Sports

In the spring of 2007, Brandon Brown was at a crossroads.

Academics were about to keep him off the football field for the season. Despite having a full scholarship to play cornerback at UC Davis, he was struggling to make ends meet financially. And there were family issues back home in Los Angeles.

The 2008 baseball season ended for most of the UC Davis baseball team Sunday when it fell in the Stanford Regional elimination game to the host Cardinal.

But for a lucky seven, it's far from over.

Steve Gatena can't remember the last time he was healthy.

From recovering from his bout with a collapsed lung to overcoming a torn labrum - twice - Gatena has had his fair share of struggles on his trek toward the top of the mountain.

All good things must come to an end.

For the 2008 UC Davis baseball team, it was a very good thing.

Name: Chelsea Stelzmiller

Hometown: Placerville, Calif.

Sport: Women's golf

Christi Raycraft

Jamey Wright remembers it like it was yesterday.

Christi Raycraft was about 12 years old, and she was in a pool playing basketball with a group of boys.

he same reality has hit me several times this year.

On Friday, leading up to this column, my last for the California Aggie, the reality hit me harder than ever.

Name: Eddie Gamboa

Hometown: Merced, Calif.

Sport: Baseball

Position: Pitcher

Year: Senior

Major: Communication

In a season in which the UC Davis baseball team set a school record with 35 wins, senior Eddie Gamboa has been a huge contributor to the team's success.

When the Aggies took the track at the NCAA Division I West Region Track and Field Championships in Northridge this weekend, they already had their sights set on Des Moines, Iowa - home of the NCAA Championships.

With the regional now in the books, the team can officially look toward Des Moines. But unfortunately, no Aggie will be making the trip past Northridge this season.

Event: NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament - Stanford Regional

Teams: UC Davis vs. No. 15 Stanford vs. Pepperdine vs. Arkansas

Records: Aggies, 34-22; Cardinal, 33-21-2; Waves, 36-19; Razorbacks, 34-22

It's the reason any college athlete competes.

It's why these athletes wake up at five in the morning six days a week and return later at night for the second practice of the day.

It's a national title with a thrilling finish.

No. 1 STANFORD

Season in brief

Coming into the 2008 season, Stanford had hosted 13 regionals and had won an impressive 120 tournament games all-time.

The Cardinal has added to one of those numbers, and will look to advance the second starting today.

Event: NCAA Division I West Region Championships

Host: Cal State Northridge

Where: Matador Track Complex - Northridge, Calif.

When: Today and Saturday, all day

On Monday, the NCAA announced that UC Davis was one of three teams in the country to earn an at-large bid to the 2008 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.