Baseball finds the sweet spot

Phoenix temperatures weren’t the only things heating up this week.

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.

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.

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.

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!”

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 thesundevils.com.

For the full story on ASU naming Esmay head baseball coach, click here. Read more about the team’s Pac-10 victory here.