Baseball finds the sweet spot
<p>Phoenix temperatures weren’t the only things heating up this week.</p><separator></separator><p>A Pac-10 Championship, a regional NCAA host site and a new head coach have catapulted the ASU baseball team into the college sports limelight.</p><separator></separator><p>ASU Baseball wrapped up the 2010 regular season as Pac-10 Champions with an 8-6 victory over Stanford over Memorial Day weekend before being selected as one of 16 regional host sites for this year’s NCAA Baseball Championships, marking the fourth consecutive season – and 20th time in school history – that ASU has been selected as a host site.</p><separator></separator><p>In what quickly became an eventful week, the team also landed a new head coach: Tim Esmay, former interim head coach, who helped lead the Devils to a 47-8 regular season finish and the No. 1 national seed in the NCAA.</p><separator></separator><p>Shortly after the June 2 announcement, Esmay said: “I am extremely honored to lead this program and carry on the storied tradition. To be able to be the head coach at my alma mater is a dream come true!”</p><separator></separator><p>Continuing to bring the heat, the Sun Devils will be making their 34th NCAA Tournament appearance in school history – and 11th straight postseason appearance – June 4, at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark, in Tempe. General Public All Session tickets will be available for in-person purchase at the Sun Devil Ticket Office, beginning June 1, or over the phone at 480-727-0000. Single game tickets are on sale and can be purchased in person, over the phone or online at <a href="http://www.thesundevils.com" target="_blank">thesundevils.com</a>.<br /><br />For the full story on ASU naming Esmay head baseball coach, click <a href="http://asunews.asu.edu/20100602_baseballcoach" target="_blank">here</a>. Read more about the team’s Pac-10 victory <a href="http://asunews.asu.edu/20100529_baseballpac10" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>