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Former Blue Devil going to Omaha

Former Blue Devil going to Omaha

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West Memphis alum headed to College World Series with Razorbacks

WM School District This time last year, Curtis Washington Jr. was a baseball player without a team.

Today, he’s on his way to Omaha, Neb., for the College World Series.

Washington, the former West Memphis Blue Devil baseball and basketball star, has been a solid contributor to the CWS-bound Arkansas Razorbacks as a true freshman this year, hitting .353 with a .476 onbase percentage.

His face has been prominently featured on tight TV shots during the Hogs’ postseason run in the NCAA Regionals and the recent Super Regionals against Ole Miss, plunging freely on top of teammates’ “Hog-pile” after the win over the Rebels that clinched the team’s second straight CWS appearance.

“This is a dream come true,” said Washington.

“I’m so excited I don’t know what to do. I’ve always dreamed of playing on this stage, and now I’m actually getting the opportunity.”

The Razorbacks (46-18) play their first game in the World Series on Saturday at 6 p.m. (ESPN) against Florida State.

This time last year, Washington was trying to decide between playing both basketball and baseball at LeMoyne-Owen University or Delta State University, but an independent college scout turned those middling offers into an opportunity to play baseball in the ultra-powerful Southeastern Conference.

The scout attended the Blue Devils’ first-round game of the state tournament against Benton and saw Washington belt the first pitch he saw that day to the fence in center field, giving the speedy senior a triple.

He also saw Washington work out in pregame at shortstop and determined his athleticism would project not only at that position, but also in the outfield.

Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn was given the scout’s info and enticed Washington to head to Fayetteville.

At this point, neither party is sorry about it.

Washington has played in 30 games and started 6 for Van Horn’s club, scoring 14 runs, with three doubles, one triple, one homer and a .905 OPS.

“I think if someone had told me a year ago at this time I’d be on my way to Omaha for the World Series… I just think that would have been too much information for me to handle,” said Washington.

Though his role with the club has diminished slightly during the postseason, Washington has relished being the team’s biggest cheerleader even though he saw action in last Sunday’s Game 2 of the Super Regionals against Ole Miss.

He entered the game late, flew out to right field and made two catches near the fence in left.

He’s still the team’s emotional leader, however, as witnessed during the clinching game against the Rebels after the visitors claimed an early 1-0 lead.

“Our fans, I think, were a little stunned and they weren’t into it early,” Washington added. “I turned around and yelled, ‘Are y’all gonna let Ole Miss’ fans show y’all up?’ That’s when we turned the game around and our fans got into it.”

Asked what he knew about Florida State, Washington replied, “I just know they’re in trouble.”

Although Washington also has his eye on the rest of the summer playing in a collegiate league in Camarillo, CA until the end of July, he is still focused on one of the biggest weeks of his life in Omaha.

As has been told and retold, the Hogs came within an easy pop foul of winning the national championship a year ago in the title game against Oregon State. But the easy pop foul was over-run by Hog second baseman Carson Shaddy, allowing the Beavers new life, which they turned into a come-from-behind win for the title.

It hasn’t been easy for the current Razorbacks on last year’s team to deal with that defeat, but Washington indicated that the team is more than resolved to turn their fortunes around this time.

And, Washington has another special reason to walk away from Omaha with the national title.

“I want to win the ring so bad this time for my teammates on the 2017-18 Blue Devil basketball team that we all felt like should have won the state championship,” said Washington.

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