The RoundHouse | 6/3/2020 8:29:00 AM

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Wichita State pitchers Jaime Bluma and Shane Dennis played on the teams that went to the College World Series in 1991, 1992 and 1993. Those teams helped transform Shocker baseball by reinforcing the success of the 1988 CWS team and the 1989 national champions. 

Wichita State first hosted an NCAA regional in 1990, knocking down one of the program's long-running obstacles. It hosted again in 1991 and 1992. In 1993, the Shockers advanced to Omaha by winning the regional at Georgia Tech, highlighted by a 10-inning win over the host team and stars Jason Varitek, Jay Payton and Nomar Garciaparra.

Average attendance rose from 916 fans in 1989 to 2,559 in 1991 and 3,439 in 1992, fueled by record regional crowds. The 1992 total attendance (regular and postseason) of 165,065 remains second in program history. The crowd of 8,103 fans for a 1992 regional win over Oklahoma State ranked first for a single game until the 2007 super regional games eclipsed it. 

Shocker fans became used to trips to Omaha and support and attention grew with trips to the title game in 1991 and 1993.
 
We discuss the rivalry with Creighton, favorite regional memories at Eck Stadium, favorite Dreifort (Darren and Todd) home runs, Billy Hall's surprise season and how the 1990 regional loss stuck with the 1991 team.