Oct. 30, 2008

Some information courtesy of Mobile and Olivet Nazarene Sports Information Department

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two former NAIA baseball stars played a pivotal role during the Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series, which was won by the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday (Oct. 29). Former University of Mobile (Ala.) pitcher J.C. Romero toed the rubber for the Phillies while former Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) University outfielder Ben Zobrist played in right field for the Tampa Bay Rays in four games.

Romero picked up a pair of wins on the mound, including the Game 5 Series clincher. The lefty reliever notched the win in Game 3 (Oct. 25), when he worked 1.1 innings of shutout ball out of the pen, while fanning one batter and allowing no hits. The former Ram then picked up the win in the much-talked-about finale, working 1.1 innings of scoreless ball.

Overall, Romero was 2-0 in the World Series with a 0.00 ERA in 4 2/3 innings. He allowed just two hits and recorded four strikeouts and no walks. The World Series ring is the second for Romero, as he also received a ring from the Boston Red Sox after their 2007 championship.

Romero ranks in the Top 10 at Mobile in career strikeouts and career ERA with 119 K’s and a 1.90 ERA. His 1.97 ERA in 1996 ranks fifth on the school single-season chart. The lefty also holds the single-game strikeout record with 15 whiffs against Loyola in 1997, and shares the single-game home run record with 2.

Zobrist batted .143 (1-for-7) with one walk in four games. Ben did face Romero in one plate appearance and went hitless.

Zobrist played for Olivet from 2002 to 2004, leading the Tigers to two NAIA World Series appearances. He hit .376 over three years at Olivet as a shortstop and still holds the career saves record as a relief pitcher. He was named the conference player of the year, Region VII Player of the Year and to the NAIA All-America Team. During his career, the Tigers won 120 games and won three Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships.

In the 2004 draft, Zobrist was drafted in the sixth round by the Houston Astros and then traded to the Rays later that year. Zobrist made his Major League debut August 1, 2006. He played in 52 games as a rookie and then split time in 2007 between Tampa Bay and their AAA affiliate, the Durham Bulls.

For more information on the World Series, please click here.