Baseball | 1/20/2022 11:39:00 AM

 Listen to the podcast

Bryan Oelkers earned NCAA Pitcher of the Year honors in 1982 and was part of one of college baseball's greatest staffs.
 
The Shockers finished second in the College World Series in their fifth season after reviving the program under coach Gene Stephenson, led by a powerful offense and the rotation of Oelkers, Erik Sonberg and Don Heinkel.
 
Oelkers talks about how he chose Wichita State after Missouri offered him a walk-on spot, how the Shockers coaching staff turned the Shockers into national contenders and a moment with catcher Charlie O'Brien that foreshadowed his success. Oelkers remembers how his summer in Alaska set the stage for his junior season and discusses a bit of mind trickery from pitching coach Brent Kemnitz that played a part in getting his mind right after a tough sophomore season.
 
Oelkers went 18-2 with a 2.07 ERA in 1982, helping the Shockers a 73-14 record, 15-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference and the program's first trip to the College World Series. He was the fourth pick in the 1982 draft by the Minnesota Twins.
 
Oelkers, a left-hander from St. Louis, defeated beat Cal State Fullerton 7-0 in the CWS opener and eliminated Texas 8-4. The Shockers finished second in Omaha, losing to Miami.
 
The 1982 Shocker baseball team will be honored at the First Pitch Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 29, in the Aetna Multi-Purpose Facility at Charles Koch Arena.