Crestview's Dean on CWS: "All the work we did paid off"

By ADAM PRUIETT

Northwest Florida Daily News
315-4421 | adamp@nwfdailynews.com

Even though he had posted gaudy numbers and received a copious amount of personal accolades through his first three years with the LSU baseball team, Blake Dean wasn't completely fulfilled.

This was the season the Tigers were supposed to win the College World Series, the ultimate achievement. It was expected of them, and Dean had stated time after time that anything less would be a disappointment.

There was no letdown. With the way Dean and the Tigers handled their business in the CWS, satisfaction was guaranteed. And so was validation.

"It shows all the work we did paid off, and you're excited about all the things you accomplish," said Dean, a former Crestview star.

Dean and his teammates celebrated their series-clinching 11-4 victory over Texas on Wednesday by partying until 6 a.m. LSU coach Paul Mainieri jettisoned curfew and told his championship crew that he'd enjoy having breakfast with anybody that was up for it in the morning.

"It was pretty crazy," Dean said of the celebration, before noting, "I don't think anybody actually ended up going to breakfast."

Clearly, the Tigers had already eaten their Wheaties. They'd only lost in consecutive games once all season, so Dean said after dropping the second contest of the best-of-three series against Texas that "we knew in our minds they weren't going to beat us twice in a row."

That thought was further cemented when LSU unleashed five runs in the sixth inning.

"I think after the five-spot in the sixth we knew that was probably going to be it," Dean said.

And it was.

After the victory, the Tigers received gold watches commemorating their sixth national title. Later, they'll be receiving rings, probably at a LSU football game or perhaps their home opener next season.

A trip to meet President Barack Obama also is on the horizon, along with other opportunities that come with being the CWS champions.

"I just want to experience all of it," Dean said. "I've never been to Washington and seen the White House. That will be pretty cool."