OXFORD, MS — “I don’t even remember if we’re being completely honest. I was in the bullpen. It was kind of a blur,” pitcher Josh Mallitz mentioned.
Tampa-native and Ole Miss sophomore pitcher Josh Mallitz does not keep in mind a lot, however he remembers the workforce making an attempt to remain calm after they had been moments away from successful a baseball nationwide title for the primary time at school history.
“I looked at our pitching coach, [Coach Carl Lafferty], he goes ‘Get back to your spot! We can’t act like we’re winning already,'” Mallitz recalled.
Ole Miss beat Oklahoma 4-2 in recreation two of the best-of-three College World Series championship. and the celebration was on.
“I remember sprinting from the bullpen,” Mallitz mentioned. “Getting in the dog pile, everyone screaming, celebrating, giving each other big hugs. It felt really good.”
It wasn’t a season filled with hugs for the Rebels. At one level this season, Ole Miss was 7-14 in SEC play. They completed 14-16 in convention, and misplaced within the first spherical of the SEC event.
“A lot of guys… weren’t having doubts, necessarily, but weren’t sure if we were going to make the postseason,” Mallitz mirrored. “We all came together one day and said ‘If we make the postseason, we’re going to make a run for it.’ Our name got called, and low and behold we won. Man, it’s a good feeling.”
Ole Miss was one of many final 4 groups to make the NCAA event area of 64, however they made essentially the most of their final probability.
“Our hitters started to hit. Our pitchers started to pitch. It was all gelling together,” Josh added. “That’s something that wasn’t really happening in the middle of the season. So once it all came together, a lot of the guys got confidence, and that’s what made us go.”
Mallitz mentioned the environment in Omaha is not like every other, to the purpose the place you neglect which stadium you are enjoying in.
“It sounded like a football game. Like a Saturday night football game,” he joked. “Everyone was screaming. The chants were going. Everyone was into it, and that really helped us go as well.”
Mallitz received a Florida highschool state championship with Jesuit in 2019. The Tigers’ program is taken into account probably the greatest within the nation. Mallitz mentioned enjoying on that stage is what ready him to succeed on the Division I degree.
“You know what it feels like to have a winning mentality. Getting to college and being with a bunch of winners and a bunch of really good guys, it helps tremendously.”
Mallitz completed the season with a 1.45 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched.