Mark Grogan played baseball at Wichita State from 1982-85. His book “I Owe It all to Baseball,” details growing up in a family of nine and the drama that included. He learned to deal with his temper playing basketball and handled disappointment when the Minnesota baseball coach declined to recruit him. That rejection started him on a journey to Wichita State and a starting spot in the 1982 College World Series. He describes teasing from Charlie O’Brien at his first practice, the infamous Texas doubleheader in 1982, the rivalry with Oklahoma State and the talents of Shockers Russ Morman and Kevin Penner.
The 2007 and 2008 Wichita State baseball teams advanced to the program’s first super regionals, both fueled by dramatic regional victories. Outfielder Ryan Jones and shortstop Dusty Coleman talk about those moments – vs. Arizona (2007) and vs. Oklahoma State (2008). We also discuss Conor Gillaspie’s video-game energy, outfield defense, a conversation with Buster Posey and hide-and-seek in a hotel during wacky weather in Illinois.
The Roundhouse brings in voice of the Shockers Mike Kennedy and Bob Lutz, long-time chronicler of Shocker athletics and host of The Drive on KFH, to dive into Wichita State “What Ifs?”
Included are links that explain some of the history behind the questions.
In the 1990s, Wichita State considered throwing its influence behind a downtown arena by offering Shocker basketball as the prime tenant. How did the decision to remove basketball from that discussion and renovate Levitt Arena play out?