Cal Team Ready To Play Baseball, But Future Uncertain

BERKELEY (KCBS) --The Cal Baseball team took to Evans Diamond for practice Saturday, gearing up for its season opener February 18 amid efforts to save the program.

KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:

Monday is Cal's imposed deadline to decide whether to reinstate this and several other sports programs such as gymnastics and rugby slated for elimination this summer.

The Golden Bears ranked in the top 20 in pre-season polls.

"It is kind of the cloud looming in the back where you just don't know where you stand as a program," said coach David Esquer.

Still, only 3 players chose not to return after the break, he said.

"Even in the worst of time 35 players are going to stay committed to our program and see this year out," Esquer said.

Some $15 million in pledges has been gathered. University officials say $25 million is needed for reinstatement. Esquer expects the school to save all five sports, or let all five perish together.

"We have to be a participant in our own rescue. We just can't stand on the sidelines waiting for someone else to do it for us," Esquer said.

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