BY ALEX CANTATORE
Staff Reporter

You may think that members of the Fresno State Bulldogs’ College World Series winning baseball team would be dog-tired of talking about their victory at this point, but Turlock natives Blake Amador and Tommy Mendonca still seem to be enjoying the limelight. Both took time out of their busy schedules to make an appearance at this week’s Turlock City Council meeting, where they were awarded with one of the city’s highest honors for their performances in the College World Series.

“We have a couple of celebrities with us tonight,” said Vice Mayor Kurt Vander Weide as he took to the podium, feigning a mock bow in response to the thunderous applause.

The City of Turlock awarded both baseballers with a city proclamation to commemorate the successes of the two local players who helped Fresno State beat the odds in the biggest NCAA Championship upset of all time. The proclamations formally documented and recognized the achievements of the team and the players.

“We are just so proud that they are members of this city, home-grown products,” Vander Weide said. “We wanted to make sure we honored them tonight.”

Unranked Fresno State defeated eighth-seed Georgia for the title of the best team in college baseball in the three-game College World Series this June. Fresno lost the first game 6-7, only to come back and win the final two games 19-10 and 6-1.

Turlock’s duo of athletes played a major role in the outcome of the series. Mendonca, a sophomore third baseman, hit four home runs and drove in 11, earning the title of College World Series Most Outstanding Player in the process.

Despite their triumphs on the national stage, however, the two Turlockers remain cognizant and proud of where they came from. As they accepted their proclamations, both made a point of sharing their successes with the folks back home.

“I’d like to thank the community and the whole city of Turlock,” said Amador, a senior outfielder. “We’re proud of where we’re from (…) without you guys we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

“I’d like to say thank you also,” Mendonca said. “It’s been a ride and we wouldn’t have be able to do it without Turlock, Fresno, and everybody else here.”

To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.

Originally published in the Turlock Journal 8/25/2008.
Retrieved from the Turlock Journal Web site.