The Arizona baseball team does not hope to see any teams celebrating late-inning victories on its home field this season.
However, they made an exception Sunday when the alumni beat the current players 7-6 in their last at-bat at Sancet Stadium in the Jim Click Alumni Game.
The Wildcats held a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh and final inning. After a bases-loaded wild pitch scored class of 1993's George Arias and put runners in scoring position, 1988's Mike Thorell singled home both runners to end the game.
While the alumni celebrated, this game was more about getting to see old friends for the alumni and a chance to see those who came before them for the players.
"It's always fun to go out and play against these guys," said junior catcher Nick Hundley. "It's good to see the older guys. It's good to rag on them."
During the alumni's seventh-inning rally, Brian Anderson, "Baseball America's" No.1 White Sox prospect, struck out in his only at-bat with the tying runs on second and third, prompting the Arizona bench to erupt in cheers.
"We had a thing in the dugout before he came up. We had to get the overrated chant going so that was the biggest thing," said Hundley, who played with Anderson in 2003 during his last year at Arizona.
Former Oakland A's pitcher and class of 1987's Gil Heredia set the game's frivolous tone in the top of the third inning when he threw a first-pitch lemon to junior Chris Frey, who made it explode in foul territory.
While coach Andy Lopez lost his first game to the alumni in his tenure, the game was about more than the final score.
"It's a good chance to see the guys who came before them in the program," Lopez said.
The game allowed the Arizona coaching staff to get a good look at the freshmen on the roster, as the newcomers played their first game in front of the home crowd. Lopez said he took all his starters out from the fourth inning on and threw mostly freshmen pitchers.
Freshman outfielder Kenny Williams Jr. went 2-for-2 with two stolen bases and an RBI in limited action. Williams stole his two bases on consecutive pitches, leading the way for Arizona's five steals.
While Lopez said Williams' performance impressed him, he will have a tough time finding a job in Arizona's outfield.
"Williams has his work cut out to win a job," Lopez said.
Before the game started, the alumni made it a perfect day against the current squad by beating them 11-6 in the Home Run Derby. Anderson led the alumni with five bombs, which was too much for the Wildcats' group of juniors Jordan Brown and Trevor Crowe, Hundley and sophomore Bill Rhinehart.
Although the alumni will hold bragging rights for the next year, both sides remain excited for the upcoming season. Catcher Dave Landrith, who played for the Wildcats from 1979-1983, said it was good to come back and see his former teammates and other alumni, but that everyone is ready for the season to begin.
"Their year last year was beyond expectations, and this year now they're expected to do well, and I think they will," he said.
The next time the Wildcats take the field, the opposing team will not have "Arizona" written across its chests, and the games will count as the Wildcats open their schedule Friday at 4 p.m. against New Mexico at Sancet Stadium.
"We're more than ready," Hundley said. "I think we were ready from the first day we got back in January. We're anxious to go. It's time to play against an opponent."