by JUSTIN WEYMAN
GoPSUsports.com
his was the weekend that Robbie Wine was waiting for.
When the Penn State skipper perused the Nittany Lions?? home schedule prior to the 2007 season, there were two dates that stood out.
??I kind of circled the Pitt game and the Northwestern series as the games that I was most looking forward to.?? said Wine, now in his third year in Blue and White.
While inclement weather forced the postponement and eventual cancellation of the 3rd annual Keystone Classic versus the Panthers, the weekend series against the Wildcats more than made up for any missed games or wintry conditions.
With temperatures in the mid-to-high 60??s and blue skies offering unobstructed and picturesque views of Mt. Nittany and beyond, the stage was set for one of the most memorable weekends in the 133-year history of Penn State baseball.
??We couldn??t ask for a more perfect setting. We??re glad that the weather cooperated and that the fans could come out to see the new stadium.?? Wine said.
Did they ever.
The curtain to the series opened with a then-record 2,232 fans in attendance, as Penn State thrilled the Nittany faithful with come-from-behind, ninth-inning victory that was followed by an impressive fireworks show beyond the centerfield wall.
The excited crowd gave the PSU players the boost they needed in the late innings as a Lion rally seemed imminent.
??The crowds this year have been great, but that ninth inning was special.?? said catcher Joe Blackburn. ??If you can??t have fun in that kind of environment, you??re playing the wrong sport.??
Little did he know what Saturday had in store.
With the Blue/White football scrimmage wrapping up in nearby Beaver Stadium, nearly 4,000 fans saw the Nittany Nine sweep the twin bill from the Wildcats. Needless to say, it was the largest crowd to ever see Penn State play at home.
The Lions wrapped up the series with another dramatic victory in the late innings on Sunday to sweep the four-game set from Northwestern. Winners of seven of their last eight conference games, Penn State finds itself in a favorable position in the Big Ten race, trailing just Michigan and Minnesota with four weekend series remaining. One can sense this team growing before our eyes, providing a hint that a promising future might not be too far away.
??Without a doubt these guys are coming together as a team right now.?? said pitching coach Jason Bell while deflecting praise from the coaching staff to his players. ??This is all a product of the work that the guys have put in. We??ve known that the potential was there for us to just break out at any point. It couldn??t have come at a better time for us.??
In addition to the games that count in the record books, there was also a sparsely attended game on Saturday morning that produced just as many warm-and-fuzzy feelings as the four Nittany Lion victories. The Penn State coaching staff welcomed more than two dozen former baseball players back to State College and an alumni game prior to the Northwestern doubleheader proved that the alums could still play ball. More importantly, it demonstrated to the current players that there will always be a connection to the university.
??I think it??s important for the guys to realize that their time here can, and will, fly by.?? said Wine. ??Having a chance to talk to these older guys gives the current players a sense of who came before them. These guys may never have had the chance to play in this ballpark, but they played a huge role in its existence.??