CORVALLIS - The Oregon State baseball team received a hero’s welcome from 6,000 fans as the team returned Monday from winning its second consecutive NCAA championship.

“This feels pretty good right now, I’ll tell you that,” Coach Pat Casey said as he was introduced at the welcome-home rally at Parker Plaza. “You guys got the chance to see them play on TV: They played pretty good, didn’t they?”

The fans cheered back in response.

“We’ve got the best baseball fans in America right here in Corvallis,” Casey said. Asked about the possibility of a three-peat, Casey said that would be up to the team.

“I’ve never seen a group get together so tight when they were struggling,” he continued, referring to the team’s struggles mid-season. “The one thing about baseball, if you’re going to play it, play it hard and have fun.”

Several people in the crowd praised Casey for instilling character in the team.

“Good basics are taught there besides sports,” said Byron Baker, an OSU alum from Eugene who attended with his wife, Sylvia.

Asked about a possible third title in a row, some of the players were optimistic.

“With these guys and this coaching staff, they could do it again,” said Mitch Canham, the team’s starting catcher.

This was the last season for Canham, who was taken in the Major League draft by the San Diego Padres and is expected to play this summer for the Eugene Emeralds.

“We were good this year; we have the chance to be just as good next year,” said infielder Drew George, who will be a senior in 2007-08. “I’m looking forward to when we all get back together in September.”

The other question that came up was: Will junior shortstop Darwin Barney return for his senior year?

“Mike Stutes and I made a pact to be back if we won it this year,” he said. “I’ll think long and hard about it.”

Barney was selected in the fourth round of the draft by the Chicago Cubs.

Stutes was a ninth-round selection of the St. Louis Cardinals.

MULTIMEDIA

To view a video and online slide show from Monday's ceremony at Parker Plaza, go to http://www.democratherald.com/photo_galleries/.

SPORTS FORUM

Sports forum: How do Oregon State's back-to-back baseball titles rank in Oregon sports history?

Have your say at http://www.democratherald.com/articles/2007/06/26/sports/colleges/7col01_sportsforum.txt

COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

For CWS stories and and a slide show, go to http://www.democratherald.com/sports/world_series/.