional throwing six as a starter in Game One and then 6.2 innings total in the final two games of the regional. The low arm slot lefty has thrived in his starting role racking up ten wins and 75 strikeouts.

Behind door number three is freshman Jorge Reyes. Reyes earned a starting spot midway through the season and against Michigan ace Zach Putnam showed why. Reyes battled Putnam as Putnam took a no hitter into the ninth before surrendering a game winning hit. The hard throwing right hander has put eyes on him as a replacement for Stutes next season.

The Beavers also run with a strong bullpen. Closer Eddie Kunz, was lights out against the Wolverines and has 11 saves on the season. Joining Kunz in the bully is the Alaskan Assassin, Anton Maxwell. Maxwell is a hard throwing lefty who has been used primarily as a one or two at bat pitcher. Maxwell was a starter in 2005 when OSU went to Omaha and has the capability of going extended innings. The not so secret weapon in the pen for the Beavers is Daniel Turpen. Turpen a high school teammate of Paterson has teamed up with his buddy multiple times this season relieving one another in Beaver victories. Turpen began the season as Oregon State's number three starter and like Maxwell can still go multiple innings.

Defense-
What is there to say about the OSU defense. It is number two in the nation in fielding percentage (.977). The Beavers are strong up the middle with catcher Mitch Canham, shortstop Darwin Barney, second baseman Joey Wong and centerfielder Chris Hopkins.

Canham is one of the top catchers in the nation and it is only his third season playing the position. Barney is a smooth fielding shortstop with a strong arm. Barney's double play partner is the freshman Wong. Wong is a future Pac-10 defensive player of the year candidate making heads up, routine and spectacular plays every game. Hopkins is a speedy center fielder who is willing to sacrifice his body for a win.

Offense-
This may be the Beavers one weak point (more strengths to come). OSU is hitting .282 on the year and has only three players over .300. Leading the way is outfielder Mike Lissman (.323), first baseman Jordan Lennerton (.320) and Canham (.317). During the Michigan series Barney began to swing a hot stick and OSU hopes that continues into Omaha.

Other-
Oregon State coach Pat Casey picked up his 500th career win this season and is ready to lead his Beavers back into the CWS. Casey has become a face of Oregon State (not just the baseball team), and has used the teams success to rack up a top five recruiting class for 2007.

Experience. Oregon State has done this before... recently. While ASU and Fullerton have won multiple titles, the Beavers are back after winning it a year ago. This is OSU's fourth appearance in the world series and third in three years. Barney, Canham, Lissman and Kunz played in Omaha in 2005 and 2006. OSU also returns two pitchers who had outstanding performances in Omaha last season in Stutes and Turpen.

Anything can happen at the College World Series as all the teams are again 0-0. Barney and Fullerton starter Wes Roemer played together over the summer and have been in contact all season, look for the friendship to be put on hold when the Beavers and Titans take the field opening up against one another.