By Jason Tomcsi
Sports Editor

The Purdue baseball team was so close to postseason play last year they could taste it.

The Boilermakers believe that they can be one of those 64 teams that make it into the NCAA Regionals, but they don't just want to make it there.

"We are not interested in just going to the regional," said head coach Doug Schreiber. "We're ready to go and we will compete to win and then advance. You put us in a three game series with anybody and there's a chance."

The Boilers were on the bubble when it came to selection time for the tournament, but for the second time in two years the team was left on the outside looking in and was not selected. Purdue was not selected despite finishing second in the Big Ten, just a half game back of Ohio State.

"We didn't deserve it," said Schreiber. "Meaning we left ourselves on the bubble and we left it up to a committee, and whenever you do that you leave yourself up for possible disappointment."

According to Schreiber, the Big Ten is close to producing a team that makes it into the College World Series and that team could be the Boilermakers.

"Our perspective has been basically, 'why not us,'" said Schreiber. "We have that capability. Back to last year and the way it finished for us, I think that there definitely will be some hunger."

Senior first baseman Kris Luce said that the experience from the players that have been on the team for a few years is keeping the focus and see the hunger for the postseason.

"The guys that were around last year and are back again this year are hungry," said Luce. "Last season we got a taste of it and it got away from us. Having a core group of guys that have been around for three years is key. Our focus is there and we have been working very hard."

That work ethic is the best that junior pitcher Chadd Blasko has seen since he has been here, and that will help the team win some tough games throughout the season.

"In my three years, this has been the best team we have had," said Blasko. "Not just on talent, but mentally and with work ethic."

The team's strengths according to Luce are their pitching, defense and attitude.

"Something that we stress every day as a team is our attitudes," said Luce. "On the field, I feel our defense and our pitching have been our strong points these past two years. We definitely have capable hitters, but pitching, defense and attitude are the biggest things we have to fall back upon."

Schreiber said that this season's pitching staff was the deepest it has been and there is some good talent.

Blasko also sees the talent in the staff that he is a part of and that the competition within the staff is high.

"I feel that the competition level within the pitching staff is so high that no matter whether you take the number one guy or the number 14 guy, they are going to be that good," said Blasko.