June 18, 2007

Good friends face off today

RANDY YOUNGMAN
Register columnist

OMAHA, Neb.– This is another story about two longtime friends who will face off in the College World Series today for the first time.

No, this is not about George Horton and Dave Serrano. This is a story within that story. This is about two former Laguna Niguel Little League teammates who became Mission Viejo High teammates and now play for rival Big West teams in Orange County.

Clark Hardman, Cal State Fullerton's leadoff hitter and center fielder, will be battling against one of his best friends, Taylor Holiday, UC Irvine's leadoff hitter and first baseman, in today's CWS elimination game at Rosenblatt Stadium (11 a.m., ESPN2).

No doubt they have a friendly wager on the game, because that's what they usually do.

"I owe him a dinner from our series this year," Hardman said, referring to the Titans losing two of three to UCI during their conference series. "We talk all the time and like to make gentleman's bets."

But baseball isn't all they talk about.

"We talk about personal categories, too, about how we deal with certain things," Hardman said. "And, of course, we talked (last week) about how it would be a dream come true to play against each other here."

Not surprising, Holiday used the same phrase to describe what will transpire today: "dream come true."

But Holiday said Hardman also kiddingly reminds him that this is his third trip to the College World Series and that this is only Holiday's first, making him a rookie.

The only part of their dream that didn't happen the way they envisioned it was meeting in today's first game. But UCI's one-run loss to Arizona State and Cal State Fullerton's one-run loss to Oregon State on Saturday dropped them into the losers' bracket and set up the elimination game.

"You're right, we both wish we were playing in the winners' bracket, but we're (still) playing, our families are here and even our high school coach, Chris Ashbach, is here," Hardman said.

In other words, it's all good. What can be better than best friends competing against each other on college baseball's biggest stage, with family and friends in the stands?

It's not difficult to figure out why Hardman and Holiday developed such a strong bond at an early age. They were Little League teammates in Laguna Niguel a decade ago.

"We played together one year for the White Sox," Hardman said. "I was 10 and Taylor was 12. "We were reallygood."

How good?

"Undefeated," Hardman said, grinning. "We won everything that year."

A few years later, they became teammates again at Mission Viejo High. Holiday played second base and Hardman played center field and pitched. Holiday was a two-time All-CIF star, two-time team MVP and captained the team his junior and senior years. Hardman was all-South Coast League both years.

They were also football teammates at Mission Viejo. Holiday was a four-year letterman and All-CIF wide receiver for the Diablos on teams that won back-to-back section titles in 2001 and 2002 and went 37-3 in games he played. Hardman earned letters on those championship teams, too.

UCI coach Dave Serrano said Holiday, who is batting .349 after having his 22-game hitting streak snapped Saturday, brings a football mentality to the baseball diamond, as well as leadership qualities.

And one guess who steered Holiday to UCI when he decided to transfer from Arizona State after two frustrating years, including a redshirt season?

Yes, it was Hardman, who recommended his friend to Serrano, who had been the pitching coach on Fullerton's 2004 national championship team, when Hardman was a freshman.

"Taylor made his own path," Hardman said, trying to downplay his role in Holiday's transfer to UCI. "Coach Serrano merely asked me about him and I just confirmed everything he had been told — that Taylor is a guy you want on your team, a guy who's going to fight for you and always play hard.

"I think ASU is missing out on a great player. They have to be shaking their heads over there, wondering what happened."

The New York Yankees must be wondering, too. They drafted Holiday in the 19th round this month, while Hardman, the Titans' leading hitter and run-producer, was drafted in the ninth round by the Chicago Cubs.

So I guess there could be one thing better than playing against each other in the College World Series today — playing against each other in professional baseball someday.

"Whatever happens (in today's game), I'll be rooting for him if they win," Hardman said. "And I'm sure he'll be rooting for me if we win."

Opponents today — and friends for life.