World Series Woes

Last Sunday night, BJ Reyteria, a Florida Marlin, singled up the middle with the bases loaded in the 11th inning, and the Cleveland Indian's playoff heriocism came to a close.

They had gotten as far in the playoffs as they could without winning the World Series, when they weren't supposed to beat the Yankees in their first playoff series.

What was the reaction at Oberlin after the series?

Frankly the staff at Oberlin, especially the athletic department and some faculty care much more about these Indians than most Oberlin students, though there were exceptions.

"I was crushed," junior Jay Johnson said. "Imagine the feeling of a baby whose mother and father is throwing them up into the air and catching them, then one time the mother forgets and drops the baby. That's how I felt. They were so very close."

After he heard that Reyteria had hit up the middle, "I turned off the radio. I didn't want to here them say, 'And the Marlin's win the World Series,'" he said.

"As soon as the hit went up the middle I turned off the television and went to bed," Oberlin High School baseball coach Eric Lahetta said.

Athletic Department Administrative Assistant Carrol Wilhelm, a long time Indian's fan said, "It was so great to see [Marlin's manager]Jim Leyland and his wife jumping up and down and to see Bobby Bonilla whirling around with his former manager [both former Pirates]. How bad could I feel when I saw that?"

Athletic Department Head Don Hunsinger, a Yankees fan said, "I think something was wrong with Bernie Williams, he was sick or something. There was something bothering him."

Hunsinger was referring to last year's World Series MVP Williams, had a horrible series versus the Indians. and some fan's explanation for the Indian's victory.

"I am glad the Indians won, even as a Yankee fan," Hunsinger said.

Recreation Center Director Jeff White thought there might have been some blame placed on the officiating.

"There were some very questionable calls that could have gone either way. The strike zone from the American League to the National League was very inconsistent and obscure, but maybe that's just more differences in the two leagues."

White has long been an Indian's fan and is disappointed more this year than in previous years.

"I've been an Indians fan forever," White said. "It was more disappointing this year, it was almost better to have not gotten there and been eliminated early."